I am new to this forum but not new to 1973 Comets. I have an engine (200 cu in) problem that may interest somebody. Taken off you valve cover lately? How would you like to find it glazed over with about 2 pounds of sludge. It seems that in the cold weather water wants to condense on the inside of the relatively cooler valve cover. Is one of those hoses supposed to be exhausting steam?
Welcome to the Board! I am from Courtenay! May be from condensation build up from short trips...not getting enough heat to evaporate it. Or check the PCV valve and tube to make sure it is not plugged and the line is clear.
The condensate it typical of short drives with very little run time.gotta get em hot(operating temp) for a good 20 minutes to cook off the condensation.Sludge build up is not uncommon for such an old engine either,clean the crud out/run a steel rod through the oil drains in the head.Put fresh oil in the thing and drive it.Repeat the oil changes every 300 mi till you get all the uglies out of it.you could try a crank case flush as well but be careful with the stuff(its mostly kerosene) quite flammable.A new T-stat and fesh coolant wouldnt hurt either.do you have oily sludge in the radiator??? if so you could have a bad headgasket.As for the hose on the valve cover,it should be connected to the intake/carb/carb base or air cleaner housing and should have a PCV valve between it and the valve cover.It is meant to evacuate oil vapor/condensate from the from the crank case.Welcome aboard.
Maybe it was driven by a little old lady with blue hair who could barely see over the steering wheel? I've seen a few of those around Victoria.
