what the heck happened? oil everywhere, anyone ever seen it?

[magna77]

Ok so here is the scenario, driving for 40 mins, towing a trailer with snowmobile in it at 110km/h, the outside temperature was -22 celcius. Turned off the highway and saw a bit of smoke, popped the hood and the motor from the valve cover down was covered in oil, I mean covered. I was at my mothers there wasn't anything showing on the dipstick. Next day i checked it all over thinking I blew a head gasket, but no oil in the antifreeze, no antifreeze in the oil, plugs were great. I topped the oil up, I lost 2.4 litres of synthetic 5w30 in 40 mins. Maybe even less time then that. I have been driving the last couple of days, and the oil hasn't dropped. It has stopped. I am confused. My motor is a 1.8 8v. Any ideas what the heck happened? My parts guys said he has seen a PCV valve stop working and blow the oil pan gasket out of a 351 ford motor, but I don't think this motor has one. It seems as though something froze up and then caused the oil to pump out and then when I stopped the heat from the motor thawed it but what was it? All ideas welcome. I am installing an oil pressure gauge this week so that if it does happen again I will be able to notice. Had I had farther to go I would have lost all the oil, which would suck as I only have 134,000kms on the car. Thanks,

Fred

[halfofnothing]

check the breather on the top of the valve cover, if it's cracked or not seated properly it will make a really nice mess, ask me how i know...

[magna77]

All right so it has been over 2 months now and I haven't had an issue and have been driving the car every day. So it seems that the Pressure Relief valve on top of the valve cover froze up. My antifreeze hasn't been going down and i am not leaking (well not leaking much) oil. Just thought I would let everyone know in case it happens to them. I took the valve off and there was a lot of moisture in it, I cleaned it with gas (as per advice from my vw dealer) and blew it out. It has worked great ever since. I am however going to install a oil pressure guage as to help me diagnos problems like this sooner.