How much blow by is acceptable??
 

In my 80 300D, there is a little blow by. I just want some opinions on what is too much. Right now, if i take the cap off, it just sits there and rattles. It DOES NOT blow off and splatter oil everywhere, but if i remove the cap completely, some oil will start to splatter out around the opening. A little, but some.

that sounds really good to me, mines dances around a little, but so far in 20deg weather it has always started first crank no problem.

yeah, mine dances a little. but it definitely doesnt dance off the cover. it may be dancing from the engine vibration. mine starts up first time, VERY fast i might add, with no need for the pedal. cranks right up. so i take it this is ok?

"Ok"? Sounds excellent.

I have had them blow the cap off the cover and still ran fine. Blow-by varies alot on these engines.

excellent? really? wow thats good to hear.

thanx for the input guys, and diesel giant.....what would be the main things to vary the blow by on these engines.

hmm, mine sounds like it does the same. and if I don't have hose clamps on the valve cover hose, I get lots of oil on leaking down the side of the valve cover. also I loose approx 1 quart per 500 miles. (odo don't work, so not exactly sure how many miles per quart of oil)
perhaps it is not all due to blowby, maybe I need new valve seals, etc.
John