Just waiting for my SVA date now but got a problem with my standard 1300 x flow engine. As the engine warms up I start to get some pressurising up the dip stick tube (long flexible type) accompanied by some emulsification on the dip stick itself when pulled out. If I remove the dipstick from the tube, steam comes from the tube. If I cover the tube I get steam from the crankcase breather on the side of the engine block. The engine is running OK apart from needing the timing set up correctly. There doesnt appear to be any loss of water from the cooling system that I can detect. The engine was rebuilt by me ages ago but not run until recently but I have replaced the head gasket recently as I had a coolant pressurising problem that turned out to be a badly corroded water pump that wasnt pumping! I have drained the oil and theres no evidence of emulsification in it. I dont want to go for the test with the dipstick tube bubbling away at the end of it. Any theories anyone?
My first theory is that you've probably posted in the wrong section 
What crankcase breather system are you using on the crossflow? Have you actually had the engine up to full running temperature for any length of
time? Frequently starting the engine for short lengths of time will cause condensation to build up in the crankcase.
The crankcase breather is the standard type fitted to the side of the block with a one way valve in the top of it. I have an alloy rocker cover fitted that only has a small hole (very small) in the filler cap but that is clear.
quote:
Frequently starting the engine for short lengths of time will cause condensation to build up in the crankcase.
No, it doesnt push the dipstick out, it just bubbles around the top of the dipstick or shows steam when I remove it and shows some emulsification on the stick itself.
As above, condensation has probally built up, once you have given it a good run everything should be resolved.
Pressure is just water boiling off in the oil, only need a drop to produce a fair amount of steam.
Check that the breather is clear they had a habit of blocking up . Replace it or heat it up and blow through with an airline until clear. Also the oil filler cap should be a breather type, you can see a gauze in the underside if you look , cheap to replace . Clean the breather valve that is attached to the breather hose inside the breather box, they get gummed up . Make sure the breather port in the manifold is clear
As far as I can tell I do not have a breather port on the manifold and the alloy after market rocker cover has a chrome filler cap with just a small hole on the underneath and one on the top.
What manifold/carb are you running? If it's a standard Ford item there will be a breather port in the manifold, it may be a tee piece for the servo connection ?
Yes, standard Ford carb and inlet manifold which has a double take off below and to the left of the carb under the water inlet/outlet for the manifold. Both stubby pipes are blanked off with rubber caps so will not breathe in any way though.
Connect the breather hose to the take off, the vacuum will open the breather valve and relieve crankcase pressure and reduce fumes. Get a breather cap on it.