[240] engine compartment covered in oil...

Hard to say about the cam seal, but start with the flame trap. That is undoubtedly the root of the problem. Clean that up, then clean up the engine and see how you are doing. 240s with plugged flame traps are famous for taking oil baths.

Mike

Yes it sounds like you blew the cam seal out, it really isn't that big of a deal if you've got a decent socket set and some basic hand tools.

Peeked in there with a flashlight and see the seal sitting out against the back of the cam gear flange... Fixing it is a piece of pie. Keeping it going until Friday when I can do the work isn't. I pushed the seal back in. Run it with the cap loose to let the pressure out. Damn, I wish I had picked up a flame trap when I changed the oil last month. Looked at it but didn't buy it. You know of any good photos on the net showing the flame trap in place? All the pictures I find are nice clean new parts and don't look anything like the krap under the intake manifold.

clean it out well and replace its easy even I can do it .

I'm glad it didn't happen on the drive up from San Diego. It would have pumped all the oil out and, unless I got very lucky and spotted it, probably trashed the engine. My dipstick never moved. No indication it was plugged, or nearly plugged until is started pumping oil out the cam seal. Now that I've changed the flame trap, I see there's no reason not to pull it and check and/or replace every oil change.