V8 Oil question

[Theron J. Bliss]

     I'm dreading your responses.  I was driving home from work a little
over a week ago, when my car started smoking from the engine, and
smelled like burning oil.  I popped the hood, and there was oil sprayed
all over the left side of the engine.  I looked closer, and the dip
stick was pushed up about 2".  I pushed the dip stick back in, wiped off
the engine, and drove another mile down the road, when it started
smoking even worse then before.  I pulled off again, same scenario.  I
grabbed a bungy chord from the trunk (very useful item) and fastened it
around the air inlet tube and dip stick to hold down it down (yes, I
made sure and checked the oil before I drove on) and continued home.
When I got there, I filled up the oil, replaced the o-ring on the dip
stick, and verified it wasn't leaking.  I left the next morning for
Dallas, and got back last week.  When I returned, I forgot to take off
the bungy cord.  This morning, I smelled the oil burning again, and when
I got to work, popped the hood, and pulled out the dipstick.  I heard a
hissing sound from deep in the crank case, and it sounded like it was
gonna blow.  There was a little oil spray, and it's down about 1/4
quart.  Any advise?

TIA

Theron J. Bliss
Massachusetts
1990 V8 Quattro
196,000 miles
Lago Blue, Grey Connolly leather

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