Trying to identify oil-covered part

[Rob in CO]

Hello. I have looked around here several times but never posted before. I am currently chasing a small oil leak on my 2001 S, 6-speed. I have found what looks to be a breather tube with a fitting on the end. It is located directly below the fuel pressure regulator on the drivers side. Black plastic with what appears to be a spring visible inside. It has a pretty heavy coating of oil on it and the drip goes down the side of the engine just below. No smoke but the smell is what got me looking and it appears to drip directly on the exhaust, which explains the sweet smell.

What is this tube and does the fact that it is oil covered indicate another problem elsewhere? Access to it is awful so I have not yet been able to get the part number. I also looked through several schematics online but could not positively identify it. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Rob

[JP Rodkey]

Hello. I have looked around here several times but never posted before. I am currently chasing a small oil leak on my 2001 S, 6-speed. I have found what looks to be a breather tube with a fitting on the end. It is located directly below the fuel pressure regulator on the drivers side. Black plastic with what appears to be a spring visible inside. It has a pretty heavy coating of oil on it and the drip goes down the side of the engine just below. No smoke but the smell is what got me looking and it appears to drip directly on the exhaust, which explains the sweet smell.

What is this tube and does the fact that it is oil covered indicate another problem elsewhere? Access to it is awful so I have not yet been able to get the part number. I also looked through several schematics online but could not positively identify it. Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Rob

Sounds like your crankcase breather tube. About 1" diameter black plastic pipe fits onto the head fitting you described, traverses the engine under the throttle body over to the oil separator on the diagonally opposite side. Yes, it's there to direct hot oil vapor over to the separator and a poor/broken fitting will cause oil buildup. Check that it hasn't come unseated (there is a ribbed ring around the pipe connector that locks and unlocks to the fitting which is fixed to the head) or if it's broken.