Oil residue around throttle body housing; see pic

[Dominic123]

Any suggestions why there is oil residue around the throttle body area; its on top and on the right hand sdie also; I have checked fittings and everything seems tight; it can barely hold an idle in moringing when cold.

Going to take intake pipe to throttle off and clean; maybe that will help with the issue on start up.

Thanks for any suggestions

[Dharn55]

The piece of rubber hose with the two hose clamps is not OEM. It looks like something broke and this was a repair. That might be the cause of some oil residue.

[Dominic123]

I did have a turbo kit on it and had it removed; checked the clamps and all tight; maybe I should pressure wash off engine and see where it develops again??

[DBJoe996]

Do not "pressure wash" the engine! All kinds of bad things will happen from there...way too many electronics in there. Why not just wipe that down with some clean rags and maybe a little WD-40 to clean things up a bit and then watch it over time to see if any thing develops. Sounds like you have a small vacuum leak and I agree, that rubber hose fitting is not OEM. I would start right there.

[DBJoe996]

Please let me clarify why I commented do not "pressure wash" your engine. Yes, not only all the sensitive electronics that will not react well to that much pressurized water getting into every nook and cranny, but in this case you are considering the throttle body and plenum area on the top of the motor. Consider the layout of your engine. It is a flat six buried deep in your engine compartment. If you blow out that the top part of the engine with a pressure washer, all you will do is blow that gunk onto the top casing of your engine block in between the air manifolds where it will sit forever and turn into a toxic sludge eating into the aluminum block. If you have ever pulled the throttle body and air intakes to replace, for instance, your starter, you will know exactly what I mean. The stuff that builds up in there is incredible and has no place to go.

I cleaned the top of the engine casing in between the manifolds (when replacing the starter) with rags soaked in Goo B Gone, vacuum cleaner and compressed air...took me hours and hours of gentle cleaning and patience. Besides the expected dirt and dust, I pulled out rocks and leaves and all manner of stuff that had found it's way in there.

This is not a Ford F-150 V-8 with an accessible open engine compartment (been there, done that, no offense intended)! IMHO taking a pressure washer to the engine compartment is asking for big trouble. If nothing else, removing the throttle body, checking and cleaning it plus the air plenum splitter (intermediate piece the throttle body attaches to) is not all that difficult, and more that likely you will find your vacuum leak or the source of the oil residue blowby. At least you will have the satisfaction of having all that cleaned up properly. Image is my engine after cleaning following replacing starter. 120,000 miles and running strong!

Edited September 11, 2012 by DBJoe996

[Dominic123]

Thanks so much for the info; I didnt pressure wash the engine as you suggested; I did remove the pipe going into the throttle body and used some carb cleaner and wiped the inside out as much as I could; will search on here how to take apart the throttle body and splitter; your engine looks clean!!