Oil Mist in Carrera 3.4 Engine Bay

[ultegra]

Hi - I am getting some minor oil misting in the RHS of my engine bay.

I have not been able to witness the source of the leak, but the residue is on the ferrule at the lower end of the flexible power steering pipework where it meets the hardline, and down onto the cam cover in the area of the Variocam solenoid.

During an investigation, I moved the coolant hose and behind I saw a 'vent' / 'plastic valve' / 'watchamacallit':

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_kHeD6h4GnTSU9HRzdpbU42QktoU3JFRGk1Z0N1MmRnMGV3/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_kHeD6h4GnTR0ltdk1UdVByWjFoT0VBb2phUTBGOW1QMi1n/view?usp=sharing

Questions:

1. Should this thing be open to the atmosphere or is it missing a hose to somewhere else? There wasn't anything obvious that had fallen off to put back on.

2. Is it the likely source of my oil mist ?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

Edited March 12, 2015 by ultegra

[jjb7]

Off hand, sounds like a vacuum leak. The two main culprits are the oil filler tube or the AOS bellows. good luck.