Hi Everyone,
For a while now, I've had a grey-metallicy substance that coats the inside of my intercooler and gets under the boots as well. I used to run a catch can, but as it almost never got anything I took it off.
I was wondering if anyone knew what this was? I'm hoping its not supercharger oil with bits of waterpump gear in it...
To anyone who has had that seal fail, did you see this residue in your intercoolers as well?

 

It is normal to see oily residue coat the interior of most of your intake tract if no oil catch can is being used (and even still if it is an ineffective OCC). However, if you are seeing metal shavings or specks in that oil, something else may be wrong. I have have seen some pictures of extremely worn waterpump drive gears on our superchargers, but I don't think I have ever heard of the worn metal finding its way into the intake system.

 

When my M45 S/C crapped out it left a thick green goo covering the innards of the intake system. The normal black/grey oiley coating is normal, just rinse your I/C out with some brake cleaner if it bothers you.

 

thanks guys! it is a grey oil, but also slightly metallic. Almost as if I mixed oil and a graphite lubricant. I cannot see the metal flakes, but when you wipe your finger on it, it looks like you took a pencil and just covered my finger.

 

It's oil, we see it in all MINI intercoolers. I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

Thus the reason to get an effective and properly installed oil catch can.