I'm having what it looks like a slight oil sipping out of the breather or vent pipe. It took me for ever to figure out what it was called...

It's connected to the air intake pipe and I wonder why it would have oil at the upper connection?
Is this normal? Is this something that needs fixed? Is there a seal at this connection that maybe need changed?

There is no oil build-up. It's just greasy and I can see the oil being squeezed out if I move the hose slightly back and forth...

Any help understanding what's going on is appreciated :D

 

That connection can seep a bit when it gets older, yes. There's an o-ring you might be able to replace, or you can just replace the whole tube. I did the latter.

The pain is that stupid clip at the top holding it (the piece above where it says DE13). You need to break the old one to get it off (snap off the clip sticking down on each side that covers the releases for the PCV hose) and then you're supposed to install a new one when you replace the tube.

I think it's just an anti-tamper thing for the PCV system, however, and it's not clear to me that you really need to replace it.

 

Thx. Gubi!
It's good I went ahead and order one of those clips so I could confidently open the pipe and investigate...
I'll have to see if changing the pipe is necessary...

Do you happen to know if a new pipe comes with an O ring? Or is it a separate part umber?

 

I don't recall, sorry. I replaced the pipe and it stopped the seeping.

Like I said, I don't think you really need the clip, I think it's just an EPA requirement that the PCV system be anti-tamper. But can't hurt to install it.

 

I didn't understand the first time. We'll that's good if it is not required only so I can check things out first and save the clip for when and if it turns out I want to change the pipe... Thx!

 

While I'm thinking about it, the other thing that might cause oil there is the PCV diaphragm. It's integrated into the valve cover and when I replaced mine last year (after ~10 years) it was clear that the rubber was pretty shot.

You can just replace the diaphragm pretty cheaply if you're careful removing the cover, apparently, but my valve cover was leaking around the outer gasket so I just replaced the whole thing.