Oil found in charge pipe/intercooler

[Lampcont44]

2020 Ranger here

Was replacing the charge pipe going from the intercooler to the throttle body (it was deforming and super soft from the heat cycles) and notice oil pooling at the bottom of the tube. Stuck my hand in the intercooler as much as I could and felt a layer of oil on the walls.

Anyone had something similar happen? Could there be a leak in the turbo/seals?

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[ctechbob]

Likely normal.

F150 owners have been adding weep holes to their CAC's forever now to let oil/water seep out of them. I'm sure someone with a catch can will chime in any time now about saving their intake tract from the horrors of PCV vapors, but a little oil/water in the stream isn't uncommon.

 

[yamahaSHO]

Crank case ventilation will do that.

 

[Stevedbvik1]

2020 Ranger here

Was replacing the charge pipe going from the intercooler to the throttle body (it was deforming and super soft from the heat cycles) and notice oil pooling at the bottom of the tube. Stuck my hand in the intercooler as much as I could and felt a layer of oil on the walls.

Anyone had something similar happen? Could there be a leak in the turbo/seals?

Your turbo doesn’t have seals , instead they have tiny piston rings that have end gaps. They can pass oil if there are other circumstances not related to a turbo issue. Such as a dirty dry or improperly oiled K&N style air filter, restriction in the oil drain tube or higher than normal crankcase pressure. Your turbo can also be ingesting crud from the pcv system and passing it along through the intercooler. It’s most likely the latter and is why some choose to use catch cans. If you wanted to confirm you could pull the intake tube from the air cleaner to the turbo and inspect the cold wheel. Or try snaking a borescope down the inlet to inspect the cold wheel.

 

[Racket]

Crank case ventilation will do that.

Does that make an argument for the vented oil filler cap? I've considered those but the feedback was they seem to cause reduced fuel mileage - I wonder how?

When the owner of UPR spoke to me about our trucks he took the valve cap off mine while it ran and held his hand over the hole stating that the pressure escaping was evidence of power restriction.

I'd only wonder the pressure in the crankcase was weighted against piston rings or addressed by the second vacuum line I was picking up that day for the catch can (which they branded the WOT option).

 

[Msfitoy]

Normal...no squirrels?

 

[yamahaSHO]

Does that make an argument for the vented oil filler cap? I've considered those but the feedback was they seem to cause reduced fuel mileage - I wonder how?

When the owner of UPR spoke to me about our trucks he took the valve cap off mine while it ran and held his hand over the hole stating that the pressure escaping was evidence of power restriction.

I'd only wonder the pressure in the crankcase was weighted against piston rings or addressed by the second vacuum line I was picking up that day for the catch can (which they branded the WOT option).

No, I would not vent the oil cap. If you're wanting to reduce oil vapors, a GOOD airil separator is the way to go.

 

[RangerBill]

Does that make an argument for the vented oil filler cap? I've considered those but the feedback was they seem to cause reduced fuel mileage - I wonder how?

It would allow unmetered air into the fuel-air mixture, so the PCM couldn't control the mixture properly.

 

[Racket]

No, I would not vent the oil cap. If you're wanting to reduce oil vapors, a GOOD airil separator is the way to go.

I recall a YouTube video from a shop that was putting a vent from the oil cap into a catch can on ecoboost Mustangs.

EDIT TO ADD: https://www.cjponyparts.com/upr-bla...-UaLDpCzVD-NE-lkbaUMM4GyXVAjvF2saAvE2EALw_wcB

That's all I'd need... another catch can to empty..

 

[Racket]

It would allow unmetered air into the fuel-air mixture, so the PCM couldn't control the mixture properly.

I think the caps people were installing had a pressure valve for venting only?

It seemed a mod that really didn't catch on.

 

[Dgc333]

It would allow unmetered air into the fuel-air mixture, so the PCM couldn't control the mixture properly.

The 2.3 Ecoboost engine uses a speed density control system meaning venting the oil fill cap will not have any impact on controlling the air fuel mixture. However, there is a sensor in the PCV system that measures air flow and venting the oil fill cap will/can cause check engine light and a trouble code.

 

[airline tech]

The questions are -
How much oil was pooled in the bottom of the tube? more than a tablespoon?
Is there oil pooled at the compressor outlet?

 

[RangerBill]

The 2.3 Ecoboost engine uses a speed density control system meaning venting the oil fill cap will not have any impact on controlling the air fuel mixture. However, there is a sensor in the PCV system that measures air flow and venting the oil fill cap will/can cause check engine light and a trouble code.

Thank you for the correction.

 

[Lampcont44]

The questions are -
How much oil was pooled in the bottom of the tube? more than a tablespoon?
Is there oil pooled at the compressor outlet?

I'd say it's about a teaspoon. I didn't check the compressor outlet but if I have time I can check it this weekend.

 

[airline tech]

A small amount is normal, but the tube deteriorating was my question (what caused it?) Excessive Oil?

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