Residue on AFE CAI near PCV tube

[Grenzer]

Hi all, I was looking under my hood today and noticed an oily residue near the area where the PCV/crankcase breather tube connects to the AFE Momentum CAI. I was just wondering if this is a normal occurrence, or if there is potentially a more significant issue. I have been on the fence about reinstalling the stock intake either way. I've attached some pictures, please forgive the dirty engine bay.

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[Sauce]

I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm curious why you had been considering changing back to the stock intake?

 

[Grenzer]

I don't have an answer to your question, but I'm curious why you had been considering changing back to the stock intake?

I might have just read too much from naysayers blowing the potential negatives out of proportion, but I do live in a relatively dusty/rural area and I figured it might be best to go back to the stock intake if it has better filtration just to even further minimize the risk of any damage to the turbos etc. I also didn't get too much increased intake noise from the CAI like I was hoping for. I had a K&N filter on my old Sierra and it made a marked difference in terms of sound but it was also an open box, so maybe that was why.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

Looks like the nipple needs some thread sealant. Personally I would tie in a catch can between there to keep the oil from even making it that far.

 

[Grenzer]

Looks like the nipple needs some thread sealant. Personally I would tie in a catch can between there to keep the oil from even making it that far.

Thanks for your input, catch can is next up on the list for sure. If some amount of seepage is normal in that spot, would sealing it more completely have any negative effects anywhere else in the system?

 

[JrHDRanger]

I might have just read too much from naysayers blowing the potential negatives out of proportion, but I do live in a relatively dusty/rural area and I figured it might be best to go back to the stock intake if it has better filtration just to even further minimize the risk of any damage to the turbos etc. I also didn't get too much increased intake noise from the CAI like I was hoping for. I had a K&N filter on my old Sierra and it made a marked difference in terms of sound but it was also an open box, so maybe that was why.

I was using dual BMC oiled filters and switched to aFe ProDry filters. Not any noticeable performance loss and way better filtration, plus they can be washed and reused. My gas mileage actually increased several MPG. I think that’s due to the BMC filters really crowding the airbox, whereas the ProDry filters were slightly shorter and had more airspace in my IndiCarbon airbox to breathe.

 

[RCMUSTANG]

Thanks for your input, catch can is next up on the list for sure. If some amount of seepage is normal in that spot, would sealing it more completely have any negative effects anywhere else in the system?

It's not normal for seepage anywhere. It has that because it looks like the threads need sealant.. the stock setup isn't threaded so you don't see any seepage. The negative is it's not fully sealed and you've got oil seeping and creating a bit of a mess.

 

[Grenzer]

I was using dual BMC oiled filters and switched to aFe ProDry filters. Not any noticeable performance loss and way better filtration, plus they can be washed and reused. My gas mileage actually increased several MPG. I think that’s due to the BMC filters really crowding the airbox, whereas the ProDry filters were slightly shorter and had more airspace in my IndiCarbon airbox to breathe.

I might have just read one too many worst case scenario posts about an aftermarket intake/filter allowing dust or grit into the system and chipping the turbo or causing some other failure. I opted for the dry filter with the Momentum intake, so hopefully nothing catastrophic will happen as I intend to keep the vehicle indefinitely. If anything, maybe I'll experiment later on down the line if there is an ideal setup.

It's not normal for seepage anywhere. It has that because it looks like the threads need sealant.. the stock setup isn't threaded so you don't see any seepage. The negative is it's not fully sealed and you've got oil seeping and creating a bit of a mess.

Understood. I was going to take a look at the stock parts I took off to see if the seepage was present there as well but good to know it wouldn't matter. Hopefully I'll have some time to get it apart, clean it all up tomorrow and apply some thread sealant and then monitor the situation from there.

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