Nastiness around throttle body

[murphthelab]

On my new-to-me 2005 LC (196k), I notice a lot of greasy carbon black build-up around the area where the throttle body interfaces to manifold. I've attached a photo to try and show it. The black nastiness extends down beyond what you see in the photo. Hard to tell, but almost appears to emanate from the throttle body gasket, perhaps all round.

Could a compromised throttle body gasket really create this?
Something else at play here?

Among the list of things I'm still planning, I have the throttle body cleaning (and MAF), so I could go the route of pulling and cleaning off the engine. Of course, that creates other challenges, including dealing with coolant and re-calibration stuff. I also still have the TB/WP job, so not sure if there is any advantage to combining (e.g., coolant removal).

Thx. BTW, i8mud = my favorite forum among all the BMW, Porsche and other forums I've joined over the years.

 

[Mike NXP]

Does that stuff wipe clean or is it stained into the metal? Maybe a few more pics would help.

 

[murphthelab]

Yes, it wipes off. Just using a paper towel, it wipes partially off and is dark black and seems moist. See last pic below where I wiped it a bit near top.
The second pic is looking straight down from drivers side. That top clamped, sleeved tube is an oil pipe? Could that be the source?
First pic is looking down on passenger side. You can make out bit of the gasket in 1st and 2nd pics.

 

[Mike NXP]

So that hoses are related to evap emissions. I don't think it's uncommon to have very small amounts of oil blowing by as well and then the oil attracts dust and dirt.

Maybe someone with more smarts than me can chime in but I don't think it's a concern. Clean it up and as time goes on maybe think about removing and inspecting those hoses for cracks / damage and replacing accordingly.

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Replace all those vac hoses with new and the blowout will disappear.

 

[MikeK]

I would be curious if this was done (replacing evap hoses) and follow-up on if it solved the problem, or was it perhaps the throttle body gasket leaking? Mine, at 193k also a 2005 showing same problem but probably 2-3x as worse (some slight pooling of oil down deeper (like his picture #3, but my 'pooling' would be under/behind the visibility of those clamps). Many thanks. (Note: my evap hoses original hoses (I'm 1 onwer), getting brittle esp on air canister - so I will replace them all and report back after degreasing the area and then replacing hoses as suggested by JunCrz89).

 

[murphthelab]

Yeah, you have a good amount of oily blowback going on there.
I can't take pics at the moment of my engine, but I can tell you:
1) Since the earlier postings, I removed, cleaned, reinstalled and calibrated the throttle body. This included new gasket.
2) I replaced pretty much every rubber hose/piece that I could in this area.
3) I also happen to have completed the TBelt job, including extensive part replacement (while you're in there).

So after a few thousand miles, I believe it is still pretty clean. I also believe that the grimey mess was more of an eyesore than an actual issue to worry about. YMMV.

 

[MikeK]

That's great, thanks for update! I might experiment and for the benefit of all just (1) degrease everything, (2) replace all related evap hoses first along with PCV valve, and then wait 3-6 months to see if reappearance occurs before considering (3) taking off the throttle body and replacing that gasket.

???
....I hate monkeying with throttle body, coolant, etc when she runs flawlessly now (& has for all 193k miles).

 

[GVegasG]

Yeah, you have a good amount of oily blowback going on there.
I can't take pics at the moment of my engine, but I can tell you:
1) Since the earlier postings, I removed, cleaned, reinstalled and calibrated the throttle body. This included new gasket.
2) I replaced pretty much every rubber hose/piece that I could in this area.
3) I also happen to have completed the TBelt job, including extensive part replacement (while you're in there).

So after a few thousand miles, I believe it is still pretty clean. I also believe that the grimey mess was more of an eyesore than an actual issue to worry about. YMMV.

How does one calibrate the throttle body? When one has to or should do that?
I am doing starter on 04 LC and just removed the throttle body from manifold. Planning to clean tomorrow and install it.