Octavia Mk1, ASV 110 TDi.

 

I was checking over the car for boost leaks a couple of days ago. After taking a couple of bits of pipe off and a sensor, all internal surfaces had an oil coating. Still damp, too. Should I be concerned?

They nearly all do this after a while guv'; drain the SMIC and don't sweat it unless you have a significant oil consumption.

SMIC?

Yeah, with my car's current form I was worried the turbo was on its way out, or something similar.

As above.

 

Perfectly normal.

 

It's due to the crank case ventilation which vents hot oil vapours into the intake which gets into the pipework.

 

As long as the pipe work isn't full of oil then nothing to worry about. Should just be a light coating inside.

Side Mounted InterCooler - The reason the pipes from turbo to inlet manifold go down to the front right corner of the engine bay and back.

"Thomas EXOVCDS" on youtube recommends driving a small screw into the lowest point of the SMIC, letting it drain for a while, then reinserting the screw as a quick way of draining the SMIC. I tried it and had no issues when I did it. Up to you if you think it's stupid or not though. 

On 2/8/2017 at 17:14, yesiamtom said:

"Thomas EXOVCDS" on youtube recommends driving a small screw into the lowest point of the SMIC, letting it drain for a while, then reinserting the screw as a quick way of draining the SMIC. I tried it and had no issues when I did it. Up to you if you think it's stupid or not though. 

  I wouldn't drill plastic in case of cracking under pressure or ally in situ because of swarf,  did think some years back of fitting a small(micro) pipe and self pressured drain pot but never did,  I found emptying every thee years ok but do have a catch tank further up anyway

On 08/02/2017 at 16:19, KenONeill said:

Side Mounted InterCooler - The reason the pipes from turbo to inlet manifold go down to the front right corner of the engine bay and back.

How easy are those things to remove, or just drain? I've only ever looked that direction once whilst replacing my MAP sensor.

Drivers side wheel off, arch liner off and it just sitting in front of you

Yeah very easy to get to.

 

I took mine off on my old Seat Cordoba and cleaned it inside and out. There was a lot of crud built up on the outside that meant no air was flowing through.

On 21/02/2017 at 11:44, Phil-E said:

Yeah very easy to get to.

 

I took mine off on my old Seat Cordoba and cleaned it inside and out. There was a lot of crud built up on the outside that meant no air was flowing through.

 

What did you use to clean it?