Sludge in TB and plenum

Question:

Although the K&N doesn’t help, the 4.0L is prone to pull an extremely small amount of oil through the breather by the oil fill which tends to build up to a residue or sludge if not cleaned out. My 92 Ranger does the same thing w or w/o the K&N. Supposed to have the throttle body and intake cleaned occasionally. I can’t remember the mileage interval off the bat though. Rich

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It is most likely oil from the K&N filter.  This is a common occurence with > K&N users.  Doesn’t hurt anything, but you might want to use a little less > oil on your filter next time. > I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned > and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I > would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says > specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the > coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole > upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of > smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little > over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford > dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is > it normal? Thanks, Chris > P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at > www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Response:

Last time I looked at the throttle body on my Father’s 4.0L Ranger, it had the "Do Not Clean" stickler on the top. No mention of cleaning the throttle body is in the maintenace guide. However, I suspect it might not be a bad idea – just be careful what you clean it with. It theory the throttle body as a special coating to prevent build-up. From what I have seen, it doesn’t work, or at least not very well. However, if you want to see real crud, I’ll send you pictures of the intake tract of my SO Plymouth mini van. Regards, Ed White – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Although the K&N doesn’t help, the 4.0L is prone to pull an extremely small > amount of oil through the breather by the oil fill which tends to build up > to a residue or sludge if not cleaned out. My 92 Ranger does the same thing > w or w/o the K&N. Supposed to have the throttle body and intake cleaned > occasionally. I can’t remember the mileage interval off the bat though. > Rich > It is most likely oil from the K&N filter.  This is a common occurence > with > K&N users.  Doesn’t hurt anything, but you might want to use a little less > oil on your filter next time. > > I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned > > and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I > > would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says > > specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the > > coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole > > upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of > > smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little > > over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford > > dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is > > it normal? Thanks, Chris > > P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at > > www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Response:

So does mine, and I don’t think its in my manual either. The dealer recommends they do the cleaning which is somewhere around a $100 if I remember correctly. You’re quite correct that the special coating on the TB is easily damaged if the wrong chemical is used to clean it. Advance Auto parts carries a couple of different brands of TB and intake cleaner for fuel injected vehicles. As far as real crud goes the valves on my 87 Cougar 3.8L might take the cake. There was so much carbon buildup on them if the engine could handle the pressure and heat w/out exploding I probably would have had diamond coated valves. Found out when I did the 100k mile preventive maint. head gaskets that the 3.8L engines seem to require. Rich – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Last time I looked at the throttle body on my Father’s 4.0L Ranger, it had the > "Do Not Clean" stickler on the top. No mention of cleaning the throttle body is > in the maintenace guide. However, I suspect it might not be a bad idea – just be > careful what you clean it with. It theory the throttle body as a special coating > to prevent build-up. From what I have seen, it doesn’t work, or at least not > very well. However, if you want to see real crud, I’ll send you pictures of the > intake tract of my SO Plymouth mini van. > Regards, > Ed White > Although the K&N doesn’t help, the 4.0L is prone to pull an extremely small > amount of oil through the breather by the oil fill which tends to build up > to a residue or sludge if not cleaned out. My 92 Ranger does the same thing > w or w/o the K&N. Supposed to have the throttle body and intake cleaned > occasionally. I can’t remember the mileage interval off the bat though. > Rich > > It is most likely oil from the K&N filter.  This is a common occurence > with > > K&N users.  Doesn’t hurt anything, but you might want to use a little less > > oil on your filter next time. > > > I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned > > > and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I > > > would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says > > > specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the > > > coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole > > > upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of > > > smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little > > > over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford > > > dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is > > > it normal? Thanks, Chris > > > P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at > > > www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Response:

I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is it normal? Thanks, Chris P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Response:

> I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned > and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I > would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says > specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the > coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole > upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of > smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little > over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford > dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is > it normal? Thanks, Chris > P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at > www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Crankcase oil vapor through the PCV valve?

Response:

It is most likely oil from the K&N filter.  This is a common occurence with K&N users.  Doesn’t hurt anything, but you might want to use a little less oil on your filter next time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have a 1997 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV engine. Today I cleaned > and re-oiled the K&N air filter, cleaned the MAF sensor, and thought I > would take a look at the TB which has a sticker on it that says > specially coated. I swabbed my finger inside to try and feel the > coating and it’s got sludge on it!!! I got a maglight and the whole > upper intake plenum is coated with this sludge crap that sort of > smells like oil. I’m not losing any oil and the engine has a little > over 87,000 miles and runs great. I made an appointment at my Ford > dealer to have this checked out. Anyone know what could cause this? Is > it normal? Thanks, Chris > P.S. A pic of the sludge can be seen at > www.explorerforum.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=718944

Response:

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