silvercookie

Hi guys, joined up just to ask a couple questions.
Im currently using my aunt's 03 TL-S while my WRX is in the shop.

The car has 294k miles on it for reference.

I was just changing the plugs, and for shits and gigs I took off the Upper Intake Manifold cover to see what was going on in there.

There seems to be a massive amount of oil residue in the manifold.

Here are some pictures to help. All i have on me is my droid, sorry for the crap quality.









Is there anything i can do to give it a quick clean besides going to town with some towels?

And any idea what is causing this?

Also, I noticed at idle it "stumbles" for lack of better term.
RPM's are consistent, but it almost feels like it is missing.
I did get CEL's for cylinder 2, 4, and 5 misfires, but i unplugged separately each coil pack while the car was running and each one cause the it to bog down, so all the packs are good.

It was doing this before i changed the plugs and is still doing it now.
I used the NGK Iridium plugs as required.

Oil is changed every 4500-5000 miles according to my aunt as my uncle drove it back and forth from long island to CT 5 days a week from its purchase in 03 up until about 5 months ago when he got a 2011 TL.

Any help is appreciated.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

check pcv and egr valve.

and in this case, seafoam might be great to clean out all that junk!

closetprisoner

clogged EGR passage can contribute to misfiring.. clean in and reinstall..

silvercookie

Ill have to look up the DIY how to get to it.

And i actually have a can of seafoam sitting right next to me.

Do you think the Aerosol version would be good to clean all the caked on oil?
Or should i just pour some into a cup and go to town with a tooth-brush?

I'll look up the DIY. Thanks for the tip.

Must say it is a different world between Subaru's and Acura's.

victus1

Excessive oil? No, this is normal accumulation with mileage. Mine was exactly the same as yours. But it does need regular cleanings...perhaps every 70k or so. Do the diy listed here and it will turn out spotless. You will need to remove the intake to do this properly. You don't need to buy any gaskets other than the throttle body gasket. Remove and clean throttle body and iacv valve, and egr valve too (need to buy an egr gasket).

TheMightyQuinn

carb cleaner will loosen that, but not sure you want to do it with the IM still attached.

silvercookie

I was actually thinking of removing the intake manifold and giving it a thorough cleaning.
Anyone have a link to the DIY? Been on forums for 6 years and still have yet to.have the search cooperate with me

MilwaukeeDave

iTrader: (3)

Just take it of and clean it really good w carb cleaner or spray seafoam.

TheMightyQuinn

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/diy-thermoblok-spacers-install-egr-cleaning-615644/
and
https://acurazine.com/forums/showp...67&postcount=8

silvercookie

Appreciate it. Should be a interesting time.
Stocked up on Carb cleaner and already have a couple cans of the spray seafoam.

TLer trash

If you still have a slight misfire after you do the egr cleaning, you should check the valve adjustment. With the mileage you've got, you probably have exhaust valves with too little clearance which will cause a miss.

3.2TLc

Yeah, as these guys are saying....don't be concerned about the oil, but the EGR passageways definitely require a good cleaning. You'll notice a big difference in what you described as missing at low rpms and idle.

Treat Auntie to a complete tune-up, new NGK's.....air filter.....pcv valve and perhaps even adjust the valves. How is the tranny and T-belt ?

fsttyms1

The oil is normal.

silvercookie

Just put in new iridiums.

Timing belt was done not too long ago i believe. Ill have to check.

New-er trans was put at 198k miles when the original failed.
Air filter was changed last oil change.

silvercookie

Well it was definitely an experience to say the least.

Have to say, it was relatively simple. The biggest PITA was cleaning the actual manifold.
So much oil and crud built up.

It is running so much better and smoother. Threw a can of seafoam in with 1/2 tank left and added some gas to mix it up.

Thanks for all the info guys. Really appreciate it.

01tl4tl

1 can seafoam to half tank gas is Cleaning doseage of 2oz per gal
thats max needed, more doesnt help

those pics should go in a thread of what a clogged egr looks like!

did you run a wire coat hanger thru the length of the egr passage?

silvercookie

Yup, poured it in and filled up to half. Definitely helped now that all of it went through the system.

I had one of those pipe cleaner brushes with soft metal wires on it. Gave it a good cleaning. The amount of crap that came out was disgusting.

01tl4tl

sounds like the actual tool to clean EGR passage,,good job!
a 2nd treatment of seafoam in gas will finish off any residue
in 6 months throw a can in the gas for maitenance dose
ethanol leaves behind a lot of crud,,seafoam removes crud

01tl4tl

might want to -at next regular oil change- add 1/2 can seafoam to oil.
as you have high miles, install any brand oil filter
drive up to a week/200 miles,, then change oil and filter -
oil must be warm at change
makes a major differance

silvercookie

I was actually just about to ask if adding the seafoam to the oil was a good idea or not.

I know on turbo cars it destroy's the seals in the turbo, wasn't sure if it was say for these.

I will definitely do that. This thing needs a oil change severely.

silvercookie

Hmm, guess you can't edit posts on here.

Forgot to add that when i reached about 1/8th of the tank left with seafoam in it, at high rpms under WOT i could see smoke coming out from the exhaust from all the leftover crap in the manifold being sucked in and burned off.

The difference is unbelievable.

I actually got bored last night and took one of my spare intake filters from my WRX and stuck it on the end of the throttle body just for the hell of it.

The sound is incredible, and the top-end definitely increased a little bit.
Never really understood what the big rave about V-Tec was, now i do haha.

Who knew a auto 5 speed could chirp/spin 2nd without VSA on.

HairyMonkey019

iTrader: (7)

LOL, that's pretty funny coming from someone who's rolling with a turbo in their car

silvercookie

Haha.
05 wrx with a 4eat (auto ) with 290whp/390wtq.
Semi built motor and all the good stuff.

I guess V-Tec is the N/a version of a external gate.

silvercookie

I have to say, even though this car is only a temp for another week or so, i was extremely compelled to start ordering parts for it lol. headers/catback, CAI, that A-spec replica lip kit etc haha.

I don't think my aunt would be too fond of it.

B.TL

These cars grow on you. Even tho my tranny blew a month after I bought it, I plan to keep it for a long time.

fsttyms1

I knew that it could, and I can do that into 3rd and 255/35/18s (and im NA)

01tl4tl

seafoam is excellent in the oil when used as directed
suggest new filter for first time as much crud will need to be captured!

I dont know about turbos and seafoam,,ck www.seafoamsales.com
maybe not a vac port method,,,but fuel and oil?

silvercookie

now there appears to be a severe oil leak coming from under the car. le sigh.

My aunt brought it to the shop she uses and dropped it off. We will find out the diagnosis tomorrow.

assclown

iTrader: (1)

You could be a millionaire if you get Halliburton on that. Leaking oil from under the car?

silvercookie

Ha.

Yea under the car. It is all over the bottom of the block and dripping/blowing from the wind all the back down the mid-pipe and on the cross-members.

Last thing i need right now.

It is definitely motor oil though, not trans fluid or anything else.

What blows my mind is that it literally happened out of nowhere.
Left my house, not a single drop under the car. Got to my aunts house and parked, went to move the car 2 hours later and there was a small puddle.

Should have taken pics but i completely forgot.

If i had to describe where it seems to be leaking around it would be if you are looking at the front of the car, straight down from the middle rear sparkplug.

3.2TLc

Any 10 year old 300k motor is going to potentially have some weak gaskets or seals......maybe ya found one of them !!!

silvercookie

Just went with her to pick the car up. The mech said he thinks it is the rear main seal as it is coming from between the trans and the block.

HinesShvines

looks like you have some carbon build up in the egr ports and passage to the egr valve. I would make sure the plenum gasket is on in the right direction and all egr ports are open and free of carbon. my 03 cls had a major issue and I found the plenum gasket was installed backwards. it is almost identical looking when installed wrong leaving some egr ports open and others covered.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^good tip!