Mysterious oil buildup on air cleaner lip

[larsjm]

I couldn't find a thread on this subject, but I'm sure it's been covered before. Every Milano I've looked at and everyone I've talked to that has owned a Milano has mentioned the mysterious oil buildup that occurs on the front lip of the air cleaner unit.

Recently I've found it's mostly gas that dumps down the intake and collects dirt on the way, to end up looking like engine oil.
The culprit?
The cold start injector, which I've found to be a somewhat useless device anyway. My milano starts up and runs great without the cold start injector hooked up, and now there is no more mysterious oil buildup on the air cleaner, it's completely dry.

My recommendation is to disconnect your cold start injector and try starting and driving your Milano a bit. If it starts and runs fine, leave it disconnected. I'm sure it saves on gas too.

[1969 mia amore]

wow: just did it!!! guees what ??? I've found it's mostly gas that dumps down the intake and collects dirt on the way, to end up looking like engine oil.
ya men

[verdemilano]

Actually it is oil! There is a hose from the crankcase vent on the valve cover right into the plenum. Gravity takes some of it down to the air cleaner element.

[larsjm]

I always thought the Oil Vapor Separator (crankcase ventalator thingy) was the culprit as well.
All I know is that since disconnecting the cold start injector, the "oil" buildup hasn't come back. Whereas before it was always there, even after a short drive and I had just wiped it up. But feel free to just keep wiping up "oil" every time you pop the hood. My air cleaner box is actually clean now.

[romroc]

It's from the oil separator. If it was gas you'd smell it. It's a very old problem, affects GTV-6'S also, Fred Di Matteo had complained to ARI a long time ago with no answer in sight. It apparently doesn't affect driveability at all, but you may want to clean the throttle throat just to be sure.