Oil in Airbox ?

[KrashKarl]

In looking at my 944 n/a airbox to see if the filter was clean or needing replacement, I found that there is a fair bit of oil at the bottom of the airbox. I'm assuming this is blowback from the intake manifold. Does anybody know if this is a normal condition? If not, what problem might this be a symptom of? I'm new to the 944.

Thanks for any information.

[pst]

My experience has been that this oil is what has condensed from blow-by fumes. The crankcase is vented through the air box. This is done to keep these fumes from entering the atmosphere. Some of the fumes condense in the air box and leave an oily residue. If this is bad enough to leak onto your driveway, chances are that your motor is getting tired. My 924 had this problem before I rebuilt the engine.

[3sonfather]

I am also a victim of the "oil in the airbox" as a recent 84' 944 buyer. I discovered about 1/4 cup in the air cleaner resivour. I was hedging that it was related to a vacuum leak since the compression is good (>145 psi). I have not run the car much as I am fixing other things, however I do notice an acrid smell and rough idle during cold startup. I also thought this was related to the vacuum leak (bad brake booster) causing a rich fuel mixture. The rough idle and smog disappears when she warms up. I fixed the vacuum leak and the rought idle and smog at startup persist. I haven't run it enough to know whether I'm collecting oil in the air intake system but I would like to continue correspondence on this matter. Does your oil look dark after a fresh oil change? (as mine does) which may lead to the prior reply regarding blow by (past valves or rings?) This is still a mystery to me.