Well yesterday I finally broke down and did the free mods to my LS1 and also added a K&N filter and got rid of the stock paper one. While I had the MAF assembly off the car I noticed something, the inside of my TB, and the blade itself are pretty much coated in a black substance, almost the consistancy of a very thin layer of tar. Got me worried though, if my TB looks like this one can assume the rest of the internals do also right? And if this is the case what do I do to clean it up?

 

Step 1, put a new paper airfilter back in and throw the K&N away. Oil = crap everywhere on the MAF and TB. Its a big, fat waste of money anyway.

 

step 2= take the k&n out and clean it off... put it back and then burn your paper one... my maf and tb look still brand new and i have had a k&n since the life of my car

 

The only time the maf and internals will be coated by K&N filter oils is by USER ERROR.

This is because these people live by the motto more is better so they soak the filter element with oil. If you can't oil an air filter, you have no business modding cars. Those that believe that K&N filters allow more junk into the engine, show us your oil analysis to prove that. I'll gladly show you my oil analysis after having K&N oil filters on my cars for most of their running life.

Usually the internals will be coated due to the EGR system OR the PCV system. LS1's litteraly suck oil in, and the EGR tends to leave a nasty carbon layer on the inside.

A good seafoam or similar agent will clean a good chunk of it out, but for the most part, if it's a fine layer and not flaking off, its not going to affect performance at all.

 

Yeah, I know the K&N did not cause this because as far I as know the car has never had a performance filter installed unitll I decided to do it, which is when I noticed the problem. I also agree that people need to understand how to actually oil up an air filter instead of just basically soaking the filter but actually following the instructions.

EDIT: OH forgot to mention the MAF is spotless, not a drop hint of this coating, so whatever it is, is entering after the maf.

As far as the internals go I will try a good seafoaming or something and see if that clears her up. Thanks for the input.

 

I apologize, I thought you meant that after you installed the K&N you noticed all of that crap on your TB, and I figured you were over oiling the filter.
BTW yeah, Seafoam should clear that up, and use the TB spray too.

 

Sounds like soot. Just get some electrical contact cleaner for the MAF and some t-body cleaner and have at it periodically.

Seafoam works well for internal engine cleaning.

 

Wow I was about to post the same problem Thanks for the post,

 

Thats from the PCV valve, has nothing to do with the air filter.

 

I second this. The PCV system is designed to pull gasses from the tappet covers to keep the crank case gasses from escaping into the atmosphere. Well these gasses contain oil mist which will condense onto the inside surfaces of the intake and throttlebody. It's perfectly normal.

 

Weird how common knowledge kinda dissapears after a while.. This was proven back in 98/99.

 

Thanks for all the help guys, I am gonna pick up some seafoam tomorrow prolly, put however much it recommends in the gas tank and run the rest through the brake boost line

 

HA well check out Bob the oil guy!

I am a fan and long time owner of a K&N but it DOES NOT filter the best AT ALL!! there was a controlled test done (oilguy). His real-world terst result showed what logically made sense, the highest flowing filter let more dirt through, and the NAPA gold paper element filtered best, but flowed worst. no surprises there, but particles of dirt only a couple microns in size arent gonna do sh*t to a car. 'Back N tha day they used to run the crappiest paper elements on the carb motors and with proper oil changes the engines last 190k+

 

heres the link: http://bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm Dont buy a foam one either. Foam is mediocre in filtration and flow, plus they SUCK to service. the K&N is best. if it caused engine problems do you think 90% of the people who are on here would use it?

 

If it caused problems do you think GM would put out a TSB about them, wait, nevermind.