oil in throttle body

[dogsled]

so my V6 LS starts throwing cel, wrench light, fail safe mode codes for throttle position sensor. This is after all coils plugs and valve cover gaskets were replaced about 10-15K miles ago. I tried a junk yard throttle body, no joy, same issues. Bought a new one from Rockauto, still have an issue, but back on topic. When I pulled it apart both times, there is oil in the throttle body that is coming from the PCV valve as there is also oil in the line going to the PCV valve. I replaced the PCV valve but the oil is still there, I read somewhere that there was supposed to be a baffle in the valve cover gasket for this. Is that accurate? It is not a lot of oil, but I feel like there should not be any in there. It uses maybe 1/2 quart between changes.

 

[joegr]

Some oil is normal. Excessive oil in the intake from the PCV is often caused by excessive blow-by from worn out rings. However, at 1/2 quart every 5K miles I don't think you have anything to worry about there.

I certainly wouldn't assume that this isn't a marginal coil issue just because they are only 10K to 15K miles old. I would still have the coils as the prime suspect. If you are unwilling to replace the coils and plugs (use Motorcraft and NGK), at least get them stress tested/scoped out.

 

[dogsled]

If you are unwilling to replace the coils and plugs (use Motorcraft and NGK), at least get them stress tested/scoped out.

I wish I knew how to stress test them. This was a hand me down car for my daughter that has turned into a money pit. I have never owned a more problematic vehicle.
I am probably going to swap them out again and get rid of the car once it is running. Whatever idiot at ford that decided to put the coils under the intake needs a good a$$ whoppin.

 

[LS4me]

Whatever idiot at ford that decided to put the coils under the intake needs a good a$$ whoppin.

You mean like every FWD V6?

How's your engineering and flow design degrees working out for you?

 

[dogsled]

You mean like every FWD V6?

How's your engineering and flow design degrees working out for you?

My Ph.D in electrical engineering is working out fine for me, better than the boys at Lincoln. I test missile systems that would never function if the boys at Lincoln worked on them. How's ur job at McDonalds?

 

[Telco]

You mean like every FWD V6?

How's your engineering and flow design degrees working out for you?

My Ph.D in electrical engineering is working out fine for me, better than the boys at Lincoln. I test missile systems that would never function if the boys at Lincoln worked on them. How's ur job at McDonalds?

 

[LS4me]

My Ph.D in electrical engineering is working out fine for me, better than the boys at Lincoln. I test missile systems that would never function if the boys at Lincoln worked on them. How's ur job at McDonalds?

Working out pretty well, thank you very much.

Electrical engineering is quite a bit different than air flow into an engine trying to get the best compromise between power, emissions and economy. Ever been to a factory to see a car built? I was fortunate enough in the early days of the LS to get a factory tour and learned a LOT about the constrictions on building a car. If you're so much smarter than the Lincoln engineers why don't you go straighten them out? I'm sure they would welcome your input.

Same with suspension. Ever hear of Michael Schumacher? His chief suspension designer was the lead suspension designer for the LS. I think he has forgotten more about suspensions than most of us will ever learn.

FYI, the LS was killed because of Ford's financial situation and they decided to not sell it in Europe. They were making a smitten on what few sales there were. It's easy to make judgements from 15 years later.

I'm done with your pissing and moaning instead of just fixing any (well documented) problems and moving on....... You sound like a little girl!

BTW, I'm a retired Air Traffic Controller and never worked at McDonald's. I started at Carl's Jr.

 

[dogsled]

You mean like every FWD V6?

By the way, my LS is rear wheel drive, let me know if you need help understanding the difference. And my Ford Ranger V6 does not require one to remove the intake to change the spark plugs, so you might want to check up on that like all V6 thing between naps. How is the weather there on the left coast?

 

[Telco]

I think what is forgotten here is that engineers have to work with bean counters. That means that the engineering may not be the best in the world. When you work with a car company where the engineers rule, you get things like Ferraris. When you work with a company where it's all bean counters all the way, you get things like Pintos. The LS would fall somewhere in the middle. Engineers must also make compromises that allow for mass production, and not for repair actions later. I also look at stuff and wonder what those idiots were thinking, but I already know why they do what they do. It doesn't mean I like it, just that I understand it, up to a point. The LS cooling system, for example, has several engineering flaws that should never have been such as using plastic for parts that are both heat cycled and under pressure (thermostat) when designing it with a standard one piece thermostat like every other modern engine in the world uses would have eliminated the thermostat housing as a failure point. Or, the use of a plastic in the degas bottle that cannot handle heat and pressure, developing cracks within 100K miles for an engine that is super sensitive to air in the system. I think we can only be thankful that they didn't spec Dexcool for the coolant, because Dexcool exposed to heat, pressure and air becomes an acidic sludge that will actually cut holes in the heads. Imagine having to replace the heads every time you replace the degas bottle.

 

[dogsled]

Agreed. You make some very valid points, Telco. Everything in a design in my world is a compromise between weight, power draw and performance. Nothing comes for free and that is before the front office gets involved.

 

[SoonerLS]

By the way, my LS is rear wheel drive

Seriously? You must have, like, the only one in existence!

BTW, that was sarcasm. Just like LS4me's comment about FWD V6es.

And my Ford Ranger V6 does not require one to remove the intake to change the spark plugs, so you might want to check up on that like all V6 thing between naps.

Last I checked, Rangers, regardless of engine, were never sold here in a FWD layout. You might want to brush up on your reading comprehension skills between naps.

 

[dogsled]

Seriously? You must have, like, the only one in existence!

BTW, that was sarcasm. Just like LS4me's comment about FWD V6es.

Last I checked, Rangers, regardless of engine, were never sold here in a FWD layout. You might want to brush up on your reading comprehension skills between naps.

Yep, ranger is RWD, I never said anything to the contrary. I understood the post just fine. LS4me was trying to tell me that all V6's have to have the intake removed like the LS to change the coils and that is just not correct.

 

[joegr]

Yep, ranger is RWD, I never said anything to the contrary. I understood the post just fine. LS4me was trying to tell me that all V6's have to have the intake removed like the LS to change the coils and that is just not correct.

No. He was trying to tell you that the V6 engine used in the LS is also used in FWD cars, and that's why the intake manifold is designed the way that it is.

 

[SoonerLS]

I understood the post just fine.

Obviously not, as this:

LS4me was trying to tell me that all V6's have to have the intake removed like the LS to change the coils

is not an accurate depiction of what he said. He didn't say "all V6's," he said "FWD V6." That's an important distinction, making your Ranger reference irrelevant.

His point was that there are packaging requirements that have to be met in addition to the flow design needed to feed the engine; if they could've just run velocity stacks up through the hood to get the required airflow into the engine, you wouldn't have this problem, but that was not an option.

 

[dogsled]

making your Ranger reference irrelevant.

Any my point was that the Ranger is RWD just like the LS and does not have the intake in the way of the plugs. I did not know that the LS engine was also used in FWD cars as joegr pointed out. Anway it is what it is, my apologies for ruffling any feathers. Happy 4th to all.