Just an update on this PCV fix. It's made a wold of difference in keeping the throttle body and intake tube clear of oil vapor and oil condensate.
I changed the oil today and just look at the difference. The throttle body is clean and didn't even require any throttle body cleaner -- just a quick wipe with a rag and there was very little residue.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0777%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0778%20Medium.jpg)
The oil trap in the intake tube was virtually spotless. Whereas in previous oil changes, after 5K miles the oil trap was filled with condensate and oily gunk, today the intake tube was almost pristine. This is what I cleaned out of the tube with a rag ...
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0780%20Medium.jpg)
.. inside the tube was virtually spotless.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0779%20Medium.jpg)
Compare that to previous 5K oil change intervals, and the difference is stunning.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0648%20Medium.jpg)
Bottom line -- to keep the dreaded StabiliTrak / Traction Control problem from reoccurring, the PCV fix is the permanent way to go.
This is THE permanent fix for all those nasty gunked up throttle body plates and getting rid of those Traction Control codes.
The main issue is the oil blow-by from the PCV system that accumulates the oil trap in the intake tube. It becomes VERY dirty with oil and that gunk is sucked back up through the throttle body.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0649%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0648%20Medium.jpg)
The problem obviously lies with the PCV system -- specifically the PCV valve gets clogged; which in turn increases crankcase pressures, and forces more oil vapors into the intake trap.
The solution is to replace the PCV valve (a $18 part at NAPA), or mod the current valve to be less restrictive and cure the problem once and for all. I chose to do the latter.
The PCV valve is located on top of the RR cylinder bank (the one closest to the firewall) -- right behind the throttle body. In fact once you disconnect the intake tube for cleaning, you can see the PCV valve close to the firewall. It has a hose attached that connects it to the top of the left cylinder bank. The hose connection to the left cylinder bank is difficult, so I only disconnected the PCV connection which has a simple push-in disconnect.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT2272%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0638%20Medium.jpg)
To get it out I used a body clip tool to catch the valve under the lip and lever it up and out
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0650%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0641%20Medium.jpg)
The valve has two breather holes on the bottom end and one of the two holes was clogged with carbon -- hence my oil vapor problem.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0642%20Medium.jpg)
shining a light underneath it shows the restriction -- one hole is closed and the other one is partially open
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0643%20Medium.jpg)
The fix is to drill all the holes out with a 3/32" drill bit -- and then clean it out with lots of carb cleaner solvent.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0644%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0645%20Medium.jpg)
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0646%20Medium.jpg)
Shining a light under the valve shows that this fix makes the passages much less restrictive -- and is considered a permanent fix.
(http://i357.photobucket.com/albums/oo18/goodfellow_2004/Traverse/PICT0647%20Medium.jpg)
Everything cleaned up and res-installed and this fix will go a long way to keep the oil out of the throttle body and prevent the dreaded traction control stall and power drop problem.