Why is this item turning blue?

Went to check the oil and seen the piece my finger is pointing to was extremely hot and turning blue.  Any thoughts? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

If that is the pipe coming off the exhaust, it's because hot gases are being recirculated through it as part of emissions programming. Can't quite tell where it's coming from or going to in that shot.It's one way valve.

its a one way valve from the air pump to the exhaust manifold,.
if it's turning blue,.exhaust is back feeding in to it,. its going to melt the rubber hose,. maybe set fire to things,.

you need a new one,.

The AIR system has been deactivated. I can just remove the AIR tubes and plug the holes?

rhino wrote:

The AIR system has been deactivated.  I can just remove the AIR tubes and plug the holes?  

yes. Do it!

I can just remove the AIR tubes and plug the holes?

Absolutely. The AIR system provides no useful function under 99.9% of driving situations.

On a good day, it operates for about the first thirty seconds when the engine is cold to reduce un-burned hydrocarbons while the engine is rich. On a bad day, it keeps operating and burns the rest of the car with it.

You can use oil drain plugs to seal up the holes when you remove the fittings. I think they're Dodge ones that fit.

AIR tubes are removed. Going to try a couple recessed 3/4" plugs. Anything I should put on the threads?

I dropped a copper washer into the seat, and used a nickel hi-temp anti-sieze on the threads when I did mine.

See this thread for more info: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

The brass caps you need are 3/4" threaded for gas, not NPT. Bring the male fitting with you to Lowes to match them up. If you want to get ambitious, you can remove the air pump itself and nearly all of the associated tubing. Add the sticker in the above thread, and repeat: "These are not the droids you are looking for".

Not a b-body but you get the idea...

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Jeez,Eric that pic makes it look quite dangerous.

That could ruin your day.

WOW! That pretty much puts the "I just want to disconnect the air pump, and leave everything else in place" argument to rest.