Nah that's the compressor intake.  (cold side) 
but you can see why I say I want to clean my intercooler /  piping :P
I haven't taken the hot side off.. I really hope it's not too bad. 
 
I'm starting to guess that my o2 sensor might be covered in oil :p
 
edit: it's quite a thick coating too...
 

so anyone got any tips on stuff I can clean this with? I reckon it's gonna need soaking or some crazy penetrating -ie seafoam or a few cans of degreeser - it's on there REALLY bad.

o2 sensor shouldn't get affected too much as that oil will get burned up in the combustion. 
Just use hot water and degreaser + old toothbrush, that should get it. :)
 

Thats def not good man.firstly someone was running a airfilter with a hole in it or no airfilter at all. Secondly you have too much blowby. Catch csn should fix that problem.if the compressor side is like this.then your hot pipe and cooler are going to be similar.

Have you checked how much oil is in ur catch can?

Ahh. Catch can has only gone into the car last weekend. Hardly driven since.

The intake def needs sorting.

I'm going to clean and monitor catch can. The pic was taken a long time ago, well before the can went in.

The excessive oil indicates something else like turbo seals,
Or like you said, something crappy.

I have 737 landing gear cleaner. Might use that :p

blowby is to be expected in a 20 year old engine though.........
 
If it were the turbo seals, it would be AFTER the turbo though, the hot side, wouldn't it??.
It's just a bad Toyota design, since the gen3 comes with a "catch can" factory. They wouldn't have added it if it were unnecessary.
 
You work for Qantas?? lol 
 

ahh okies.... either way I'm looking forward to cleaning.
 
nah I don't :) mate does :)

Turbo seals will show up after turbo yes. Have a look at the pcv valve hose and see if it's the same condition.most likely will be. More boost will only make it worse. Your intercooler it's probably now coated with all this stuff too making heat transfer non existant. I suspect the previous owner had s pod filter on there and didnt secure it properly which then started rubbing on the fuel pipes and has ripped the material which lets dust in that combined with heavy blowby will give you whats in your intake. Id use a lot of deglreaser and shove s rag in one end and poul out the other

You'd know pretty damn quickly if its the turbo seals.... I've seen a mates CX7 with a rooted turbo and it just blows out massive clouds of blue/white smoke whilst idling. 
Its pretty different from 20 years of sludge buildup, from the crankcase breather.

Thanks Guys :) MUCH appreciate the advice :) will start on this tomorrow.  I expect the intercooler to be a coated mess!
 
if you read previous things in my thread, the car hasn't had a gentle life (before me), wasn't maintained that well, but is slowly getting there. :)