I'm sure a thin coating of oil is fine unless anyone can say otherwise. Re blanking the egrs there is a big thread which discusses the pros and cons. Ones that have done it havent reported any cons so worth considering. Current 2007 TDV8 Vogue Buckingham Blue

I always had a coating of oil on my left hand hose as you look at the car, or O/S, the right one dry which bothered me as well for a while. I read in the WSM its to do with the oil seperater which removes gases form the crankcase, I can't find the exact wording but its something like (the gas is returned to the inlet side of the air induction system prior to the o/s turbo charger, any oil returned to the sump). Mine never used any oil to speak of even at 165k so I gave up worrying and just made sure it got regular care and oil changes.

That's just what I wanted to hear really,thanks guys def think ill give the egr blank a go now ,then it's the sticky o/side rear brake caliper to sort lol. 2009 Vogue SE Zermatt silver