How much oil mist should a stock CA - 80,000 km be blowing through the intercooler and into the intake?

I recognise that a catch can would be beneficial once the car is rego, but there was a thick layer of oil around the elbow leading into the intercooler. I was expecting a fine mist maybe. Not oil dripping off my fingers when i wipped them around in the elbow.

Early sign of worn seal in Turbo?

smoke is usually a sign of a worn turbo. maybe the seal on the compressor side is damaged and exhaust seal is still ok.

There is nowhere else for oil to get into the intake apart from past the turbo seals though.

Yeah no smoke and you may be right, because it seems like alot of oil to have come out of the Passenger side rocker cover.

Might drop the intake pipe of the turbo and see if oil is comming from the breather.

Cheers

Oil in the intake is not necessariliy a worn turbo. Turbo engines under boost produce a lot of blowby from the cylinders which create oil mist in the sump. That is usually vented into the intake. A good air/oil separator (not a catch can) can fix this problem which doesn't necessarily mean the engine or turbo is stuffed.