I realize this is a really old thread, but this just started happening to my G4 fairly recently. Or at least I just noticed it. :b I've had it since 2004. The grease or graphite is not on the screen panel, but on the extreme, right-hand corner of the keyboard base that's above the disc insert slot. This is the surface of the base, along the tiny seam with the base frame.
I would include a photo, but when I tried to get a good one with my camera, it didn't produce a usable pic - the area is just too small.
I use my mouse on the wide space to the right of the touch pad and started noticing an occasional gritty feel when I moved the digital mouse. Nothing felt gritty on the mouse bottom itself. Wiping at the surface usually fixed it.
But it kept re-occurring. I took a closer look at the mouse bottom and noticed a black, oily substance on the grey frame of the part that depresses when you click. Some of it wiped off, some didn't.
Eventually I looked closer at the edge of the keyboard panel with my myopic eyes and noticed a slight smear of black right where the join is of the flat panel and the 1/8" outer rim. It would smear black when I rubbed it, felt and smelled oily and left black smudges on my finger. It appeared to come from the tiny seam where the base and frame join.
After cleaning the smudges off a few times, the mat aluminum finish became shiny - the substance was abrasive! The affected area is about an eighth-of-an-inch wide by one inch right along the edge. There is no similar residue anywhere else on any part of the machine.
I do not move my machine much. It sits on an Airdesk (a swivel, bed or desk-side, adjustable laptop stand).
So I just googled and discovered this thread.
I notice that nobody on the thread came up with a definitive diagnosis on what was happening or mentioned contacting Apple. Of course, I haven't either.
Apparently it isn't affecting the machine in any noticeable way, but oozing, micro-macabrasion isn't something I ever heard of or think is a good thing - especially since I don't sling it about in any way. The Airdesk swivels away from the bed and back, that's all.
Besides the Unfortunate Incident with some furniture polish overspray that dried on the lid top and left permanent whitish spots {sob}, my Mac case is in good physical condition. I've always used my leather keyboard cover, so-no screen damage.
I'd just be interested to know what's leaking? If it is lube for the hinges, it's migrated a long way from home. If it is some kind of graphite for the keys, or the touch pad button. Well, I never use that so . . .?
Do I contact Apple and ask? Will they hasten to answer just as they did my complaints about the stupidly designed and fragile power cord - i.e: silence?
Has anyone found a good cleaner that will remove the "oil" without taking off the finish?
Am I whining about nothing?
Liz
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