crazy oil leak

[plv]

ca18det in my s13 got a massive oil leak. i havent had time to go under the car yet but i can see that oil is coming out from somewhere above the steering rack, then dripping on the steering rack and dripping on the ground. my friend say it could be the line that goes to the turbo? judging by the location, could it be something else that is leaking? (im a noob...)

[plv]

i forgot to say, it doesnt leak at all when the car is parked. leaks like crazy when its running, i left it idling on my driveway for 5 minutes and there was a huge puddle of oil under it...

[wewders]

First, make sure your engine oil level is within tolerance.

I would wipe everything down, put an oil pan under the spot it's been leaking to, and get under the car with a flashlight or a shop light and have my friend start the car. If it's leaking really badly, you should be able to pinpoint it that way.

[dattodude]

Maybe a split turbo return pipe. That's the only thing that will create puddles. Unless the rear crank seal is completely chewed out. I've seen rear crank seals leave an unbroken trail of oil at 10mph :-)

[float_6969]

It's also possible that the HG is leaking. Mine leaks oil at the back of the head on the exhaust side of the motor.

[RS12Turbo]

sounds like the return hose to me too

[plv]

Ok it was the oil return line. The previous owner had clamped a really ghetto hose connecting the oil tube coming from the turbo to the nipple on the oil pan; the clamps were so tight that they cut the hose. So i got some pliers and ripped it off.

[plv]

Im now wondering what to do. The oil tube and the nipple are at an angle and are 1/4" appart. I need the car running ASAP so i think the easiest way is to put a new hose there like the one before but that is going to be impossible since the tube is so close to the nipple (like i said i had to rip the old one off...)

[RS12Turbo]

I'm using this fitting from atp turbo.......

with this barbed fitting........

Plenty of room to slip on a straight piece of 5/8" piece of hose.......just make sure you use hose designed for oil.......Auto Zone carries it, for like $6 a foot with a lifetime warranty. Think they sell it as universal power steering hose, behind the counter. Don't use heater hose........the oil will seep right through it.

Here it is on my motor...........

[dattodude]

Good advice. Get the right type of hose. I'm not sure that you need to go to the trouble to use the special fitting though.

I also must say that a kinked return line may result in a backup of oil, causing oil to push past the turbo oil seals and cause a smokey exhaust at higher revs. If running non-synthetic oil, might also cause a build up of carbon crap inside the turbo Centre housing (CHRA).

It's good that you found the cause.

[Arther3]

i would add that you want to make darn sure that whatever hose u use does not have a crimp or fold in it after you install it. oreillys sells a peice of hose that has a 90 degree bend molded into it and with the right clamps, "I" have not had problems with heater hose leaking oil.

[Ca_laurier]

gran a heat gun, some hose and you will have the job done in 10 min's tops

i had the same problem. next time you have an oil leak clean everything with braked cleaner and whala

[RS12Turbo]

"I" have not had problems with heater hose leaking oil.

Give it time.......................it doesn't actually "leak" though, but instead the oil will "sweat" through the heater hose causig an oily mess under the car over time, which little to none usually will make it to the pavement.