Is oil in my turbo normal?

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

This may soound like a stupid question but is it normal if I stick my finger in the cold side of the turbo(intake side) and I pull it out with oil on it?

Post by **Silviagirl79** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

IF you find a lot in there, it’s definetly not good. It means your turbo is on it’s way out. Mine had a lot of oil in it, so I will have to upgrade my turbo sometime in the near future. Aww I’m soo sad……

Post by **GraySilvia** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

how much oil?? A little oil residue is normal because on a stock setup, the engine breather blows a little oil into the intake side of the turbo. However, if there's significant oil and/or metallic shavings (Aluminum powder) then that's bad

Post by **Silviagirl79** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

I just said that....yes Gman13 A LOT is bad..a little is ok...Check out my pic. Was yours like my pic?

Post by **GraySilvia** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Quote »A small amount of oil in your turbo is ok, because the ball bearing need lubrication.[/quote]

That's a big negative. There's a seal between the center section housing and the compressor wheel. If you're getting oil through that seal, ANY oil, that's bad, your turbo is shot. Most turbos have a residue there because the crank case breather is plumbed back into the intake and oil blows through it, hence the reason why so many people have a catch can. Also, turbos are internally lubricated, why would there be oil or a need for oil to come in from the compressor?

Post by **GraySilvia** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Quote »I just said that....[/quote]

Hi, i was posting at the same time you were and your post didn't show up til after i posted mine

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

My finger didn't look anything like yours so and I didn't find andy grit in the oil so I'm thinking it is okThanks

Post by **yellow_jacket** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Post by **Silviagirl79** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

That's not my finger...lol it's Mattbacks

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Now that I look at silviagirl's pic I am sticking my finger in the other pipe that goes in to the turbo. The intake side.

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

does that make a difference?

Post by **themadscientist** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

could be oil from the breather hose off the motor or the turbo could be going out, just keep an eye on it. If your car starts smoking the guy behind you will let you know:D

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

heheh thanks

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

I had a LARGE quantity of oil inside my stock SMIC.. but the pipes were relatively clean.. I am chalking it up to years of blow-by. If not.. new turbo soon.

Post by **Silviagirl79** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

yeah wow I dont think your SR horror story can get any worse

Post by **themadscientist** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

maybe it was one of those oil to air intercoolers!:)

Post by **Cyberkreig** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

hmm.. not the response I wanted. Guess I should start shoppin for a turbo!

Post by **Gmans13** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

turbo seems to be working fine right now but...migh be shopping for a new one soon.

Post by **pampadori** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

oil WILL travel out of the valvecover, down the hose into the intake of the turbo, and then into the intercooler pipes. this is almost normal. another cause of oil in the turbo is if the motor was ever set on its side, oil will run down the same hose. these turbos are pretty tough. usually the turbo will leak oil out the exhaust side after hard running. you will see some oil smoke out the tailpipe.

i'm just saying don't get too worried. the turbo is probably fine. and even if its not, i'll like $150.shaun

Website · Post by **gtune4** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

my idle just got really rough today and lots of smoke out the back. I used to have the oil on the compressor side. does this mean my turbine is done. this just started today.

Post by **pampadori** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

no because it wouldn't effect your idle. i bet its black smoke and not blue smoke. check for large boost leaks.shaun

Website · Post by **gtune4** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

you were right! I didn't notice any leak, but the smoke was blackish. I reset the comp, reset tps and idle, works great.

Does anyone know how you adjust the throttle plate screw? the guy at nissan told me not to f*** with it, but it was already too late.

Website · Post by **cpt276** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

I recently retrieved my car from a "supposed" reputable shop. Anyway, I picked it up "unfinished, & incomplete."

Here's my situation, question (& fear). As I was looking into the pipe where the intake pipe & filter would go, I noticed there was quite a bit of fluid sitting in there. It looks like oil. How bad is this, and what should I do?

In the pic, you can see some of the oil smeared on the side of the pipe.

Thanks in advance,Brian

Post by **pampadori** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

brian, the oil is usually from three things....1, the valvecover vent will have blowby coming out under boost. the other end of this hose is on your intake and the turbo sucks it in. somewhat normal. if you have vaccum on that vent "t" at idle, its nothing to worry about usually.

2. the turbo seals will leak when they sit long. it should be minimal after a while unless the turbo is just shot.

3. the motor was tipped over during shipping, and oil ran down the valvecover "t" and into the turbo inlet.

high boost will usually cause more noticable blowby. almost every turbo motor i have seen, has had this oil coating. i would just track the amount. when a motor gets very worn, it can be asmuch as a qt coming out of the t during a hard run. thats a bad motor. (i had one once).

also, the black box that is plumbed into the vent system, looks like a catchcan...this is actually a oil separator and will greatly keep down the amount of oil. It must be plumbed correctly. the vent coming out of the block under the exhaust manifold must enter this can on the bottom, then the top of the can goes to the valvecover "t". just like it does from the factory. if you take that black box apart, you will see it is more or less a filter and traps oil from being spit up with the blowby air.

on a side note, blowby is normal...to an extent. shaun

Website · Post by **cpt276** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Thank You!! That was very helpful!

Fixing the situation, I will remove the exhaust manifold (so I can get to the turbo), remove the turbo, and drain the oil from the turbo & pipe. When reassembling, I will probably need new gaskets. I know I can use the same exhaust manifold gasket as a normally aspirated sr20de (b14 -> s14), what gaskets will I need from the manifold to turbo and for the downpipe?

thanks again,Brian

Post by **UsedToOwn240SX** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Brian,

When you get the turbo out, check for play on the impeller shaft. Mine has quite a bit of play (more axially). The impeller itself was chewed up as if something hard has gotten in while the turbo was spinning. Even though HT offers to get me another used turbo, I decided to get FP big-28 modified on my bad t-25.

Post by **Movingviolation240** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

Just a point to all you guys, I have NEVER seen a turbo blow out the seals on the compressor side. The exhaust seal almost always goes first (since that's the side with all the heat). Then you start smoking out your exhaust and the turbo seizes up.

None of those pics looked THAT bad... I have a brandnew GT ballbearing turbo and I get that much oil out of it. It's because of the crank vent from the valvecover being re-routed back into the intake. I need to hook up a new catchcan allong with my breather filter. ALso (as previously mentioned) you get a lot of oil in there duffing shipping esp. when the motor's get tipped over. Don't worry about it, it's all normal.

PaulOrlando, FL

Website · Post by **cpt276** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

UsedToOwn240SX wrote:...I decided to get FP big-28 modified on my bad t-25.

...off topic... i have a stock s14 turbo (t28). is there any value to upgrading it to the "FP big-28?" if so, what sort of gains would there be?

Post by **bp2ooo** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

cpt276 wrote:...off topic... i have a stock s14 turbo (t28). is there any value to upgrading it to the "FP big-28?" if so, what sort of gains would there be?

As far as the fp big-28 goes, yes i think its worth it.... Brian, my friend has a s13 blacktop in a s13, and has it. At 12 psi he put down 270 or so. The turbo is capable up to about 23 they say. I think itll hold up to 18 or so. My sr with stock t25 only put down like 230hp. Maybe when ur car gets done, ill set up so u guys can meet, and u can see the diff. Besides the oil in ur pipe, just get a catch can. I can get your a price on that if you want. I got a price on the other stuff you wanted to. Give me a call sometime, or hit me up online. Later man. Chris

Post by **pampadori** » Tue Mar 25, 2003 4:15 pm

shaun

Is oil in my turbo normal?

Is oil in my turbo normal?

Oil in Intake pipe???

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