Limits on how a turbo is oriented?

[Crazyirish]

Almost every turbo I see is mounted such that the axis of the shaft is perpendicular (or close to it) to the ground. Is this needed?

The reason I ask is because I was thinking that everyone mounts their turbo like figure a. below. this causes a near 90 degree bend right out of the turbine housing and another near 90 degree bend a bit below it. I thought figure b. would make more sense with just a near 45 degree bend.



If this was really such a good idea, I'm sure I would have seen it somewhere before. What am I missing?

[sunnys14]

I believe with it slanted like in "B", oil would have problems staying evenly in the center cartridge. Other than that, I dont see a problem other than finding an retarded manifold to make the turbo fit slanted.

[WDRacing]

Can't mount it like B...the oil in/out needs to be verticle.

[Crazyirish]

Interesting. I figured in a pressurized system it wouldn't matter that much. Oh well, back to the drawing board. Thanks for everyones input.

[WDRacing]

The supply line is under pressure, but the drain is gravity.

[si1via]

I'm sure you meant parallel instead of perpendicular. RIght?

[hannibal]

Corky Bell's Maximum Boost says the oil inlet/outlet should be no more than 30 degress from vertical...

[Crazyirish]

I'm sure you meant parallel instead of perpendicular. RIght?

In fact you are correct. Its frustrating, I swear I searched for a good while before posting this and found nothing. (If I break out photoshop you know I've exhausted my possibilities) Of course after the answers I got in this thread I find exactly what I was looking for. Google pwns me. Just in case anyone else is interested:

4.1 Turbocharger Oil Drain ConfigurationTurbocharger oil control and turbocharger oil leakage are commonly misunderstood topics. Primary oil control in a turbocharger is accomplished via oil slingers machined into the compressor and/or turbine end of the rotating assembly that sling oil off of the assembly as it rotates. The oil that is slung from the rotating assembly is collected by the center housing and funneled to the turbo oil drain. Therefore, the turbocharger center housing must be oriented such that the turbo oil feed and turbo oil drain passages are completely vertical or within 15° of a vertical position with the turbo oil feed at the top. If the center housing is improperly positioned, the oil will not be able to exit the center housing properly causing the oil level in the housing to rise to the level of the seal areas and the turbocharger will "leak oil."