Oil Feed Line Restrictor is VERY IMPORTANT!

[canadians14det]

I've been reading and posting on Nico for a few years now off and on and am really impressed with the amazing amounts of free information that can save you big $$$ in the long run. It's helped me out tons with my turbo install on my S14 especially since the instructions that came with the Fmax/Turbonetics kit were very vague and basically useless.

But onto the problem, i've had my turbo kit installed for about half a year and had it running without any problems. But on a hour long highway cruise the turbo started smoking blue on the hot side telling me that my seal was blown. I was very surprised to have a brand new T3/T4 fail that early and i started looking around to find the problem on the forums. After reading Sil80drifter's comment about oil feed restrictor line's i went to check my setup and found that the T3/T4 that came with the turbonetics kit came with a small filter/adapter but NO RESTRICTOR. It makes sense to me that on a long highway drive with high RPMS and therefore high oil pressure that the oil seals are bound to fail without that restrictor in place. Does anyone else have experience with failing oil seals in their turbo setups? Did i just miss putting this restrictor into the system or do others not have it as well? As a reference here is the link i found on NICO to the restrictor :

http://www.atpturbo.com/Mercha...e=OIL

If a 15 - 20 dollar part can prevent others from a 200 - 300 dollar turbo rebuild it would be very worthwhile in my mind. I'd really like to hear sil80drifters experience with this restrictor as well as anyone else who has had their turbo seals fail mysteriously.

[virus77]

yes it is important, I have run one since day one on my t3/t4 with a -3 an line and never had a problem. with oil return, or any smoking. I usually put a little over 4 quarts in the engine too, as it seems I have heard people are having problems with this. The honda community was plagued with this when I was into turbocharging hondas back in the days.

[Titan]

Don't both buying that fitting from ATP Turbo, way overpriced.

http://www.mcmaster.com

2712T44 - 1/8" NPT Female-Male Restrictor - Brass - $7.43

2822T14 - 1/8" NPT Female-Male Restrictor - 303 Stainless Steel - $11.93

Plus they have a variety of restrictor diameters to choose from.

[Tictakman]

wasnt there a do it yourself restrictor posted a few weeks ago? if anyone can find it that would be awesome bc i need to try it out. im runnin a -3 line but i get smoke. i dont know if my seals were already gone or its too much oil. anybody?

Zak

[wild_maxx]

what orifice diameter should i order? i am running a -3an line to my t3 turbo so is a restrictor required?

[canadians14det]

I did some checking on Turbonetics website and found that they do not even manufacture an oil feed line restrictor! Has anyone dealt with them before on this issue? I bought a "complete turbo kit" from them almost a year ago and it did not include one either.If it really is such a critical part you would think that a company who's main business is done by manufacturing turbo's would understand its importance .... has anyone else come up against something like this before ?

[c-rad]

Ball-bearing turbos are even more sensitive to oil pressure.

[DRIFTEADOR]

I never used one on my previous turbo car (I believe the motor ran at 80psi oil pressure at its highest) and never had a problem for the 34k miles i owned it (stolen). I drove to austin, san antonio, and houston quite often. I did have a loop of 1/8 tubing between the block and tee though. It's a oil gauge hook up kit made by sunpro (sold @ autozone for $5). I originally used it because i heard about some brass tee's cracking with the motor's vibration. now with the clearance issues i've been reading about on here recently, i think i'll be using the same method on my ka-t. kill two birds with one stone

[Titan]

Oil restrictors are neccessary.

If you look at the stock oil inlet flange for say a T3, you will notice a small orfice that acts as a restrictor.

As for orfice size, most common is 1/16" (0.063").

[wild_maxx]

is -3an 1/16" cause thats what i thought it converted to?

[Titan]

is -3an 1/16" cause thats what i thought it converted to?

No, -3an is 3/16".

[Structure240sx]

where is a better place to put the restrictor, on the turbo or on the T from the oil pressure sensor? i dont have a resctrictor and i have been fine for well over a year now with this turbo

[Titan]

where is a better place to put the restrictor, on the turbo or on the T from the oil pressure sensor? i dont have a resctrictor and i have been fine for well over a year now with this turbo

What size feed line are you running? What type of flange? Notice any blue tinted smoke at startup?

I would place the restrictor just before the oil inlet on the turbo. (i.e. thread the restrictor into the flange).

[Structure240sx]

actually yes i have noticed blue tinted smoke just a couple times and it scared me. compression was fine so i wa scared for my turbo. no wet spots though

im not sure of the size of my feed line since it came as part of my kit, whats the best way to find out? my to4 has a 1/4"inlet i believe?



sorry this was the best cropping job i could do real quick

[S14tat]

yeah anthony the n sport t04's uses a 1/4 inch inlet.

[Structure240sx]

as soon as i posted that pic i thought of you. where can i get that same restrictor you have tat

[DRIFTEADOR]

blue smoke a start up could also mean bad valve seals.

I was doing some reading on restrictors and found a guy that was using a needle valve from a local hardware store. cheaper and easier to adjust. saves you the headache of drilling/assembling/disassebling/drilling again to find the perfect size. or does anyone know for sure that the restrictor holds it at 40psi?

[Tictakman]

ya does anyone know a diy restrictor?

Zak

[WDRacing]

Just take the fittings over to Ace or Lowes and buy a smaller adapter...done.

[Tictakman]

but isnt there a matter of how much is too much restriction, etc? right now if i give my car gas then let off ill get smoke, also apon start up i get a little. im just trying to weed out possibilities.

Zak

[upSLIDEdown]

I WIN! I WIN!!

DIY Restrictor from Ivan at Sound Performance/PHAT KA-Thttp://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=100846

You're all welcome...

Bryan

[Tictakman]

thats it, thanks man.Zak

[virus77]

even the most expensice restrictor is $20. isnt your kat worth it. I undertand DIY parts but its already pretty cheap.

[Tictakman]

link me virus.

[Tictakman]

Got it, sorry. ordered from mcmaster.com

Zak

[fiznat]

I WIN! I WIN!!

DIY Restrictor from Ivan at Sound Performance/PHAT KA-Thttp://forums.nicoclub.com/zerothread?id=100846

You're all welcome...

Bryan

Yep thats the one I'm using (exactly that one, actually). Seems to work pretty well even though the rest of my engine is smoking lol... (which is no problem, just the first couple startups and dripped oil and crap is burning...)

[nissanfanatic]

Tat and structure, I'm running the same turbo as both of you with -3an line. I want to know if a restrictor is necessary for a T04B.

[DirtyKA]

Tat and structure, I'm running the same turbo as both of you with -3an line. I want to know if a restrictor is necessary for a T04B.

Im running an N-Sport kit with a T04B as well.. I have noticed smoke a few times on start up, and under WOT..I suppose I may get one of those restrictors and buy it...I'd just like someone else to do it first and see how well it works..

What size restrictor do us n-sport T04B guys need?
Modified by DirtyKA at 4:01 PM 3/17/2005

[s86d]

I am currently running the function 7 -3an flange on my t4 will i need a restrictor or will this do (the hole is about half the size of the thread diameter.)-dave

[huguetpj]

No restrictor here... running for more than 1 and half years. No smoke and I've dissasembled the escape mani side several times and everything seems to be ok. Gonna go check my oil level now... just in case.