Oil line questions

[Redline240]

Ok so the oil feed line runs from the passenger side of the block by the oil filter to the turbo, and the oil drain/return line runs from the turbo to the oil pan...thats pretty basic and i just wanted to make sure that i had that right. Ok now i've read a few people have had problems with oil backing up the oil drain/return line and geting into the intercooler piping and sometimes ruining a turbo. My questions is, isn't there some fitting or adapter to prevent oil from flowing back up? I know they exist for water and are used in pumps and stuff, a fitting that only allows flow one way only...is there anything we could use? Just a thought that may start some brain storming...

Redline

[spitz7985]

correct me if i'm wrong, but i believe the problem with oil backing up i the turbo is not a matter of it flowing backwards, but rather a matter of the oil not being able to flow into the pan because the inlet into the pan is submerged. a check valve would not help. just make sure the hole you drill is high enough up.

[spitz7985]

if you're really worried about it, you could install a pump after the turbo. this is what guys do who can't mount the turbo high enough to have a gravity return line

[C-Kwik]

The oil return being submerged is only a possible cause. though it doesn't always cause this problem. A kink in the line can cause it. I've even heard one where a guy tried to make his own gasket for the drain and apparently it was blocking the brains slightly.

And Redline, yes, the lines are how you state it. To be clear though, the feed line is usually Tee'd off of the oil pressure sender.

[Redline240]

So then the higher its mounted on the oil pan the better?

Redline

[C-Kwik]

Typically, but within reason. Higher mounting allows the froth of oil that comes out to flow freely. Too low and it might back up in the drain line. But, too high and the gravity drain might not be as effective. But this is really only a problem when the drainline starts straying too far from vertical.

[j-z]

not only can you ruin a turbo with improper drainage but you can also ruin a turbo by feeding it too much oil. or not enough oil so beware of those possibilities too.