oil return line (a new hope... like star wars)

[PapaSmurf2k3]

sorry for the lame title haha

Well, heres my idea, I dont really feel like drilling the oil pan, and having to run a quart low or something, and WD is holding out on me with his crazy oil return plans, So I figured id bring my brilliantness to you guys and see what you think (thats right I said brilliantness). Anyway, I was wondering if I could just install a nipple onto the oil filler cap, and run the return line through there, maybe a 3/8" or 1/2" line or so? It seems like I shouldnt have any problems, as the oil would just drain down the timing gears, but someone please tell me if this wont work so I can get crackin on something els. Thanks a lot!~James

[blubottlemax]

Won't work. The oil drain is gravity fed. If you try to route it up to the oil cap, the oil will back up and blow your seals. Sorry.

[BadMojo]

Instead of trying something wacky that might end up blowing the seals on a perfectly good turbo, why don't you just get an extra oil pan from our B/S/T forums, get a fitting welded on a at shop and you're good to go.

Lift the engine, drop the old pan and replace with the new one, put in some Nismo motor mounts while you're down there and then sell your old pan to make some money back. Sure is cheaper than a turbo rebuild. It's imperative that the oil has a nice, direct return to the pan and you'll notice that all of the durable, high power KA-T's are doing the same thing.

There's a thread somewhere around here where Ivan @ Phat KA-T shows exactly where he put the return in the oil pan.

[daniel240]

yea, you would need an oil pump if you wanted to do that.

[fiznat]

hahaha good one

how bout just running the oil "return" from the turbo straight to the ground, just have a hose dangle there from the turbo. Then, with your newly modified oil cap, just attach a fresh quart each time you drive! The oil will be replaced and it will only cost you 1 quart or trip (depending on length I suppose). Sounds like a SWEET idea to me... plus you'll never get lost cause you can just follow the oil trail!

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Instead of trying something wacky that might end up blowing the seals on a perfectly good turbo, why don't you just get an extra oil pan from our B/S/T forums, get a fitting welded on a at shop and you're good to go.

Lift the engine, drop the old pan and replace with the new one, put in some Nismo motor mounts while you're down there and then sell your old pan to make some money back. Sure is cheaper than a turbo rebuild. It's imperative that the oil has a nice, direct return to the pan and you'll notice that all of the durable, high power KA-T's are doing the same thing.

There's a thread somewhere around here where Ivan @ Phat KA-T shows exactly where he put the return in the oil pan.

Im not worried about down time or drilling my pan, Im pulling the motor and pan anyway (new piston rings) it just seems like if you have pressurized oil going into something, then the pressure will carry through and be pumped out of the other side as well, but if you all say it wont work then i guess it wont work (unless the turbo was above the oil return, but then itd probably be sticking through the hood). Another question though: they say put it like 6" back and 1" down or whatever, for best fitment with a return line and A/C compressor, but I removed my A/C so I was wondering if there was a better place for it on the oil pan. Thanks.

[turtl631]

Try to think of it like an exhaust: you don't want backpressure. Making the oil go uphill or through a small drain line will restrict it, creating backpressure. However, instead of just hurting power like a restrictive exhaust, a restrictive oil drain will damage the seals since they are not meant to withstand pressure from that direction.