Where do you go for your water lines?

[S13xCrazy]

Well, I'm new to this part of the site. Basically, i have been lurking for a while over here, but never had the balls to say anything because i didn't want to look like a scrub.

basically, i have had a turbo kit sitting in my room since august 17th (my birthday, my girlfriend bought me the kit), and i think its about time i do something about it.

I own 3 240sx's right now, and just recently had a little run in with a deer with my auto coupe. So it is just kind of sitting around not doing anything. So i figured id take this chance to use it as my guiney pig car for a while and go ahead and turbo it and make a few runs down at the local tracks. Compression is beautiful at 175 across all 4. It does leak some oil, but nothing tragic.

BUT, i have been doing my research on turbos and just have a few questions now.

For water lines, where exactly do you guys tap into the lines? It's Something that i have had some sort of an idea on, but want some specifics from you guys. Any tips anyone can give me on installing, or things to watch out for are well appreciated!

Thanks guys!Tony

[480sx]

You'v got a keeper for a GF for sure ^^.

Most turbos dont really need the water cooling, but generally it leads to a longer turbo life, and cooler charge temps.

With any engine its a little tricky to run a water cooling setup for your turbo. I am thinking of just running a electric water pump and a small radiator for mine. Basically having a dedicated cooling system for the turbo alone. IMO thats the best way to do it.

I know this really doesnt answer your question, but its a PITA to run a safe/reliable cooling setup off your engine. I dont want to go into all the different ways you could do it simply because i would never try any of them lol. Just about every way you do it your flirting with disaster.

BTW, 90 percent or more of us Ka-T's dont have any sort of cooling other than oil for our turbos. Infact i cant think of a single person who does.

[eazye2000]

I'm running a water cooled turbo. And it's easy to find water lines and make it look good.I don't know about the SOHC, but on the DOHC, you can use the throttle body heater hoses. Which is what I did. And took them back to their source.Or you can 'Tee' off your heater hoses that go into the firewall.Even though the water's warm, it helps on a turbo. Them mugs get HOTT!

Take it as you will.. Just letting you know what I did. Hope it helps.

[S13FX]

Or you can 'Tee' off your heater hoses that go into the firewall.Even though the water's warm, it helps on a turbo. Them mugs get HOTT!

Take it as you will.. Just letting you know what I did. Hope it helps.

On that also, if the turbo has water lines it usually means, it has ceramic ball bearings. In which case if you don't put water lines through it it will seize rather quickly.

Just run the water lines it's easy, or buy your self an oil only cooled turbo ..

[S13xCrazy]

I'm running a water cooled turbo. And it's easy to find water lines and make it look good.I don't know about the SOHC, but on the DOHC, you can use the throttle body heater hoses. Which is what I did. And took them back to their source.Or you can 'Tee' off your heater hoses that go into the firewall.Even though the water's warm, it helps on a turbo. Them mugs get HOTT!

Take it as you will.. Just letting you know what I did. Hope it helps.

Hey eazy, do you think you can get me some sort of picture of where you tapped and where you run your lines? I picked up some 4AN lines (high temp lines), do you think thats big enough? what size do you run?

[mac2686]

ya if you could post up some more details that'd be great b/c I've got a buddy with a t25 off of an sr and he's trying to figure out what to do about his coolant lines. Also with that turbo is it ceramic ball bearing? Do you have to use the coolant lines?

[Zippy69]

I have a T25 and I was planning to run off of the heater hoses, unless someone else has a better or easier idea.

[eazye2000]

If the turbo is made to have coolant/water lines running to it... It's probably a good idea to run them. The oil cooled only turbos probably have larger passageways to allow more oil in them to help cool, as well as lube them. This is just a thought.My Disco has stainless ball bearings. Not sure if that makes a difference.

I'm still slacking on getting those pictures for you. I looked at my car today, and it's all buried under the intake manifold. I'm in the process now of digging though pictures to see if I got any 'before' ones.

I'll try to find one online, and I'll circle the ones you need. Or just grab some 'T' fittings and 'T' off of your heater lines. But the throttle body ones will be good enough. You can either eliminate the throttle body heater, or keep it. It may be a good idea to keep it if you live in a cold climate.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

I snipped the hose at the throttle body, put in a step-up adaptor, and ran heater hose to the turbo. Ran the return line back, stepped it back down, and hose clamped the other side in.

(old pics)

[sunnys14]

where exactly are the throttle body heater lines?

[boznuttz]

If you remove the air ducting away from the throttle body itself, it looks like a tiny U right under the tb itself. You could reach right under and grab it, stock hoses are about 5/8'' or so in diameter.

[Jookmasta]

blah, my turbo has water cooling ports on it..........teflon tape and some brass fittings went right to those ports and that was the end of that. been running this turbo for a couple of years so oil cooling has been sufficient i guess...............

i will say that the only time you should really mess with the water cooling of turbos is if it is an expensive turbo...........a stock t25 doesn't deserve water cooling IMO lol. a disco potato and the gt series turbos do..............

[eazye2000]

I'm gonna go out right now and snap a few pics for you man. I've been slacking on this for a few days now..

a stock t25 doesn't deserve water cooling IMO lol. a disco potato and the gt series turbos do..............

I have a Disco!! I was dumb and paid 1100$ for it, so I'm gonna do what I can to keep it cool!!

[S13xCrazy]

^^ thanks eric

and thanks to the others who posted comments and pictures!

and i have a GT28

[eazye2000]

Ok, here you go man. This is what I whipped up real quick before I have to head off to Anger Management class.... lol

This pic is obviously the front of the motor. I used this line as one that goes to/from the turbo. There is no real 'In' or 'Out' for cooling. Not that I know of anyways.



This next picture is from the passenger side fender, looking at the engine. So to the right, is the front of the car. To the left, is the firewall. Hopefully it makes sense.. Also, this is looking through the upper intake manifold.



In this second picture, the 'Source' is a little 'T' off of the original heater hose line. It should be very noticeable. It's a metal piece.Also, I'd like to add that these lines are 5/16" or 3/8", so take that as you will.

Hope this helps man!

[S13xCrazy]

first off, thanks for the help man! i appreciate it.

so if I'm understanding correctly, the first picture goes 'to' the turbo, and the second picture is where it is coming back from the turbo correct?

so each picture, they are different lines. Correct?

[eazye2000]

Yes, each picture is going to be one of the two different lines. They are separate.You can run either line, to either side of the turbo. There is no 'in' or 'out' persay. Not like the oil part. And there is no pump, or fins or anything in there that would influence any flow or make it try to go backwards.

Ask away man. Don't be shy. We're all here to help....granted it may take a day or five... lol

[PapaSmurf2k3]

wow... my lines are nothing like that. I just used the ones that run under the throttle body.

[eazye2000]

Yeah man. I hear ya. I think the lines I used were just traced back to their sources. Just made for a bit less crap to do. But I did have my motor apart. I'm not sure about you. I would have went your route if I didn't take the intake manifold off the engine..

[S13xCrazy]

thanks guys i definatly wont hesitate to ask questions!

[Jookmasta]

also don't forget to watch ur overflow tank level when ur done doing this..............

[sunnys14]

cant i just remove the U bend hose and use the 2 open nipples to go 1 in and 1 out for the turbo?

[RBbugBITme]

eazye2000.... the water inlet should be on the bottom. Garrett specifically states that the turbo water jacket is designed as a thermal siphon for cooling after shut down.

This is probably why someone said they have a water cooled turbo running for years without water cooling. It isn't meant to be a super cooler for the turbo while its running but to eliminate oil coking after shut down. I'd be willing to bet the person that said this uses a turbo timer or sits with the car before shutting down.

From Garrett..."In order for the water-cooling to function properly, the center housing needs to be installed below the water level in the engine. The water inlet to the turbocharger needs to come from a lower point in the cooling system up to the center housing. The water outlet needs to go from the turbocharger up to a higher point in the system and cannot have any high spots or "traps" in the line."
Modified by RBbugBITme at 12:21 AM 10/31/2007

[Jookmasta]

u bet ur mama my turbo timer is functioning properly lol. i've been running the turbo timer since i was NA lol. just made it for one less thing to install when it came to the turbo installation. i avg at least 2 minutes on the turbo timer since i feel that turbo timers really do provide a longer life for the turbo among other things.