turbo itself leaking oil
Turbo Mini Forums

mine is fresh build its 25 ish hot at 1000rpm oil light is out almost instantly its a 3 bolt turbo pump alu body job

i believe anything over 60 peak when hot is to much and at idle 20 is plenty but would expect it to be 30-40 anything over 2krpm

to much oil pressure is just killing hp and extra ware on parts it also heats the oil up more

it also depends if your running oil jets to as they will flow a decant amount that the relif whont have to

Haha. I meant Paul's, but I suppose yours is the same!

In the 13's at last!.. Just

...spose I couls spinn it on the starter

That is encouraging because my engine has slowyt been losing oil pressure, but it has stabilised at 20 ish at idle, hot, but 40 when hot at running speeds.

The engine in the van, despite shortening the relief valve spring runs 75 cold and 40 hot at idle !

with standard spring and shuttle the pressure is normally around 40psi,

it can dropp off a bit with old oil too.

turbo place said theres isnt anything wrong with the turbo.

the next thing to check is the oil pressure

well got the back together and running


on cold it went up to 60 psi

at running temp it was 40-45 psi

when reved it went back to 60 psi

its not leaking anymore, should i still try and get it down to the 20 psi mark?

Edited by coopdog on 11th Sep, 2014.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqDgjoxV58M...X9ZT53vSTv1RAkA

i have trouble embedding vids haha

If it's not leaking now and the turbo rebuilders haven't die anything, then it must have been the feed or drain leaking.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

that pressure is fine imo

could be possible its only a small dia o ring with little crush so any unequal pressure would probably make it leak some..

i drove it!!!

it was awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanks for all the help guys.

just a couple of things to sort out like the dump valve. the spring inside is way to hard and isnt even opening when coming off the accelerator, just had a load of turbo flutter instead which did sound good haha



thank you again guys

I've got another problem guys it's leaking again :/

It's leaking again from the same place and started after coming on boost,

Do you think it could be a breather problem as well as I have only the one.

Thanks guys

Shauna has one breather on the rocker cover and it seems fine, the oil drain shouldn't be restricting the oil return as long as both are adequately sized (braided brake hose feed ~3/4mm and 5/8 return)
I would personally take your turbo to a different specialist for a 2nd opinion if you can't solve the problem, I dont think anybody has ever had much trouble with this problem that wasn't easily solved. You could try a known good turbo, that will tell you if the problem is in your setup, your engine (bad rings, inlet stem seals/guides etc) or your turbo itself.

You could fit a scavenger pump, although i don't think anyone has ever had to fit one, and still have the same problem. Does it leak oil when not driving? As in stationary on the drive? If so, take the drain hose off the turbo, fit a longer one to a clear container on the floor and check the flow, if the smoking/leaking stops it's probably the fall on the return. Obviously don't run the engine for long because you'll be losing oil under pressure.

I've seen your thread on tmf about fitting one and your oil pressure is slightly less than mine too and I still don't have any problems with only having one breather although if I did take my engine out I'd add another. What have you actually done to try stop it leaking since last time?

They don't die, they just get faster!

So people have given you advice, you haven't tried anything and your asking for advice on what seem like you were going to do anyway? I don't think I've got a photo of my oil drain due to most of my build photos being on my old phone but it's pretty much the same as anyone elses. Lawson knocked mine up for me, he just asked what angle I wanted and it's fine. I assume your still using that copper one with 2 90 degree bends if you haven't done anything?

They don't die, they just get faster!

I don't think i have a picture, but it's pretty much a fuel pump blanking plate with a 90 degree pipe welded onto it pointing towards the turbo, and the turbo has pretty much the same affair but coming down and across to point at the drain, slight fall on it, and i had to drop the turbo and manifold on and slide it across into the short piece of hydraulic hose already fitted to the drain on the block.

I think there's only about 5mm gap between the two metal pipes on shaunas, its very tight, but can be done.