420A Oil return location

[98GSXtacy]

My friend is doing a turbo conversion on his 420a and welded the oil pan for the oil return from the turbo towards the bottom of the oil pan. Someone brought up a point to him that it is too low and the oil is not going to drain because of the oil in the pan already stopping it. I don't see it being a problem, especially since, with the motor in the car, the oil pan will be tilted backwards a good degree and the fitting is on the front. Please look at the pics from when it was still on the engine stand and let me know what you guys think so if he needs to move it up, he can do so before getting everyting done and starting it up.

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[donniekak]

The drain needs to enter the pan higher than oil level.

 

[98GSXtacy]

We were thinking that since there is no pressure coming from the oil in the pan then even a small amount of pressure, from the shaft pressuring the oil just a bit, would push the oil through even if the oil is covering part or most of the hole on the inside. Would that be correct or am I thinking about it wrong?

 

[turbo98eclipse]

move it higher-- even if its minimal pressure pushing it through at some point after running for a while its going to get backed up far into the drain line and ... well you know what happens then

its supposed to be able to DRAIN out unopposed, not be FORCED out

 

[98GSXtacy]

Alright, thanks guys. I'll let him know the best thing to do would be to move it higher. How much higher do you think? An inch or so? Or so the bead when he welds is almost touching the very top where it bends out?

 

[turbo98eclipse]

the higher the better-- so you wont have to worry about anything

 

[donniekak]

It has to be above the oil level in the pan. If the tube doesn't have any air gap and a solid column of liquid is formed at the bottom of the tube, crankcase pressure can prevent any oil at all from draining, and the tube will fill up all the way to the turbo.

 

[92AWDHX40]

A inch shoud be enough.

 

[98GSXtacy]

Alright thanks again guys.