Turbo Oil Drain Placement

[98gsspy]

I had an oil leak coming from my oil drain line. I pulled off the line and oil started coming out. My drain line is about 1 inch or less from the top of the oil pan.

Question:
If oil is coming out of the oil drain bung, does that mean it is causing oil to back up in the drain line or is the oil level in the oil pan much lower when the car is running.

I had a turbo blow either because of a kink I had in the oil drain line or because of this problem.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

Remember that when the car is running oil is being pumped through the motor so there will be less in the pan. Are there any dents on the oil pan? Did you add in the correct amount of oil? If those awnsers are "no" then "yes" I'd say its fine

 

[98gsspy]

Yes to both but where would you guys estimate the oil level is in the oil pan when the car is running.

 

[Defiant]

First, where's the oil showing on your dipstick?
While running, the oil level is below the windage tray in the pan, and even when parked, is usually below the level of the turbo drain return. However, it doesn't matter: oil doesn't stack too well. It won't "back up" in the drain, even if it was below the level in the sump.

 

[98gsspy]

My dipstick reads about in the middle. The concern I have is that I had to tap my own oil drain bung in the pan but it makes sense that there is a lot more oil in the pan when the car is not running right? I was making sure that the oil in the return line was able to flow instead on just filling up the oil drain line.

 

[fourreGsixty3]

I can't see it backing up unless something is clogging it. There is continual flow of oil while the engine is running, so oil won't just "chill" in the oil return line.

 

[98gsspy]

great thanks a lot.

So no matter where you put the return line the oil is still going to flow through.

 

[Defiant]

You should have mentioned this was a home-made drain. How did you figure where to mount it? The usual route is to put it above the oil level, but I'd not suspected this wasn't a turbo pan.
The only difference, still, is that you're more likely to develop a drip, since it's always under the oil level. But it'll still work the same.

 

[98gsspy]

This has really got me worried now. I just blew a turbo what I thought was because of a kink in the turbo drain line, I still think it was that, but I don't want to mess it up again. Take a look and tell me what you think.

 

[BUCK]

My concern would be the smaller ID of those Brass Fittings hindering flow as opposed to a Stock Drain setup - I remember WELL that when my 1G was ON CAR RAMPS it would lose maybe a CUP of Oil when you pulled Oil Drain at Oil Pan - SO... IMO when car is level a Stock Oil Drain Drain is slightly BELOW Oil level in Pan when Motor is OFF - Hope that helps.

BTW I take it that black hose is OK for Oil right? - Not just a Heater Hose rated for coolant ? & it's on a real Barbette? - & I'd find the BEST Hose Clamp possible for that VERY critical application.

 

[98gsspy]

yea the hose is old, I have all new steel braided in the garage.

Any other opinions on placement?

 

[BUCK]

I certainly trust DEFIANT's Post that the usual placement on an N/T is ABOVE Oil level, but as I said I'm certain that STOCK placement is BELOW Oil Level when car is Off - SO... you should be good to go either way - I'm MORE concerned about you having a "BULLETPROOF" Hose Clamp AND Hose in that VERY critical application as of course we are talking a MOTOR if it fails ...

 

[98gsspy]

thanks uncle buck but I just needed to put something on there so oil doesn't leak all over my driveway.

 

[TurboAnything]

I have put in a lot of after market turbo kits and the companies always told me to put the drain just under the lip of the pan. Apex-i gave a template witch put the drain about 3/4 of a inch under the lip. That placement looks a little to low on the pan.