Turbo drain pipe blocked?

[Grampy]

I had a chat today with a turbo company and the guy suggested I take the air intake off and check for movement. There is no movement and it spins very freely. As there is oil on the air intake side he suggested the drain pipe is blocked. CanI get to it without removing the turbo

Regards
Craig Baker

[Simon_P]

Craig,

You don't say why you had a chat wit the turbo company.

There should be movement side to side as the bearings are floating type - The impeller shouldn't touch the housing though.

Oil in the intake pipe is from the crankcase breather and is normal. If it was from the turbo it would have to project forward against the presurised flow, turn 90 degrees against the back of the impeller go against the flow in the impeller and the centrifugal force of the disc whilst not sticking to any of them, then up the intake pipe .... which strikes me as unlikely.

[Grampy]

Hi Simon,
When I blip the throttle I get smoke and oil residue coming out the back. It's quite noticeable and covered the front of the Elise in a sooty deposit. The car runs fine and accelerates like a stabbed rat. The turbo guy suggested it was not draining oil and building up pressure

[Simon_P]

Ok

First thing which intake pipe? Intake to the turbo or intake to the engine. The intake pipe to the Turbo from the air filter is the one I describe.

2 Check the PCV valve - rear left on the cam cover, and also check the separator rectangular metal box on the right hand end of the cam cover (Standing in front of the car looking at the engine)

What oil do you have in it and what pressure is it?

[Grampy]

The pipe with the oil in runs from the turbo to the air box

As to the oil it was put in by the previous owner I think it's castrol fully synthetic.

The oil pressure is good and does not look like there are any issues

The residue out of the exhaust is oily and very sooty


Thanks
Craig

[Simon_P]

Edit.
How much oil does it have at the plenum end? Please post photos.
take the plugs out and photo them also.

[Candles]

Purely on balance of probabilities, your turbo oil seal is worn and it is leaking oil into the exhaust-side of the turbo. To confirm, you need to do what 'Simon says' above. If they turn up normal, you need a turbo overhaul.

Candles.

[Grampy]

Will try and get in the garage later guys

[Grampy]

image.jpeg

image.jpeg

[Grampy]

Plugs look pretty oiled up

You can see the dribble of oil in the pipe

[Simon_P]

Purely on balance of probabilities, your turbo oil seal is worn and it is leaking oil into the exhaust-side of the turbo.

Yes but that wouldn't explain oil in the intake Good to see you back contributing regularly Candles. I always remember the early days when under Candles it used to read Fife (sure it was a small f though) Mentally I read Candles Fife whenever i read Candles... Candles Bristol just isn't the same.


anyway ..
To get oil there it is either crankcase pressure or turbo oil seals.

To eliminate crankcase check the input pipe to the turbo - is there the same amount of oil? or is it just a light coating?

I'm guessing not as that is quite a lot of oil!
so it is either blocked drain or turbo seals.

Blocked drain - this is where you started from under the turbo there is an L shaped pipe remove the rubber pipe from the end of that and check the rubber pipe and L shaped pipe are clear - with a piece of wire. yes it is a pig to get one end off but easier than the other end!

I'm guessing that they are clear
Remove Turbo and rebuild.

See Dapinky's excellent write-up and DIY for 50 quid or get someone else to do it.

Reassembly is the reverse etc..

Do check the PCV valve anyway - Just a simple Non-return valve blow one way but not the other. There is an arrow on it which should point away from the cam cover.

[Grampy]

Cheers will report back tomorrow

[HJ2]

Hi Graig,

have a look here as well:
forum.lotuselancentral.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25030

You will find more info here on the drain and turbo refurb.

[Grampy]

Thanks guys in the garage this afternoon, hoping for the best and expecting the worst

[Grampy]

Decided the turbo was coming off today, what a nightmare job

[Grampy]

image.jpeg

image.jpeg

After 2 afternoons the turbo is out and on the garage floor

It needs rebuilding so who do I send it to? Local turbo guy or a specialist?

What other jobs do I do whilst it's out? Should I do the waste gate?

Looking to chip it to 200bhp

Not looking forward to putting it back

[Rambo]

Better get an Alan Elanscanman Everest chip and port the wastegate then.

And if you haven't got one yet, a Cybox (Peco) or a Piper will improve things further, particularly exhaust note in 2nd and 3rd gears. Sounds much better on over run too

[Grampy]

Better get an Alan Elanscanman Everest chip and port the wastegate then.

And if you haven't got one yet, a Cybox (Peco) or a Piper will improve things further, particularly exhaust note in 2nd and 3rd gears. Sounds much better on overun too

Large bore exhaust fitted not sure what make its probably in the box of receipts. It sounds great

[Simon_P]

If you can take it off you can certainly do the DIY fix - See Dave Pinks instructions. The most important thing to do is mark it accurately so that you can reassemble without having to balance it.

Next job is to see what parts are still available before you undo anything else - Some of the nuts are special 1 way and break the studs if you try to undo them. Rebuilding the turbo is the simple bit.

[Grampy]

If you can take it off you can certainly do the DIY fix - See Dave Pinks instructions. The most important thing to do is mark it accurately so that you can reassemble without having to balance it.

Next job is to see what parts are still available before you undo anything else - Some of the nuts are special 1 way and break the studs if you try to undo them. Rebuilding the turbo is the simple bit.

The only fear I have Simon is not rebuilding it properly and having to drag it back out