New problem--oil leaking from turbo

[MikeN]

Well, I got the truck running (4bt in an '89 Chevy 1/2 ton) today. I have been working on this project for what seems like forever, so it was nice to actually make a little smoke



I have't hooked up my air intake yet (running with some fiter material clamped over the engine intake, and the turbo air intake and air outlet are not hooked up yet). This was probably a good thing, because it made it easy to notice the oil leaking out of the turbo air outlet (the one that goes to the engine intake).



Do I need a turbo rebuild? Before I installed the engine in the truck, I had the turbo off while I drilled and tapped the manifold for a EGT probe. Did I screw something up when I took the turbo off? Would setting the turbo on its side for a while (when it was off of the engine) cause any oil left in it to get past the seals? I do know the the oil return is not plugged.

 

[britannic]

Check it again after you hook up the rest of the plumbing. The turbo seals are designed for best efficiency at normal engine/operating temps. If it's still putting out too much oil after a 20 mile run, you'll have to get a new turbo core.



How much end to end shaft play do you have now that the bearings have oil in them?

 

[AKAMAC]

I'd be careful running with a oil leak on the air side. You can get a run away condition as the engine starts to run on your crank oil!

 

[MikeN]

I am a little worried about that happening. It seems like more oil is leaking than would be normal even when the turbo is cold. It's not spraying out or anything like that, but it was enough to make a mess in the engine compartment during the 3-4 minutes I had it running yesterday.

 

[Forrest Nearing]

make sure your oil drain line isn't blocked/kinked/clogged/etc.



as long as it's spinning free, you shouldn't need a new core, just a seal/bearing kit should take care of it.



if everything's stock, the turbo probably needs to be gone through...



if you've got some aftermarket components in the mix, you might need a restrictor on the oil feed line to the turbo... not sure how everything's set up from the factory, but I know if I tried to feed one of my Garretts 80psi of oil pressure, it'd push oil past the seals if it wasn't flow restricted.



Forrest