Turbo oil drain - wacky idea?
 

I'm still a newby but have been reading and reading and reading....and reading...and staring at my engine, and staring at other peoples engines and listening to others experiences. (THANKS ! Mark)

So....I'm looking at my turbo drain thingamabobber - you know the two sections of pipe thing that goes down below the turbo...Anyway. the current set up has the top pipe fitting over the lower pipe. Why is that? would'nt this arrangement be more leak resistant if the upper pipe went into instead of over the lower pipe?

Please go easy on me I'm new to this but am trying to repair and prevent leaks as many as I can at once instead of sequencially....

Rob, you are right about that - reversing that tube sequence, at least initially, would minimize chances of leaks. However, it would also be a great receiver of sand and other road crap facing up. Diesel vibrations being what they are, that would eventually grind some stuff down there - at least, that's my best guess. I bet they started the design that way, then changed it before they got into production. The fitting to the cyclonic oil seperator is "top part in" if you will. But it's well shielded by the air cleaner and probably less susceptable to contamination.

indeed. Sorry for sharing my blazing display of ignorance :D If My car had had the debris catcher orientation I can assure you I would have a nice think pate of gumpa on the inside of the oil pan :eek:

Someone on the forum replaced that ridiculous mess of pipes with a soft line. Someday, after the bigger oil leaks get fixed, maybe I'll get to that one.

Well now.....That certainly does sound appealing. Hmmmm...What about replaceing the "bell" (lower end of upper pipe and upper end of lower pipe) with a section of hose with some clamps.....From what I hear the challenge is getting the bell section in and out.....Hmmmm now you really have me thinking....Can you smell the smoke????

That tube replacement has been done to many of these cars, I'm sure. I believe the plans for those tubes were finalized on a hot, friday afternoon in Stuttgart, after much beer getrinken. The parts car I obtained had a sawn metal tube/rubber hose/screw clamp arrangement. I replaced it with a good, unsawn original from the other engine when I rebuilt. The only problem I've had so far is a very fine surface rust starting in one spot, but not a drop of oil yet. ;)

while the hose
 

idea is appealing, finding one that will stand up to the heat under the turbo seems like a problem. although i agree that the factory setup is an abortion, i would hesitate to go to a rubber hose.

tom w

I haven't had the good fortune that would provide the opportunity for me to attempt this procedure as yet, so forgive the ignorance (no, I didn't do a search, either!). What about stainless line? Are the walls of the stock return pipe thick enough to flare them and put a fitting on?

Jay.

well
 

it is just a drain and not under any pressure so a stainless sheathed line could just be clamped on. there could be clearance issues though because the sheathed line is thick walled.


even though the stock line is a pita to get right i prob would stay with that.

tom w

At least you don't have to pull the turbo, right? On my old turbo Volvo, the return pipe was a one-piece deal, which meant "off comes the manifold" when it started leaking. Luckily the exhaust manifold studs snapped off on a pretty regular basis, and I replaced the o-ring at the bottom end of the pipe every time I had the manifold off to change the studs (I drove the car a little too hard). The only time I had a leak was when I boogered up the o-ring during installation. It leaked pretty good, then!

Jay.

i am not sure
 

but you may have to pull the turbo to redo the stock setup. i do know that it is a royal pita!

tom w

I read some threads not too long ago saying you could get the return pipes out/in by persuading them they needed to go toward the RF headlamp assembly?? Kinda' give 'em a little shove in the middle.

Jay.

P.S. I went to Purdue for a couple terms... Engineering. AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!