Date:         Thu, 1 Jul 1999 00:51:31 -0400
Reply-To:     Pat Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Pat Dooley <pdooley@GTE.NET>
Subject:      Re: Trouble in Turboland. or...  drain line woe's
In-Reply-To:  <01BEC34A.ED5ACE20@ip194.raleigh10.nc.pub-ip.psi.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Turbo convention demands a large, clear unobstructed flow path for the
return oil.
Any extra backpressure will force the return oil back into the turbo
bearing, causing the oil to foam and significantly reduce lubrication
quality.

Every turbo charger reference you can get your hands on will tell you the
same thing.  Keep the return line outlet well above the oil level.

I can see Bulley's point, the bearing is pressurized, so you shouldn't have
a problem.  I'm just passing on what I have read.
I must admit I tapped the return line on my rabbit pickup to the oil pan.  I
have approx. 30k miles on the junkyard turbo with no hint of bearing
problems.

The VW TD's I have seen also drain to the oil pan.
However, my most other vehicles like Saab, Audi and Ford drain to a higher
point, like on the block. - Well above the oil level.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Bulley
> Sent: Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:50 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Trouble in Turboland. or... drain line woe's
>
>
> Paul-
>
> The oil return on our TD Jetta appears to be a bit lower or just
> at the oil
> level in the pan. Why are you so concerned about this? The oil coming out
> of that tube has considerable pressure/flow...It isn't like having the
> return tube submerged in oil is going to stop the gusher of oil that comes
> down that hose from making its way into the pan...why the worry?
>
> G. Matthew Bulley
> Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
> www.bulley-hewlett.com
> Cary, NC USA
> 888.468.4880 tollfree
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From:   Paul A. Cianciolo [SMTP:paulc@SNET.NET]
> Sent:   Wednesday, June 30, 1999 10:16 PM
> To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:        Trouble in Turboland. or...  drain line woe's
>
> Hello Folks,
>
> Ok I just got my turbo back form Majestic turbo.  They did a great job and
> were excellent to talk to on the phone
> My question is about the darn oil return line again.  I am using the 1.9TD
> in my Vanagon conversion.
>
> This engine has a hole in the side of the block to return the oil from the
> turbo.  Well when the engine is in place
>  and tilted over the hole in the block is actually lower than the
> output of
> the turbo.
>
> So I guess I am stuck drilling a hole in the oil pan.   When I
> have a sorta
> good idea as to where the
> oil level is when the motor is off.  This by measuring the oil
> stick length
> and marking the side of the
> filler tube.
>
> Then by using a water level I determined that the output level of
> the turbo
> is just about 1/2" to 3/4"
> higher than the level of the oil in the engine at rest.
>
> My questions:
>
> 1) How much oil moves from the pan to the engine when the engine is
> running?
>
> 2) Do you suppose that the level drop an inch or so due to windage?
>
> 3)Would it be ok if the return was partially covered when the
> enginew is at
> rest?
>
>
> I feel a little uncomfortable with the difference in elevation  being so
> little from the turbo outlet to the level in the pan.
> Any ideas welcome
>
> Thank you
>
> Paulc
> W1VLF
> Cloudbounce Webpage  http://www.qsl.net/w1vlf/
>
> 1986 Vanagon Gas
> 1982 Vanagon Diesel  Soon to be Turbo Diesel 1.9
>