[TheOdd001]

So i've been slowly installing my turbo and right now I have the turbo and manifold installed with the downpipe hooked up and the oil feed and return lines installed. Today I started the car without the charge pipe installed, so no boost yet and revved it up a couple times. This is what I saw on the discharge of the compressor:



I'm guessing this is not a good thing? Oil blowing by the seals?

EDIT: I just thought of something... Could this be due to the fact that I installed the downpipe? Now the turbine section would be seeing some back pressure but the compressor side is free flowing. So I'm thinking maybe the pressure from the turbine side was pushing oil into the free flowing compressor side?

[Robert]

Originally Posted by TheOdd001

So i've been slowly installing my turbo and right now I have the turbo and manifold installed with the downpipe hooked up and the oil feed and return lines installed. Today I started the car without the charge pipe installed, so no boost yet and revved it up a couple times. This is what I saw on the discharge of the compressor:



I'm guessing this is not a good thing? Oil blowing by the seals?

EDIT: I just thought of something... Could this be due to the fact that I installed the downpipe? Now the turbine section would be seeing some back pressure but the compressor side is free flowing. So I'm thinking maybe the pressure from the turbine side was pushing oil into the free flowing compressor side?

How much oil was there coming out. Was it just the streaks in the picture or a steady flow of oil from the compressor outlet? It's possible its machine oil if the turbo has never been run since it shipped from Turbonetics. If it was a good amount then I would check your drain line again and make sure its got a good downward angle with no horizontal sections before it gets into the oil pan. Do you have any pictures of the drain you could post?

[TheOdd001]

Just the oil streaks that are seen in the picture came out... I keep hearing that I need an oil restrictor because I have a ball bearing turbo? I've asked that question on here before and was told I didn't need one... Here are some photos:

[Robert]

The turbo mounting looks good. Typically Turbonetics doesn't recommend using any oil restrictor on their turbos. I would get it running for a bit and see if you continue to get oil out of the compressor side. If you do we'll need to start looking at the turbo itself to see if there is an issue but that little oil may just be from the production process.

[TheOdd001]

Do your ball bearing turbos require restrictors?

According to this down below if I had higher pressures would I need a restrictor?

From the Turbonetics FAQ

Q: How is a turbocharger lubricated? Where does it come from?
A: A turbocharger is lubricated with regular engine oil. It comes from anywhere that you can provide clean filtered oil to it. Usually this is anywhere after the oil filter, before the oil gets to the block. Many turbochargers are oiled however from a fitting tapped into the block itself. As long as you have filtered, cool, and sufficiciently pressured oil your turbo will be happy. Note: Oil PSI should be at least around 20-30 PSI at idle and 50-70 psi under boost. Race applications do not apply here.

[Robert]

Originally Posted by TheOdd001

Do your ball bearing turbos require restrictors?

According to this down below if I had higher pressures would I need a restrictor?

From the Turbonetics FAQ

Q: How is a turbocharger lubricated? Where does it come from?
A: A turbocharger is lubricated with regular engine oil. It comes from anywhere that you can provide clean filtered oil to it. Usually this is anywhere after the oil filter, before the oil gets to the block. Many turbochargers are oiled however from a fitting tapped into the block itself. As long as you have filtered, cool, and sufficiciently pressured oil your turbo will be happy. Note: Oil PSI should be at least around 20-30 PSI at idle and 50-70 psi under boost. Race applications do not apply here.

Typically no, there are no restrictors recommended by Turbonetics

[TheOdd001]

I finally got around to installing all the charge pipe and intercooler and did all the vacuum routing for the wastegate and BOV. At idle, I can watch the compressor spin from the intake and when I rev it, I get little streaks of oil slowly start swirling out of the intake side of the compressor. Heres a picture... I still have not boosted yet, still in vacuum:



This is probably not a good thing?

[Robert]

Originally Posted by TheOdd001

I finally got around to installing all the charge pipe and intercooler and did all the vacuum routing for the wastegate and BOV. At idle, I can watch the compressor spin from the intake and when I rev it, I get little streaks of oil slowly start swirling out of the intake side of the compressor. Heres a picture... I still have not boosted yet, still in vacuum:



This is probably not a good thing?

No its not. With that much oil coming out on the compressor side my first suspicion would be that its blow by. Double check your PCV inlet. If its not seeing vacuum during on throttle situations you are getting blow by.

[TheOdd001]

I don't understand what your saying... Blow-by where? And your asking if my positive crankcase ventilation valve is operating correctly?

[Robert]

Originally Posted by TheOdd001

I don't understand what your saying... Blow-by where? And your asking if my positive crankcase ventilation valve is operating correctly?

Oil Blow by in the crank case. Yes I'm asking if the PCV valve is hooked to vacuum and is seeing vacuum during open throttle operation