tapping into oil for turbos

**phillysrt4** · 12-12-2007, 12:26 PM

Whats the best way to get oil to the turbo(s) if you're using a 3.8 V6?

The only thing I could see would be to tap into the oil pressure sender and T off that.

Any other suggestions?

**Stangman701** · 12-12-2007, 12:53 PM

That's how I usually see it done

**SonofaBish** · 12-12-2007, 01:32 PM

Don't be a doof, make sure the oil lines are large enough! :)

**bgblockelcamino** · 12-12-2007, 04:40 PM

usually easiest way to tee off the oil pressure sending unit. just be careful with what threads the sending unit has. i have seen all kinds of different threads on them anymore.

**Martin0660** · 12-12-2007, 04:58 PM

x3 or whatever on the oil pressure sender as a likely tap in. Ford used it on the 2.3 turbo engines from the get go. Check into the real oil requirements of the turbos you are using, some dont like a lot of oil (ball bearing, later stuff) some NEED good oil. With a set of twins, you are likely going to run lines in parallel, that gets scarry becasue there is a chance one of them gets a sniff of air :(

I can send you lots of first hand pictures of what happens to turbo's when you have an oiling problem. it only takes a second to eat journal bearings :(

BTW, the return side can be as much, or more of an issue as the supply. A lot of turbos dont like ANY restriction on the return side, or else they push out the turbine side. You really need to see some appart to see how stupid some of them are set up for oil control.

Bob Myers

**phillysrt4** · 12-12-2007, 05:32 PM

well Im open to discussion of oil line size. I can get a really good deal on brand new garrett journal bearing turbos and I think the spoolup-flow per dollar comes out in favor of twins versus a single ball bearing turbo.

**phillysrt4** · 12-13-2007, 02:19 PM

over on another turbo forum someone else was asking how to do a twin turbo setup correctly because hes had issues and wants it done once and only once. Here was the reply:

Depends on the block. I think the Dart blocks use an AN thread where the stock oil pressure sending unit "log" goes into.

R-blocks are either 1/2 NPT, or 3/4" NPT, I forget, but it's probably 1/2" NPT. Stock 302 blocks are 1/4 NPT if I am not mistaken.

From that port (for my setup) I used an 1/2" x 1/4" NPT bushing, then a street 45deg brass elbow, then two 1/4NPT Tees. One for each turbo and remaining port for the low pressure oil light sender.

Hope that helps.

I know he doesn't mention the line size, but im curious if the 3.8 is the same size as the 5.0 for the sender.

**phillysrt4** · 12-13-2007, 03:53 PM

Originally Posted by Domination

That guy is using massive oil lines! 1/4 NPT had an internal diameter of .540" Thats larger than -8. If you had a turbo that had that large of an inlet and you feed it with that much oil, and didn't have any return issues, you engine oil pressure would be hurt considerably. These thing don't require being fire hosed with oil. There is another misnomer that oil flow is used to control heat. As long as you have enough for you bearings to be lubricated then your fine. Just make sure after you run you car you idle it down long enough not just to slow the turbine shafts but to bring the housing temps down. Otherwise you will cook a layer of carbon on each time and eventually lead to failure.

I dig what you're saying. This isn't my first turbo car, but my first time fabricating a turbo system for a car that wasn't designed that way from the start. Thats why I had so many questions about oil lines and the best way to tap it in on a 3.8

**phillysrt4** · 12-13-2007, 04:20 PM

well the turbos in question are garrett t3's journal bearing. Nothing fancy... 250hp turbos.

**SonofaBish** · 12-13-2007, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by phillysrt4

well the turbos in question are garrett t3's journal bearing. Nothing fancy... 250hp turbos.

well, maybe -3an lines would be enough for those... I'm not sure just how drastically oil needs increase as the size of the turbos increase...

Mine are Precision T44, 59mm turbos... 650hp each...

**phillysrt4** · 12-13-2007, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by SonofaBish

well, maybe -3an lines would be enough for those... I'm not sure just how drastically oil needs increase as the size of the turbos increase...

Mine are Precision T44, 59mm turbos... 650hp each...

yeah if i really pushed these based on the flow maps each one might hit 325 or half of yours.

**Martin0660** · 12-13-2007, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by phillysrt4

well the turbos in question are garrett t3's journal bearing. Nothing fancy... 250hp turbos.

My Capri has a Journal Bearing Garrett T3 as well, and I have a -3 AN line (16" long) from my oil pressure sender to the turbo through an 1/8" NPT 90 elbow. Ford used a 3/16" SS tube to supply oil to the T3 factory, same deal, 1/8" NPT 90 into the housing.

So -3 or 3/16" tube is adequate for a SINGLE for sure, I've got lots of miles, and lots of passes on mine.

No idea on twins personally, but I would be concerned with parallel lines from one source, especially something that starts out 1/4 pipe or so. Say for instance you get a blockage in one return line, coking in the housing, just some restrictions, whatever. Well that turbo isnt going to get much oil, the other is going to get plenty. One burns up, the other blows oil out the turbine.

Bob Myers