Turbo oil drain to stock oil pan drain bolt

[BMWManiac]

I am working with TRM to utilize the stock oil drain bolt location for the oil drain of my turbo.

Does anyone currently do this and can recommend the pieces I need? I want to get my car off jackstands and driving again!

[M3 Euro LTW]

Admittedly, I'm a "lurker" in the FI section.

Wonder why more of you guys don't adopt the dual pickup S54 pan and pickup assemblies to improve oiling under braking, as well as to provide a very easy point of attachment for the turbo oil drain. The S54 pan has a port built in for easy access.

I dunno, just a thought.

edit: E36 chassis guys only of course!

[BimmerBoy]

I am working with TRM to utilize the stock oil drain bolt location for the oil drain of my turbo.

Does anyone currently do this and can recommend the pieces I need? I want to get my car off jackstands and driving again!


Im not 100% certain this will work in your case, but if your turbo drain hose is 1/2 inch this might work:


This would replace your drain plug:

http://www.anplumbing.com/Adapters/Metric-25.html

part number: 9919EFG


and this would go to your turbo drain hose:


http://www.anplumbing.com/Hose+Ends/Push+On-32.html

part number: FCM1523


This probably isnt the most ideal way to set it up, but maybe it will work? I know a lot of people have at least a -10an or 5/8inch drain so this wouldnt work in that situation.




Admittedly, I'm a "lurker" in the FI section.

Wonder why more of you guys don't adopt the dual pickup S54 pan and pickup assemblies to improve oiling under braking, as well as to provide a very easy point of attachment for the turbo oil drain. The S54 pan has a port built in for easy access.

I dunno, just a thought.

edit: E36 chassis guys only of course!

yes, but the s54 "drain" port is right next to where the dipstick tube meets the oil pan. For those that are gravity draining their turbos (I think most are) it wouldnt work as they would need a scavenge pump to be able to pump the oil back to the top of the oil pan.

[tlmitf]

Use a banjo fitting to get the line up as high as you can.
Dont need something coming through and knocking it off.

[BMWManiac]

Im not 100% certain this will work in your case, but if your turbo drain hose is 1/2 inch this might work:


This would replace your drain plug:

http://www.anplumbing.com/Adapters/Metric-25.html

part number: 9919EFG


and this would go to your turbo drain hose:


http://www.anplumbing.com/Hose+Ends/Push+On-32.html

part number: FCM1523


This probably isnt the most ideal way to set it up, but maybe it will work? I know a lot of people have at least a -10an or 5/8inch drain so this wouldnt work in that situation.


Thanks for the info!

I've talked to several people about this and it is fine. I'll keep you all posted. Like I said, temporary fix until I can put it higher.

[BadBoostedBmwM3]

Alex, i remember reading an old thread by "turnerncm3" (or something like that) on here where he listed the parts needed to drain to the stock oil pan hole.

[milKt]

How do you drain to a hole that is always covered, deep in oil?
The oil drain hose would act as a sight glass (if transparent), acting as an extension of the oil pan,
holding the oil at the highest level of the pan (at the time), would it not?

[BMWManiac]

How do you drain to a hole that is always covered, deep in oil?
The oil drain hose would act as a sight glass (if transparent), acting as an extension of the oil pan,
holding the oil at the highest level of the pan (at the time), would it not?

I'm not disagreeing with you, but if it was a bad idea, my mechanic here in Louisville and Michael from TRM are just two people I know that have said it will be fine.

I'd definitely would like to hear more of the why it is ok or why it is a horrible idea....

[BadBoostedBmwM3]

How do you drain to a hole that is always covered, deep in oil?
The oil drain hose would act as a sight glass (if transparent), acting as an extension of the oil pan,
holding the oil at the highest level of the pan (at the time), would it not?


I'm not disagreeing with you, but if it was a bad idea, my mechanic here in Louisville and Michael from TRM are just two people I know that have said it will be fine.

I'd definitely would like to hear more of the why it is ok or why it is a horrible idea....

I understand what both of you are saying, but when the oil pan is full of oil is right at the gasket line or just a hair above it, so you are always technically draining to hole covered in oil.
I guess you would argue it is not as deep which could make a difference.

[milKt]

I didn't necessarily say it was a bad idea. :)

It seems functional.
I suppose we've been trained to drain to a point ABOVE the oil level for years.
Does it HAVE to go there? no

The return oil can hang out in the hose there for a while before the oil level drops far enough to suck it up.

:dunno

[Mac8008]

How do you drain to a hole that is always covered, deep in oil?
The oil drain hose would act as a sight glass (if transparent), acting as an extension of the oil pan,
holding the oil at the highest level of the pan (at the time), would it not?

the oil level in the hose will be at the same level as in the pan. If your turbo is above the oil level, all is well. The only other problem I can see is if you have too much crankcase pressure, it can drive the oil level up higher in the hose. As with any turbo setup, make sure you have adaquate ventilation and you should be good to go.

[pbonsalb]

Or if your turbo discharges so much and/or so fast into the small tube that the tube fills up before the levels can equalize through the pan drain hole.

[futureroadracer]

Hasn't this been proven to work? I thought there were quite a few guys running the turbo drain to the oil drain plug.

[mo gun e36]

this only really works with a top mount turbo, if you did this to a bottem mount the oil would be getting backed up in the return line and cause the draining oil not to return to the pan properly,
good solutions for bottem mount guys is drill and tap the pan or just get a fitting welded in your pan or a different one and put it in with a new pan gasket

[mcoupemindy]

OP, I have a drain plug adapter to AN if you are interested. I already did the work to make it fit into the size restraints of our pan. If you ask nice, I'll even include a length of hose to go to the turbo. It's doing me no good now sitting around.


I didn't necessarily say it was a bad idea. :)

It seems functional.
I suppose we've been trained to drain to a point ABOVE the oil level for years.
Does it HAVE to go there? no

The return oil can hang out in the hose there for a while before the oil level drops far enough to suck it up.

:dunno

FWIW, all bungs on e36 (and similar) oil pans are below the oil line and are completely submerged in oil.

As long as the drain of the turbo is higher than the oil level, there should be no problems.

[milKt]

Any documentation on how HIGH the oil level may rise in the pan during a LONG LEFT turn?

Would the oil have to back up in the turbo for an extended period of time before it would cause damage? How long?

Possibilities.... :dunno

[mcoupemindy]

Any documentation on how HIGH the oil level may rise in the pan during a LONG LEFT turn?

Would the oil have to back up in the turbo for an extended period of time before it would cause damage? How long?

Possibilities.... :dunno

Well, it would depend on the ratio of horizontal v. vertical force. Obviously pan baffles would assist too (reason mine is now baffled).

Theres just too many factors that affect if the turbo would be damaged. The turbo would start smoking before any damage IMO.

[Orac]

Not my videos but....

This is a bung welded on higher than the drain hole, so drain hole would be a lil worse.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ds8PMjNb3M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkaa7gV35lI

[Sr20Tz3]

good video showing the theory behind it
my guess is on a car with good iddle the oil would drop down alot more
that thing sounds like absoulute crap :P

[futureroadracer]

Not seeing the difference. You're saying the higher top mount can use the oil drain while the lower mounted turbo needs to have a bung tapped into the pan?

I was under the impression bottom mounts needed a oil pump to drain the turbo.


this only really works with a top mount turbo, if you did this to a bottem mount the oil would be getting backed up in the return line and cause the draining oil not to return to the pan properly,
good solutions for bottem mount guys is drill and tap the pan or just get a fitting welded in your pan or a different one and put it in with a new pan gasket

[mcoupemindy]

Not seeing the difference. You're saying the higher top mount can use the oil drain while the lower mounted turbo needs to have a bung tapped into the pan?

I was under the impression bottom mounts needed a oil pump to drain the turbo.

That's a misconception. As long as the turbo center is ABOVE the oil line, there's no reason why you can't gravity drain a bottom mount.

[BMWManiac]

Not seeing the difference. You're saying the higher top mount can use the oil drain while the lower mounted turbo needs to have a bung tapped into the pan?

I was under the impression bottom mounts needed a oil pump to drain the turbo.

The bottom mounts all use the typical oil drain to a tapped bung.....I switched to an external secondary oil scavenge pump because the turbo was so low. I don't think it is necessary if the turbo is high enough.

[futureroadracer]

Yeah, my point was the he stated the higher mounted turbo could use the low drain plug yet the lower mounted turbo had to use a fitting located higher on the pan. His explanation does not make sense.

I'm sure the drain will flow fine as long is it will gravity feed into the pan.

[mo gun e36]

ima say do what you feel is best..

[BMWManiac]

I'm going to see how the smoking issue, if there is one, is without the external scavenger pump.

If it is a problem, then I'll go back to it.

[wazzu70]

Its good practice to drain above the oil level as that eliminates any chance of the oil backing up. Its not necessary though IMO. I know on my Audi I was surprised to see the drain go right in the pan, easily below oil level. I believe the EVO does this as well.

As long as you have enough volume in the tube for the draining oil, you will be fine.

[E30Alpina]

Bumping this old thead as I am doing my oil drain line now on my S52 E30, its a top mount so plenty of gravity. I dont like the idea of tapping the pan on the car for obvious reasons and I also dont feel like dropping my oil pan ( but will if I must) oil drain in the drain plug sounds great and I run a skid plate that covers the area so no problem w/ debris kicking up on the line. So what do you say FI section? Is it a good solution for my build?

[BMWManiac]

I'm looking to turbo my E30 with the DMS kit and it's a top mount that runs to the drain bolt...I have the raceskid plate so I'm not worried about it...you'll be fine

[cmzwirner]

I dont get the whole concept of "draining below the oil line will cause you to back up oil blah blah blah. I did a visual experiment.

http://youtu.be/D5IcpTDbOAQ

Plus you have residual oil pressure pushing the oil through the drain tube. As long as your turbo drain port is above the oil line, it will drain fine no matter where the drain fitting is mounted.

[mcoupemindy]

^ Exactly! Unless you have crankcase pressure, it doesn't matter. And if you do, you're screwed anyhow.

[BavarianLove]

Unless you have crankcase pressure

This.

[milKt]

I did a visual experiment.


Correct,

I don't recall anyone noting the oil would BACK UP per se,

but as close as many user's oil pan levels ARE to being level with their turbo drain location (or inches thereof), the oil would be nearly LEVEL with the turbo center section at all times,
and definitely backing up into the turbo in a long right turn, if the pan levels were similar in height to the center section drain hole.

How big of a deal is it, really though. :dunno

[E30Alpina]

So yes? esta bien? I really like this solution and I dont forsee any issues with it. Just need to find the right plug and angle an fittings to go with my drain.

[E30Alpina]

So yes? esta bien? I really like this solution and I dont forsee any issues with it. Just need to find the right plug and angle an fittings to go with my drain.

[Cyrix2k]

it works but don't do it. It's so low that if you hit *any* kind of debris it will snap the line. I thought I had a picture of my setup, but I can't find it. I drilled a hole through the factory oil drain bolt and welded a fitting on.

[E30Alpina]

It is very protected by a skid plate, so I would lose the pan before I lost the line and with the steel plate either of these are highly unlikely.

[futureroadracer]

I just went through this with my E30. I have a top mounted 4088r that I originally had draining to the oil plug. I had a -12 drain line, the line flowed smooth with no kinks or sharp bends etc. And the turbo smoked. I researched online and everyone said it would work, should work etc. I ended up doing a last minute tap into the oil pan and all is well. I'm sure it does and will work in some applications etc, it just didn't in mine.

[BavarianLove]

^ There you have it.

[JackEatsEmoKids]

I see a lot of turbos smoking in various cars because people love to run -4 feed lines with -8 returns. I've switched to -3 feed or a restricter fitting with a -10 drain, no more smoke.

I'm doing this return to the oil pan drain hole myself. Only thing I don't like is the fact the -10 to a 12x1.5mm adapter ends up into roughly a -6 hole.

My setup is a -4 line with a 1.5mm(.059 restricter) to a -10 drain line.

cmzwirner's video is a very good example of how it will work with normal to zero crank case pressure. That setup should work with the right sized catch can/lines to relieve pressures and feed/return lines for the turbo.

[VwAlex]

From personnal experiences, speaking with turbo manufacturers and just plain trying it out. Whats the extra time/money , tapping/welding a bung into your oil pan is compared to a 1500$ turbo...

[BMWManiac]

From personnal experiences, speaking with turbo manufacturers and just plain trying it out. Whats the extra time/money , tapping/welding a bung into your oil pan is compared to a 1500$ turbo...

Actually, compare the extra time/money/tapping/welding a bung into your oil pan compared to running a fitting to your oil drain plug

[VwAlex]

Actually, compare the extra time/money/tapping/welding a bung into your oil pan compared to running a fitting to your oil drain plug

Not enough to even consider running a fitting in my oil drain personally...

Do everything yourself including welding 3-4 hours at worse plus max 30$ of material/electricity/gaz/welding rod
Do everything yourself except welding... maybe 3 hours at worse plus 100$
Get it all done by a shop 500$ or so wich is nothing if you're getting everything done by a shop.

[Risen]

I just went through this with my E30. I have a top mounted 4088r that I originally had draining to the oil plug. I had a -12 drain line, the line flowed smooth with no kinks or sharp bends etc. And the turbo smoked. I researched online and everyone said it would work, should work etc. I ended up doing a last minute tap into the oil pan and all is well. I'm sure it does and will work in some applications etc, it just didn't in mine.

Did you use an oil feed restrictor?

[fakundo01]

Mcoupemindy. Im actually going to do this. Can u PM me the specification and sizes for the fittings that will go in the oil drain plug. Also, the length as well. I can buy both as well. Let me know please.