Oil drain height?

[SASHO91]

Just as the title states... Is there a set height?
Would being level with the top of the oil pan(bottom of block) be high enough? (Draining into the bottom of the pan?) IIRC, its about 5-6''.... (not too sure)

 

[RJ-92]

If you are talking for a turbo, you want your drain line to be at a 45* angle or more.

 

[Off Road SHO]

And your crankcase well ventilated.

Tom

 

[somedude_001]

And your crankcase well ventilated.

Tom

i can second that as i blew out a cam seal today becasue of a pressureized crank case. i vented the vent comming from the valve cover but did not more the throttle body vent tube (big hose on the bottom of the throttle body) so i was sending boost in there and spraying oil out of the valve cover one very messy and blowing a crank seal was a pitta.

so i guess either vent both vents or add a check valve like i'm going to tomorrow.

I mounted my turbo in the RF fender and i had to use a oil pump becasue the oil would not drain back.

edit: it is a tilton pump sold on summitracing.com

 

[gmorrell]

Just as the title states... Is there a set height?
Would being level with the top of the oil pan(bottom of block) be high enough? (Draining into the bottom of the pan?) IIRC, its about 5-6''.... (not too sure)

Bolding is mine...
A turbo (or supercharger gear case) needs to drain well above the oil level in the sump. If you drain a turbo below the oil level, oil will back up into the CHRA and blow oil past the shaft seals into the turbine and compressor. If a SC gear case is drained below the oil level, oil backs up in the case, causing excess drag, overheating, and will eventually blow out the shaft seal.

Turbo/SC oil drains need to be large bore (1/2" minimum or -10 line), as vertical as possible, and enter the oil pan well above the sump level.

 

[SASHO91]

Yes the crankcase is getting the treatment. (vented)

Gary, thanks for the response. I did not think that would have been a problem, but know that i look at it the other way around, i see that it can have catastrophic failure written all over it.. thanks for that info.

The drain line im using is -10.

The turbo, is going to be mounted were the Cruise Control module sits(used to). Elevated above the subframe a few inches, i was hoping that would be high enough for a drain. But seeing as the turbo in the atx sits higher than mine will, and he is using a pump, well i guess a pump is in order.

 

[yamahaSHO]

i can second that as i blew out a cam seal today becasue of a pressureized crank case. i vented the vent comming from the valve cover but did not more the throttle body vent tube (big hose on the bottom of the throttle body) so i was sending boost in there and spraying oil out of the valve cover one very messy and blowing a crank seal was a pitta.

so i guess either vent both vents or add a check valve like i'm going to tomorrow.

I mounted my turbo in the RF fender and i had to use a oil pump becasue the oil would not drain back.

edit: it is a tilton pump sold on summitracing.com

You're lucky that is all you blew. Both Gary and I blew our rear main seals. I accounted for both vents, but my crank case evac check valve failed. I'm just venting to a catch can now and may modify the oil seperator so that it has absolutely no restriction.

 

[gmorrell]

You're lucky that is all you blew. Both Gary and I blew our rear main seals.

Man, something about this just doesn't sound kosher.

Just so the rest of you know: This little issue with our rear main seals? It didn't happen when we were together...

 

[yamahaSHO]

LOL! I should have been more specific.

 

[1slickRED89]

i guess a pump is in order

if you use a pump you can have the oil return as high or low as you want. I use the valve cover breather port on the front. also since you have a pump, and the return oil is motivated by more than gravity, you could install a in-line filter to protect your engine from any possible SC debris.

I would be concerned about pressure build up using the VC port as an oil return, but the oil drain ports from the heads into the block are large and numerous enough that the 1/2" Vally vent alone is sufficient. on my car that 1/2" vents to the atmosphere without a filter, and I pity any spiders that craw in there. not really, I hate spiders...