I think the issue may be that the oil coming out the drain is FROTH.

If the return is above the oil level, the froth falls out and spreads over the whole area of the top of the oil to dissipate.

If the oil level is up the drain hose, the froth doesn't break up, and backs up.

Now how bad could backed up froth be... ?

 

when my p/s fluid gets frothy it pushes out past the fill plug...

 

Did you have any other symptoms? Aside from the turbo?

I'm with you on that - it's one I've heard but never understood. I know people say it can make you burn lots of oil, too. Maybe particulates float on the oil, too? I just don't see where you get a pressure increase - a bubble is no "stronger" than the air inside it and the material's elasticity (or whatever you call it). Oil bubbles seem like they would pop pretty easy. You might get oil on the backside of the oil pressure regulator, but again, it's hard to imagine how this would much matter.

Wow, ok, there's one I didn't think of. All I can say is mine returns high and I don't have issues. :-) That at least seems somewhat reasonable. I'd still like to find a way to test it. It's hard for me to imagine (as mentioned above) what this could do to hurt anything?

heh

 

Your oil drain has clearly violated all the rules.

I've done much worse, and they always worked.

Part of the key is the height of the turbo above the oil level in the sump.

I think your oil line will work okay.

Corky

 

In my case I never saw any froth. It started about 20sec after I started it up. First I heard a whizzing sound then saw an oil mist coming out of the compressor outlet (wasn't connected yet). I started it a couple more times but it never ran for more than 30sec because it was making quite a mess. About 10min later I pulled the return hose and realized what happened when oil began pouring out. I don't recall there being any foamy oil though.

 

As far as the height above the oil level in the sump, I'm running an older FMII kit.

 

Do you happen to have pictures of where you tee'd off the oil line for the oil in? I'm about to run a line to a turbo I'm installing and am looking for any info I can get.

 

iff you have a 1600 there is a feed blocked off on the turbo side if 1800 you have to tee off from the oil pressure sender

take a look on flyin miatas turbo install instructions they will help

 

http://www.flyinmiata.com/support/in...all_turbos.pdf

Look on page 14.

--Ian

 

Really? Then I must have one of those uber rare 1800 engines that has an oil port on the exhaust side.

94-95 1.8l have the oil feed on the exhaust side like the 1.6's. The rest of them do not.

 

Thanks, exactly what I needed to know!