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I am almost ready to put my engine together and will be installing the oil return to be ready for when I install everything over winter.
Thaaat being said, the oil pan is off and I am welding in the AN10 fitting. I will not have PS or AC.
Question: Should I use the standard location that everyone seems to use (near the front of the pan), or should I use a farther back location I have seen some suggest bc the pan is loose and easy to drill?
You end up with a better drain if you move it back, but positioning really requires the front subframe to get right. Also be aware that an AN10 is probably smaller (ID) than the manufacturer's recommended drain diameter.
Be aware of motor mount and subframe conflicts as well as oil pickup tube conflicts prior to drilling. We've had to do it twice on one of the installs locally.
And dont just think about the fitting but the hose routing on the outside as well.
The fittings don't usually remain flush on the inside of the pan and can interfere with the oil pickup tube directly. Even if it doesn't contact, the pickup tube may significantly block the drain in some cases. Seen it.
I am planning on putting it basically where this gentleman routed his return, except just to the left of the brace 2” down from the top of the oil pan flange. Looks to be clear and make the most sense other than “everyone puts it at the front”
keen to hear views on this and if A10 isnt big enough?
alsao thinking everyone puts it at the front...why try to be different
Everyone puts it at the front because that's where you can drill it without taking the motor out.
The photo above is mine, it's -10 hose and fittings and worked fine. You can't move it much further forward than it is in that photo because of subframe clearance. Let me see if I can find a photo if it in the car.
Everyone puts it at the front because that's where you can drill it without taking the motor out.
The photo above is mine, it's -10 hose and fittings and worked fine. You can't move it much further forward than it is in that photo because of subframe clearance. Let me see if I can find a photo if it in the car.
--Ian
Ahh man appreciate the photo! Super clean set up and engine. That photo & Knapps were responsible for getting mine welded farther back.
keen to hear views on this and if A10 isnt big enough?
alsao thinking everyone puts it at the front...why try to be different
Superior draining via a more; direct and vertical return line.
Just because everyone does it one way, doesn't mean its the best way to do it. I try to overthink and over engineer anything I can. In this case, its the laziest way
And what exactly did you do? Hard to tell. Too deep? Too close to the motor mount?
The oil pickup tube is right behind the port (too deep) AND too far to the rear, the motor mount prevents the fitting from being installed. I have the pan marked up front where it should have gone and changed it last minute. Live and learn. I have a new to me pan I'm going to just put it up front.
Up front is a tradeoff -- the win is that you can do it without taking the motor out and for most people installing turbo kits that is the single most important factor. If the motor is in the car and staying in the car then drilling/tapping at the front is absolutely the best way to do it.
The downside to it is that turbo oil drains are gravity fed and the oil coming out of the bearing is frothy and does not gravity drain very well. To avoid it backing up you need to give it as much help as possible in the form of wide hoses and a consistent drain slope (no flat or rising spots). This is possible with the front location but harder, because the natural path for a hose going there from the turbo winds up pretty flat for most of the last six inches or so. Draining into the pan next to the motor mount is superior in this regard, the oil is draining almost straight down for the entire run.
An additional reason for installing the drain further back is that it means you have one fewer hose going through an already-congested spot. On my car I have intercooler piping, lower radiator hose, power steering hose and brake ducting all going through a small area below the power steering pump, and eliminating the need to have a turbo oil drain in there as well makes things simpler.
Oil return location - pan off engine, weld in.
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