Guest Big Mick Guests Posted 03/08/04 10:58 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 10:58 AM This is only a theory, so if I’ve got my technical facts wrong then I’m happy to be corrected.A week ago I did a home service on my T, cleaning the K&N and replacing the plugs. When I disconnected the plastic tube from the crossover plenum (the one that runs down to the inlet on the turbo) the other end of the tube literally fell out of the turbo. Upon inspection of the inlet of the turbo I noticed a small film of engine oil on the bottom of the inlet. After I put everything back together the car run a lot smoother and appeared to have more power. I’m sure it helped me achieve the 12.16 time. I have since been investigating the source of the oil which I now believe is coming from the crankcase breather that runs into the crossover plenum. Further research, predominately by the net has led me to believe that this maybe a common problem with high performance turbo cars, a problem which can lead to two issues:-1. If the oil gets through to the combustion chamber it can lower the octane of the fuel, leading to detonation. Strangely, over the last couple of weeks I personally know of a couple of people that are having this problem, not to mention the threads about pinging that have recently appeared.2. The oil can coat the inside of the intercooler, reducing its effectiveness.I believe this problem may be prevalent in engines producing higher than standard boost because the crankcase pressures would be higher and the suction from the turbo is greater.I think the solution to this problem may be an oil/air separator (read THIS from Autospeed about a home made unit). I hope fit an aftermarket unit in my car on the weekend, at which time I will do my best to remove any oil residue in the intake piping and then will monitor it’s effectiveness over the coming months.I would be interested on other people’s comments/opinions on this subject, particularly those which are running very high boost and have done a few km’s. I have done 10,000ks since my mods were done.Cheers,Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT330 Member 135 Member For: 21y 1m 4d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 03/08/04 11:12 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:12 AM Hi MickI have to agree with you. I have also noticed a Puff of smoke out of the exhaust in the morning when the car is cold. Only a small puff.......you have to stand behind the car while some else starts it. I think this maybe a little bit of oil from the crankcase breather which gets into the combustion chamber.I think a Oil/ Air Seperator would be a good idea.CheersAhiles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geea Site protagonist Lifetime Members 4,320 Member For: 21y 9m 12d Gender: Male Location: At the lights, waiting for you. Posted 03/08/04 11:21 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:21 AM Hey Mick. I don't fully understand all your post but it sounds interesting. Would there be any negatives from having an oil seperator? If not what would it cost to get one and how hard would it be to put in?How much of the piping do you think would be affected by the coating of oil and how hard would it be to remove the oil coating?So many questions so little time. Geea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms700 Moderating Team 10,170 Member For: 22y 24d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 03/08/04 11:29 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:29 AM Most hi-po motors run one (my XC does), the only hassle I can see on the XR6 motor, is where are you going to have the oil drain back to? If you go the sump, you'll have to somehow make a fitting in the side of the sump for the drain tube to connect to, which means sump off to put the fitting on! Also, the sumps are all "ribbed", so finding a good spot for a drain back fitting wont be easy.If somebody has a better location for a drain for the catch can, please inform!Unless you just keep the can sealed at the bottom, with no drain back to the sump, and empty out the can once a week or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Mick Guests Posted 03/08/04 11:29 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:29 AM Hey Mick. I don't fully understand all your post but it sounds interesting. Would there be any negatives from having an oil seperator? If not what would it cost to get one and how hard would it be to put in?How much of the piping do you think would be affected by the coating of oil and how hard would it be to remove the oil coating?So many questions so little time. Geea. Hi Geea,I still learning too.No negatives, as long as it is plumbed back into the intake otherwise your not meeting the emissions laws. Also you would need to empty the separator (or catch can as they're sometimes called).The Autospeed page I posted siad $10-$50 for a home made jobby.I reckon all the inlet piping would be effcted from the point were the breather enters the crossover plenum, through the turbo and intercooler, and onto the inlet manifold.To remove the oil I plan to pull apart as much of the piping as possible, if it's not to bad I'ff probably leave the intercooler and hope it will disappear it's self over a pweriod of time. First I'll see how bad (or OK) it is.Hope I got all your questions.Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Mick Guests Posted 03/08/04 11:33 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:33 AM Most hi-po motors run one (my XC does), the only hassle I can see on the XR6 motor, is where are you going to have the oil drain back to? If you go the sump, you'll have to somehow make a fitting in the side of the sump for the drain tube to connect to, which means sump off to put the fitting on! Also, the sumps are all "ribbed", so finding a good spot for a drain back fitting wont be easy.If somebody has a better location for a drain for the catch can, please inform!Unless you just keep the can sealed at the bottom, with no drain back to the sump, and empty out the can once a week or so. Hi Mick,I was hoping you would reply with your supercharging experience.I was thinking of getting a separator that has a valve at the bottom that allows the oil to be manually drained. Time would then tell how often it would need to be drained.Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geea Site protagonist Lifetime Members 4,320 Member For: 21y 9m 12d Gender: Male Location: At the lights, waiting for you. Posted 03/08/04 11:37 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:37 AM How much oil are we talking here. Does this thing need to exist except for emission laws? If not how hard would it be to get rid of it?Geea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ms700 Moderating Team 10,170 Member For: 22y 24d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 03/08/04 11:41 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:41 AM Hi Mick,I was hoping you would reply with your supercharging experience.I was thinking of getting a separator that has a valve at the bottom that allows the oil to be manually drained. Time would then tell how often it would need to be drained.Mick Its easy on the Clevo, I just use the spot where the old mechanical fuel pump used to go, the drain for the blower and the catch can both merge into one, and it works well. I will have a look tomorrow underneath a XR to see how hard it would really be to tap some sort of fitting in somewhere. It would be nice to have it draining automatically, rather than having to manually empty it every X amount of kays....If you can get braided lines, with Earls screw on fittings, you can really get the catch cans looking good! Get a aluminium fabricator to make you a can, polish her up, run all the lines over to the can, with a nice K&N vent filter on top, the setup looks really good! Wish I could post pics of my setup! Not sure if the K&N vent filter bit will be legal though..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Big Mick Guests Posted 03/08/04 11:42 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:42 AM How much oil are we talking here. Does this thing need to exist except for emission laws? If not how hard would it be to get rid of it?Geea. Easy to get rid of, but you would need a filter of some kind over the breather tube from the rocker cover otherwise you would find your engine bay covered in a film of oil over time.Mick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XRT330 Member 135 Member For: 21y 1m 4d Gender: Male Location: Brisbane Posted 03/08/04 11:45 AM Share Posted 03/08/04 11:45 AM Hi GuysYou can buy Oil/Air Seperators from most performance shops. Many WRX's use them as they have the same issues. The oil/air seperator come with a nut on the bottom of the canister which you can empty if it gets full. It would take a long time to get full as it's only oil mist. Probably check once a year or so.CheersAhiles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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