Separating the oil systems

[CavScout]

For a long time I have been wanting to have an independent oil system for the turbo, keeping the engine oil out of the turbo just makes sense to me. No super catastophic engine failure would require the replacement of both the engine and turbo. I have seen a few things that have come close to what I was thinking but not exactly, Darriel Bleechington had a very nice system plumbed I got to look at one time in S. Georgia when he came up. Thanks Darriel for explaining it to me. (<-Great guy, I think I bought his dinner, but I can't remember...)
For the last 3~5 years I've been researching and tinkering with this idea, where to put an oil cooler, where to run the lines, filtering, but the two things that I never could get planned were -how to supply the oil and how much oil did I need to give the turbo. Most pumps I have found are not really made to pump hot friggin' oil, many scavenge pumps are for partially cooled oil. I wasn't comfortable with that, I wanted something made like an engines mechanical pump that ran from 12v. I may have found a solution to the pump issue, but I still don't know how much oil the turbo needs in terms of volume per whatever. For those that know would 2~3 GPM @ up to 40 psi be enough to keep it happy?

Btw, I am moving the intercooler to take the place of the A/C condensor and will probably use the old CCHE's place to put an oil cooler, still fishing for a home for the filter..

 

[Grimgrak]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Why dont you just put a filter onto the turbo oil feedline simple and effective.

 

[MRKING]

Re: Separating the oil systems

You shouldnt need more than a filter and a cooler on the inline to your turbo . A dedicated oil system for the turbo only sounds like a good sized project .

 

[ghettosled]

Re: Separating the oil systems

fyi, weldon has a scavange pump that would be appropriate for that type of system. YOu would need a catch can type setup as the oil exits the turbo in a foamy state not a liquid.

i would just go with the dedicated oil filter setup.. something like the one we make, and not just an inline screen filter.

 

[Don W.]

Re: Separating the oil systems

IMHO A dedicated turbo filter, as mentioned, would be the best and simplest setup. Talk to a local turbo rebuilder. Look in the truck parts/repair section of the phone book. Remember the turbo already gets filtered oil from the engine filter.

 

[CavScout]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Yeah, simple, easy, most cost effective, etc. but no filter cannot remove water from the oil, say, a head gaskets goes or in my case #4 cylinder wall cracks. It may not make sense to most of you and I understand that this wouldn't be easy, but then nothing on this truck has been to date. I thank you all for the answers given, but I'd still like to know: How much oil pressure and volume the turbo need to have?

The filter RPM offers was the one I was looking at b/c it is small. Another reason I was wanting to do this is so I can keep the flow of oil going after the truck is turned off w/o leaving the engine running, during spindown.

 

[SyTyJedi]

Re: Separating the oil systems

A filter won't save your turbo from a catastrophic engine failure - the turbo is going to collect any piston/valve/rod/bearing/etc components that exit through the exhaust ports.

You also don't want your oil to be too cool, it needs to get up to at least a certain temp for it's ideal viscosity. You want that with your turbo turning 70k RPMs.

This seems like an awful lot of trouble for a turbo that costs $200 to replace.

 

[CavScout]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Ok, dead subject.

"...stupid idea and not worth the effort."- Didn't really answer the question I was asking, but it'll do.

Thanks to all who replied, good to have a sounding board sometimes.

 

[alwayscode390]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Remember the turbo already gets filtered oil from the engine filter.

That is what I thought....looks like RPM's setup is like a stock setup to me with billet and braided hoses? ---

 

[Syclone#892]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Well I have one of RPM's filter that one of these days will see use on my truck. I am writing to tell you about something that may interest you. Check out Canton Racing Products as they have a turbo oiler, basically from what I can gather is that it supplies oil to the turbo when it sees the need. It is almost the same as there accusump which is when your oil pressure goes down (hard launch or corner) it supplies oil to make sure nothing bad happens.

www.Cantonracingproducts.com
If you are interested in any of there parts you can let me know as I am a dealer for them now and can save you a couple bucks.

 

[MRKING]

Re: Separating the oil systems

How much oil pressure and volume the turbo need to have?.

The volume you will need soley depends on the efficiency of the cooler you use . You may have to test run the system with temp sensor on the turbo out , and then adjust the cooler size or volume accordingly if it runs to hot or to cold . Maybe start at a gallon and work down from that point .As far as oil pressure goes ,just use whatever our motors put out .

On an exspensive ball bearing turbo I could see the need for this from your explanation .Thats good food for thought, and I am intrested in seeing what you devise for this .

 

[CavScout]

Re: Separating the oil systems

As I see it, just to explain, oil that runs through the motor picks up enough. Blow-by gases, sometimes raw fuel, shavings (large, small and dustings-depending on what it's been through), just plain trash that does, in fact, get filtered by the engines oil system. But, this same system has a by-pass for start up. So, um, that means that some of that junk does go through the bearings in the turbo. I don't like that...any of it. The system also depends on the truck running to supply oil to the turbo, meaning it gets none at startup...there is no pre-oiling before, just waiting for pressure from the engine pump. There is no post oiling, not only do you have to run it to cool the oil and the turbo, but when the truck is finally turned off the is no oil supplied for the 'spindown'. Which, as I understand, can lead to deposits of coke in these bearings. Yes, in stock applications may take forever and may not even bother most folks...however, folks who are using the newer ball-bearing turbos this might be something to consider.

This isn't for everyone. No, I'm not looking for someone to tell me what they think of it...what they would do for thier truck...I will listen, but it's not the answer I am looking for. For most, the option of filtering the oil going into the turbo may be plenty enough to suit thier needs. I'm simply looking at things the GM didn't, like many people have since these trucks have been out. The entire idea came from things I've seen at Rally races, Le Mans races, road course races, some prototypes in professional teams in all types. I just appealled to me and made complete sense.

I was just looking for some numbers, mebbe a little insight from someone that may have already thought about this.

 

[CavScout]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Oh crud, I forgot to mention the pump I was looking at. It comes from some motorcycle heads that run the Salt Flats...abunch. It uses a brass body and spur gears.
http://www.rbracing-rsr.com/oilsystems.htm

 

[4C FED]

Re: Separating the oil systems

Granetelli Motorsports used to have a complete kit. it was fairly expensive at a little over $1k if I remember correctly.
I checked earlier today & it looks like they no longer sell the kit.