Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 31, 2018 Just had my gearbox out so I've changed the rear crank seal while I was at it. The old one was fitted incorrectly, so I'm hoping this is the reason for so much oil in my engine bay. However, the braided section of the turbo oil return pipe is heavily caked in oil. I don't want to change it as I'm not sure that it's leaking.. it could be oil from the nearby crank seal. Also, it's not something that needs to be done while the gearbox is out. It's something I can do anytime. But in peoples experience.. does this pipe break down and leak? My car is 30 years old this year so I don't have a problem changing it if it needs it.. but it's about £180 so I only want to change it if it's really needed! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky 1,767 Report post Posted January 31, 2018 Yes it does - it'll weep through the braid eventually. I'll be replacing mine shortly, and that's on a '98. Clean it thoroughly and keep an eye on it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 31, 2018 It's certainly weeping through the braid!! I guess I'll just replace it then.. 30 years old is long overdue. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarBuff 111 Report post Posted January 31, 2018 Just sayin' : the braid on our '88 is still dry and intact. (90,000 miles) It will surely start leaking now, though! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buddsy 1,337 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 31, 2018 Mine leaked I thought it was from the braided section so I changed it to the older item (on the G cars) a sort of convoluted jobbie. The old pipe itself was in good condition but I had bought a braided one as the convoluted ones are said to crack with age. Anyways mine still leaked to I put the braided one back on. Ive tried gaskets and no gaskets. I tried tightening the bolts. I thought the lug was bending so made a new collar which was 10mm thick and the bugger still leaks. On mine its from the joint where it joins the casting. The oil very slowly leaks down onto the braiding then down onto the brake pad directly below. So now before each MOT I have to give it a bit of wipe. buddsy Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted January 31, 2018 3 hours ago, Glyn Harper said: .But in peoples experience.. does this pipe break down and leak? My car is 30 years old this year so I don't have a problem changing it if it needs it.. but it's about £180 so I only want to change it if it's really needed! That is a huge sum of money for a floppy pipe. May I suggest you get that looked at by someone like pirtek or a farm hydraulics place. Tell them it’s off some old tractor implement. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted January 31, 2018 It’s ordered now. at least I know it’ll fit though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 So I got my new hose today, but it just didn't want to reach the turbo AND the sump! I connected the sump side first, but there was no way it was going to reach the turbo. The bottom hole did but the angle was impossible to get the top one in. So having checked with SJ sportscars they're all the same (they are.. from 88 to the end of production) I undid it from the sump, fitted the turbo end first then stretched it over to the sump and managed to get it on. Only cause for this I can imagine is if the core of the turbo where it connects was not quite rotated to the right position when it was put together? The old return pipe fitted ok though. Problem was, it kinked quite badly where I've circled the picture. I used a set of large mole grips to sort of squash it round again, which as you can see, has more or less got rid of the kink. I'm just worried now whether I've damaged the inner part of the tube that you can't see because of the braid, as it was kinked then straightened. Really bad day as this pipe was £190 by the time it was shipped! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Not liking that. You really really need to be sure that’s got a nice free flow of oil from the turbo - or it could get expensive and frustrating Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chillidoggy 3,223 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Very strange. Presumably the turbo is original? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vulcan Grey 223 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 should look more like this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CarBuff 111 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) Thanks Travis...I was just attempting to take a picture of my '88 (which has a different wastegate, of course). Mine is contoured like yours, a MUCH gentler arc. Glyn, the rigid part of the SJ piece (above your circle)...that looks longer than in the un-installed picture. Edited February 2, 2018 by CarBuff Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Definitely a nice smooth gentle arc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) It’s a hybrid turbo but based on a standard T3. The core where the pipes connect is certainly standard. I’ve spent so much time, money and hassle lately, I really don’t have the enthusiasm to try and rotate the turbo core so it fits better. I assume it probably needs taking off the car to do, which means a load, load more hassle dealing with ceized turbo bolts that you can’t even reach with anything but an open ended spanner. Then even if I do I’ll probably find I’ve already damaged the inner part of the hose. Pretty much ready to give in. Nothing is ever easy, normal, or even fits like it should!! Edited February 2, 2018 by Glyn Harper Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Is it obviously shorter than the old one??? i can probably whack a tape measure against mine the weekend if that’d help Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 After reading, I guess I need to ‘clock’ it. So no doubt I’ll snap each and every bolt and stud trying to do so. Including in the manifold which will then require me to remove the manifold, which will then snap the studs in the block. That’s how lucky I’m feeling today. I don’t think it’s shorter, think it’s the angle the turbo is at. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Was the old pipe tight like that then ? Could be why it’s failed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 The old pipe did seem to fit a little better but it’s probably stretched over the years. It’s the original 30 year old pipe. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 That oil pipe does look very close to the actuator rod for the wastegate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 I’m going to have to rotate the centre section tomorrow I guess. I’ve possibly scrapped that new pipe already though by kinking it so much. And I really know I’m going to really struggle to get this centre rotated. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 It should be a nice sweeping downward flow. Oil needs to be able to run out of that pipe freely Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Yeah. It’s not at the moment. There goes my weekend. And probably hundreds more £ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrykearley 4,770 Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Just think worse case scenario and anything better is a plus. in that area though most things snap, shear of need cutting I’m afraid Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 I think that’s highly probable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Glyn Harper 50 1 Vehicles Report post Posted February 2, 2018 Well, got all the bolts undone on the exhaust side apart from the one right next to the manifold. So for the sake of not being able to get to just 1 bolt, I’m probably going to have to take the entire turbo off. Dammit. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites