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bluerising 11-04-09 02:38 PM

Oil leaking by turbo
 
1 Attachment(s)
Its a 3rd Gen RX7 with 40,000 miles. It sat for 1 year and i just started to drive it again and i notice oil under the car. I got under the car and it looks like its leaking from the upper part of the oil pipe on the rear turbo. Right where the oil pipe connects to the bottom of the turbo. Im not sure and wanted some opinions.

Mahjik 11-04-09 08:56 PM

Hard to tell from your photo, but leaks from the oil return lines on the stock turbos are pretty common. I would suggest cleaning the area, taking it for a drive and then checking it again to make sure the leak is coming from the oil return lines.

If so, just pull the turbos and R&R the gaskets for the oil return lines.

bluerising 11-05-09 08:52 AM

I put the car on a lift and cleaned the oil. then i started the car and i can see the oil leak from the opposite side of the turbo from what you can see in the picture. It leaks from the top of the turbo down the back and drips off the botton. im not to familiar with the placement of the oil lines but could that be it. i throught oil lines were on the sides Whats R&R? Remove & Replace?

Mahjik 11-05-09 10:15 AM

Yes, R&R is remove and replace. There are 2 gaskets for each oil return line. One that connects the return line to the turbo manifold and one that connects to the engine block. Sounds like the one that is connecting to the turbo manifold is failing.

It's possible that the bolts which connect the return line are just loose, but I would just go ahead and R&R the gaskets.

Mahjik 11-05-09 10:16 AM

BTW, here's a thread where I posted the nuts/bolts locations for removing the stock twin turbos:

https://www.rx7club.com/3rd-generation-specific-1993-2002-16/stock-twin-turbo-nuts-bolts-locations-485829/

bluerising 11-05-09 11:59 AM

It looked like the return line at first but i cleaned the oil and check again. Its coming from something up higher then the oil return line. The very top of the turbo. Is there another oil line on top of the turbo that could leak?

Mahjik 11-05-09 01:13 PM


Originally Posted by bluerising (Post 9606958)
It looked like the return line at first but i cleaned the oil and check again. Its coming from something up higher then the oil return line. The very top of the turbo. Is there another oil line on top of the turbo that could leak?

The oil inlet is on top of the turbo. Check out this diagram of the lubrication system:

http://www.autosportracetech.com/RX-7/oilsystem.htm

bluerising 11-05-09 01:47 PM

Im pretty sure thats the soure of the leak. hopfully it just needs to be tightened.

bluerising 11-05-09 03:17 PM

It was the inlet oil pipe. tightened it a little and no more leak. i dont see how it came lose.

Mahjik 11-06-09 08:37 AM


Originally Posted by bluerising (Post 9607400)
i dont see how it came lose.

Vibrations over time.

bluerising 11-07-09 03:29 PM

Thanks for the help

nrattV7 11-10-09 12:46 AM

I'm sorry if I 'm reviving a finished topic, but is it possible to tighten that oil return line from underneath? I am having the same issue you are and I am thinking it's the same problem since i see a few drips of oil and no smoke coming out the exhaust even under autocrossing situations. I don't mind taking things apart next season when I have time, but if I can do it from underneath and save time that would be great.

Mahjik 11-10-09 09:03 AM

If you are referring to the oil inlet line, I doubt you can even see it from under the car.

nrattV7 11-11-09 11:20 PM

That's what I figured just by looking at that pic, but thanks for the reply! I was hoping I might get lucky and be able to reach it. Well I guess if I take apart all that to get to the turbo it'd probably be a great time to swap in the downpipe if the turbos are still in good condition and my boost issues are just due to vacuum hose, check valves, and/or solenoids.

EDIT: Btw Mahjik you wouldn't happen to frequent MAM would you? I'm hoping if I can figure out a few small leaks on the car to do a Fast Friday event sometime next year.

Mahjik 11-12-09 08:36 AM


Originally Posted by nrattV7 (Post 9620422)
That's what I figured just by looking at that pic, but thanks for the reply! I was hoping I might get lucky and be able to reach it. Well I guess if I take apart all that to get to the turbo it'd probably be a great time to swap in the downpipe if the turbos are still in good condition and my boost issues are just due to vacuum hose, check valves, and/or solenoids.

If your leak truly is the oil inlet line, you should be able to get to it just by only removing the intake piping. It shouldn't take more than 10-20 minutes to have access to it.


Originally Posted by nrattV7 (Post 9620422)
EDIT: Btw Mahjik you wouldn't happen to frequent MAM would you? I'm hoping if I can figure out a few small leaks on the car to do a Fast Friday event sometime next year.

I'm still recovering from back surgery from about a year ago. I'm hoping to hit some Fast Friday's next year providing I can take bouncing around on the track.


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