Turbo Question - Rebuilt Turbo Leaking Oil?

[QRI05E]

Hey Guys,

About 6 months ago I purchased a fully rebuilt T25G for a turbo conversion from Lavish Performance (who I cant get in touch with anymore ) Ever since i have bought it, i have kept it wrapped in a plastic bag (sitting upright on the exhaust housing studs) in my room away from all dust and moisture... Yesterday i took it out and noticed clean/clear oil on the rear impeller wheel and few drips of oil...

Q. Is this normal? Could this be due to the bearings been lubricated when rebuilt?

Regards,

Sarkis

[discopotato03]

You always lubricate a turbochargers bearings (in the center section) when assembling it - means there's some lube at start up and helps prevent corrosion if it sits around for a while .

Most turbochargers have literally a piston ring on the turbine shafts hub just inboard of the turbine wheel itself . If you stand a turbocharger on its turbine end oil can weep through the small gap in the piston ring and run around the back of the turbine wheel and drip out the outlet . It's just gravity doing it's job .

If you had the turbo horizontal it would probably do the same thing out the oil drain hole in the bearing housing . When rebuilt turbos usually have plastic caps fitted to the oil inlet and drain holes to keep dirt and dust out .

Provided the people who rebuilt it did the job properly you should not have any issues , I'd probably put a couple of drips of clean engine oil down the oil inlet (emphasize just a couple of drops) just before start up just so it has a little before oil pressure is up .

If really paranoid you can start it up with the oil drain pipe or hose removed from underneath and observe oil running out of the drain hole temporarily - have a drain pan or tin handy to prevent spills .

Getting a little OT , often its price neutral to buy new cartridge (center housing and wheels) with bush bearing turbos . That way you get all the important bits brand new

Cheers A .