Review: prothe k24 turbo oil return line - IDI Engine - VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.

• Review: prothe k24 turbo oil return line by rallydiesel on 15 Jul, 2009 19:21
• I was very happy to come across this part on prothe's site. I, like others, had experienced a leaky oil return line. Unfortunately, it's very difficult to find these lines at the junkyard and classifieds. Even more difficult to find ones that are leak-free.
  
  Well, I ordered and got it pretty quick. Just looking at the line in person showed it to be of pretty poor quality, with sloppy "welds" and inaccurate cuts. However, the flex joint looked to be decent from outward appearances.
  
  It installed easier than the oem, due to the upper bend allowing better wrench access. I tightened the two bolts down snugly. I used the midpoint attachment to limit flexing. I never bent the flex joint more than a few degrees.
  
  So, I finally finished the other repairs I had been doing and started the car up. Interesting to note is that I switched from 0w40 synthetic oil to 15w40 dino oil due to borderline main and rod bearings. I thought oil leaks would be a thing of the past.
  
  Well, after letting the car warm up and taking it for a run, I noticed a few drops of oil under the engine. Hmmm, I was optimistic, so I chalked it up to the omnipresent valve cover leak. I tightened the valve cover down a bit more. After a few more drives (and more puddles), I really opened it up. After these more spirited drives, I could actually see the oil dripping from the back of the engine.
  
  At this point, it was dripping at a good drop of oil per second. I jacked the car up while the engine was still warm (and dripping) and I could actually see a little river of oil pouring out of the upper flex joint crimp. 
  
  In conclusion, if you've got a leaky k24 return line, save yourself some headaches and go get a custom made hydraulic line. You get what you pay for. 
• #1 by jackbombay on 15 Jul, 2009 19:26
•  Did you contact prothe to give him a chance to make it right before you posted this thread?
• #2 by theman53 on 15 Jul, 2009 20:37
• Yeah contact him so he can make it right, becuase spending money, shipping, waiting, and then having something not work is easily fixed...IMHO he could give you enough to make a hydraulic hose on top of your 20.00 and your still out all that time, but maybe he would find a way, maybe I am too critical. Maybe I am still bitter over the pump...sorry luv ya prothe
  
  I had about 50.00 in mine that I had made for the pressure line, should be less than that for the return as there are less fittings. Bright side is that you can take the fittings to the hose shop and you'll know what sizes you need and orientation, so I guess it wasn't a total loss.
• #3 by jackbombay on 15 Jul, 2009 20:40
• Quote from: theman53 on 15 Jul, 2009 20:37

  Yeah contact him so he can make it right, becuase spending money, shipping, waiting, and then having something not work is easily fixed...
  

  
    Or you can just go through life being as bitter as possible 
• #4 by rallydiesel on 15 Jul, 2009 20:50
• I have actually bought a bunch of stuff from prothe and I think he has his place. But I really doubt that another one of these lines is going to be much better than the first. It's a quality issue, not a defect issue.
• #5 by GEE-BEE on 15 Jul, 2009 21:57
• I bought a return fitting from ebay for my K14 /AAZ and Yam going with a intergal Aeroquip-8 and hose assy, flared fittings on both end , Next get a flared to male metric adapter for the other end
  
  Ae466 hose type: teflon, 1500 psi working, Highest heat for and flex line with a Intergal firesleeve ( extruded  On the hose )with crimped S/S fittings proof tested to 3000 psi
  
  teflon hose assys have the smallest diameter, and on aircraft there replacement is on condition versus 5 years for ruber assys : S/S braided etc,
  
  Gee-Bee
• #6 by theman53 on 16 Jul, 2009 04:25
• This is what I got off ebay for my return line. I have to change the pan hole as mine has 3 holes in it and I have to drill out a perfectly good n/a pan to make one that works. This should work just fine though.
  
  
  
  I think I got it here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TURBO-OIL-RETURN-DRAIN-LINE-KIT-JETTA-VR6-GOLF-GTI-AUDI_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ65Q3a12Q7c66Q3a2Q7c39Q3a1Q7c72Q3a1205Q7c293Q3a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem3353a887a0QQitemZ220446885792QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported
• #7 by GEE-BEE on 16 Jul, 2009 09:35
• Same fitting the three bolt that I purchased , but I wouldnt use that  S/S braid  rubber hose if it was given to me....
  
  Gee-Bee
  
  I have been in the aircraft industry and I had my own aircraft hose shop ( Faa approved )and carried three vendor's
  
  All turbo aircraft or Jet engine aircraft where there is high heat near a oil or fuel ose should always be teflon
  
  20% more, but will last over 3000 hours
  
  Gee-Bee
  Gee-Bee Aeroproducts
• #8 by rallydiesel on 16 Jul, 2009 10:13
• Does that turbo oil flange fit the k24 housing properly? Anybody know what type of Garret flange would be equivalent?