Bypassing turbo inlet

[monkey magic]

Hi all,

so, the oil seals on my AHU turbo have gone kaput, and its feeding oil into the intake, lots of smoke and running on oil (scarey yet fun!).

Its been parked for a few weeks now,  but I need to move the vehicle to a place where i can work on it. I wanted to simply plumb the air filter direct into the inlet, so the turbo is still in the exhaust stream, but not in the intake stream, so theres no boost (or oil!) fed into the intake. Will this be driveable or do you think the spinning turbo will want to pour oil everywhere.

I assume that the exhaust side being under pressure would prevent oil finding its way out of the turbo via the exhaust, and that i should keep something on the turbo air inlet to catch any oil there..

Vehicle is a tdi'd vanagon, so engine is at 50 degrees if that counts...

All opinions/theories/facts welcome, cheers in advance 

[R.O.R-2.0]

i would hook the air filter up to the engine intake..

there will be no oil coming out of the turbo intake, only the outlet of the cold side outlet..

[nathan_b]

your shaft is probably wrecked, exhaust is going to come out of your exhaust and you're going to lose it all (oil) in like 10min. Just replace the turbo man,

[nathan_b]

in limp mode(where you'll be) it will be too slow to drive really anyways, it's dangerous.

[monkey magic]

losing all the oil quickly was my fear, but will it though? Shaft isnt necessarily wrecked, and theres no limp mode to worry about (mtdi) tho i admit it will be down on power.

Going to plumb it all up tomorrow and see what happens..

[R.O.R-2.0]

like i said, i would plumb the air filter to the intake, so that your engine gets filtered air still..

if you want, loop the turbo outlet into the turbo inlet.. then that oil will stay contained..

if it comes out the exhaust seals, its just gonna smoke like a train..

i doubt its such a huge oil leak that it is gonna run out of oil in short order..

[81 vw pu]

If I were you I'd tow it or have it towed to the place you are going to do the work.
The damage you may or may not do to the turbo/engine could end up costing more than a tow.

[R.O.R-2.0]

If I were you I'd tow it or have it towed to the place you are going to do the work.
The damage you may or may not do to the turbo/engine could end up costing more than a tow.

good point!

[monkey magic]

Yup, common sense has prevailed. I decided its not worth the risk, the seal will be getting worse all the time, and it could start losing oil very quickly at any point. Just hate working on the driveway!!

CHeers all