oil return line on vanagon aaz

[paolomarks]

So I've done a bit of searching on this forum and others and I still have a basic question concerning this topic.  It seems to me that if oil enters the turbo under pressure then it would also exit under the same pressure, barring any leaks of course, and thus a slightly uphill oil return line would cause no problems. What am I missing?  Thanks, Paolo.

[nathan_b]

No, gravity is needed to aid the return, pressure builds up and is sustained pre turbo bearings, the tight bearings cause the restriction to make the oil drain not (or only slightly) under pressure.

You need to make a line that does NOT run up hill or oil will leak past the turbo oil seals.

[BillyWillicker]

The bearings of a turbo are a 'controlled leak' as are all journal bearings.  Oil enters under pressure and must leave at a pressure lower than the intake and exhaust manifold pressures, hence the need for a downhill only drain line.  

[nathan_b]

sorry, i mean

NO! (to having an uphil drain), It needs gravity, might have been misleading. lol.

[paolomarks]

Thank you all for the explanation. Makes sense now to me now.  My stock diesel vanagon oil pan has 2 oil drain plugs, one on the front(timing belt side) and a 2nd on the drivers side toward the back. This second one would seem like an obvious place to locate the oil return line, rather than fabricating a new hole in the pan.  Has anyone had success with this?  Thanks, Paolo

[nathan_b]

ive got a custom built oil return line, got the ends, got some hydrolic line, took it to a machine shop and they crimped it.

Or you could use hose clamps, many have done it.

[R.O.R-2.0]

Thank you all for the explanation. Makes sense now to me now.  My stock diesel vanagon oil pan has 2 oil drain plugs, one on the front(timing belt side) and a 2nd on the drivers side toward the back. This second one would seem like an obvious place to locate the oil return line, rather than fabricating a new hole in the pan.  Has anyone had success with this?  Thanks, Paolo

the drain plug holes are too low.. you want the line ABOVE the oil level..

[blackdogvan]

Thank you all for the explanation. Makes sense now to me now.  My stock diesel vanagon oil pan has 2 oil drain plugs, one on the front(timing belt side) and a 2nd on the drivers side toward the back. This second one would seem like an obvious place to locate the oil return line, rather than fabricating a new hole in the pan.  Has anyone had success with this?  Thanks, Paolo

the drain plug holes are too low.. you want the line ABOVE the oil level..

How do you have the turbo return on your diesel vanagon? Below the oil level is the only option on a 50 degree vanagon install. This is how VW does it as the block banjo port is above turbo outlet.

Paolomarks - the second hole in your pan is the turbo return stock location. A real turbo diesel vanagon oil pan in West Virginia is a rare bird! I had to weld on a bung.

[R.O.R-2.0]

crap, i forgot you guys's engines are on their sides..

[tdihuntdawg]

Hello, man  I have a 82 diesel vanagon with a Aaz 1.9 td I installed . At first I had the quantum td low manifold with a k-14 and used the low oil pan drain. This worked ok but it was at the very minimum of drop . if your starting  from scratch I would not recommend it .you also need to consider the height of the oil in pan to consider drop. this combination also requires a custom l/s mount. I now run a high manifold,custom adapter,vnt-15,stock l/s mount and oil drain thru the banjo bolt on block.

[paolomarks]

I've got 3 oil drain bolts!  Just checked again and there's one in front one in back and one on drivers side.  Van spent most of its life in Alabama, wonder why it got the Turbo Diesel pan?  Anyway does this mean I can use that drivers side drain as my oil return port.?  My AAZ is off a 96 golf(Canada) with a stock KKK turbo.  Pictures would be great to see how it's done.  Thanks ,Paolo