LS3 Turbo oil feed line - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

1LESJD · 12-01-2021, 04:37 PM

Hey so I am having a very concerning problem I just got my turbo installed and went out for a test drive yesterday and everything seemed fine. I noticed my oil feed line at the turbo connection getting some white dust on it(from the heat). I questioned if it's getting oil or not. I have installed an aftermarket air to oil cooler which utilizes two 1/8th ports one on the in and one on the out. I have my feed line hooked up to the out 1/8th port.

I pulled the fuel pump fuse and let the engine turn over for 6-7 seconds and had no oil coming out. I removed the oil feed line and oil started coming out of the 1/8th port which ensures me that the gasket is not blocking any of of the passages. I blew air thru my feed line and it's not clogged.

It's almost like it's getting flow but no pressure right there.. I drove the car for an hour yesterday just cruising staying out of boost oil pressure stayed around 30 psi(super light load). Any insight would be appreciated.

HOJO · 12-01-2021, 08:04 PM

Wouldn’t the out port be on the bottom side of turbo? So then you’d be feeding from the bottom trying to fill the chamber area and sucking out the top. Maybe the return pump flows more than the feed line can keep up with so that chamber is not being filled enough for good oil flow. Hope I’m making some sense here.

CamaroCracka · 12-02-2021, 07:54 AM

The pressure side feed of a turbo has to be on top and can't be clocked more than 10 degrees or so from center. Most oiling issues have to do with the drain back to the pan having a bend and the oil backs up into the housing and leaks, particularly with ball bearing turbos.

It does not take long to damage a turbo bearing if it's not getting oil even if you stay out of the boost. You could crack the feed line on the turbo while the car is running and that will tell you pretty quick if you are getting oil. Some oil will come out, but nothing a can of brake clean won't fix. Turbos don't require a ton of oil so if oil is flowing, you are probably good.

If the oil cooler only has 1/8 ports to flow oil through, it's not doing a lot of cooling, or are you saying it has 1/8 ports to tap into to the flow.

BTW, a picture is worth 1000 words.

12-01-2021, 04:37 PM	#1
1LESJD Drives: 2014 Chevrolet Camaro 1LE Join Date: May 2021 Location: Oregon Posts: 5	LS3 Turbo oil feed line Hey so I am having a very concerning problem I just got my turbo installed and went out for a test drive yesterday and everything seemed fine. I noticed my oil feed line at the turbo connection getting some white dust on it(from the heat). I questioned if it's getting oil or not. I have installed an aftermarket air to oil cooler which utilizes two 1/8th ports one on the in and one on the out. I have my feed line hooked up to the out 1/8th port. I pulled the fuel pump fuse and let the engine turn over for 6-7 seconds and had no oil coming out. I removed the oil feed line and oil started coming out of the 1/8th port which ensures me that the gasket is not blocking any of of the passages. I blew air thru my feed line and it's not clogged. It's almost like it's getting flow but no pressure right there.. I drove the car for an hour yesterday just cruising staying out of boost oil pressure stayed around 30 psi(super light load). Any insight would be appreciated.

12-02-2021, 07:54 AM	#3
CamaroCracka Drives: 2010 Turbo LS3 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 3,041	The pressure side feed of a turbo has to be on top and can't be clocked more than 10 degrees or so from center. Most oiling issues have to do with the drain back to the pan having a bend and the oil backs up into the housing and leaks, particularly with ball bearing turbos. It does not take long to damage a turbo bearing if it's not getting oil even if you stay out of the boost. You could crack the feed line on the turbo while the car is running and that will tell you pretty quick if you are getting oil. Some oil will come out, but nothing a can of brake clean won't fix. Turbos don't require a ton of oil so if oil is flowing, you are probably good. If the oil cooler only has 1/8 ports to flow oil through, it's not doing a lot of cooling, or are you saying it has 1/8 ports to tap into to the flow. BTW, a picture is worth 1000 words. __________________ 2010 SS - Kind of an On3 kit, CTR 78/80, CompCam 239/251 620/632 122+4, E85, Z28 suspension and ZL1 diff with Outlaw axles. Gen6 ZL1 brakes. 2011 Vert - 416/w 230/236 .612/.602 115lsa, 1LE suspension w/32mm rear bar. Z28 diff. Gen6 ZL1 brakes. Last edited by CamaroCracka; 12-03-2021 at 04:40 PM.

12-01-2021, 08:04 PM	#2
HOJO Drives: 2014 Camaro SS/RS 1LE 1967 Camaro Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 887	Wouldn’t the out port be on the bottom side of turbo? So then you’d be feeding from the bottom trying to fill the chamber area and sucking out the top. Maybe the return pump flows more than the feed line can keep up with so that chamber is not being filled enough for good oil flow. Hope I’m making some sense here.