Oil sent up the intake tract under acceleration!

[AZZKICKER]

Hey guys I was running the car today and my clutch was slipping oretty bad, but thats not the real problem. I just let the clutch plate cool and all was fine. (for now)

I pulled my air filter after the run to take a look at its shape and I noticed OIL. I know this came from the Turbo inlet side, and blew up to the air filter.

I am thinking it has something to do with the turbo bearings, or their housing, and the seal around it maybe. I am going to pull the intake hose off and see if I cant tell what the probem is.

I guess I might need to rebuild the turbo? Or I guess it would be a great tie to upgrade to the S4s Turbo. Does anyone know how much I can tget the S4s turbo for?

Please help if you guys have seen anything like this before.

Thanks!

Andy Wheeler

[ErnestM]

Hey Andy,

If you ask this question on the Yahoo group..
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/turboesprit/
I imagine you will get a ton of responses. There are quite a few on that group that, I believe, have been down this path...

ErnestM
'98 V8

[MikeyRide]

quote:I pulled my air filter after the run to take a look at its shape and I noticed OIL. I know this came from the Turbo inlet side, and blew up to the air filter.

I get some oil in the airbox too. I don't see how it could possibly get from the turbo all the way back to the airbox against the intake stream.

I think the oil is coming from the crankcase vent on the top of the engine in back. It's green and plastic and is connected to the airbox with a 1/2" ID (approximately) hose. When you're on the boost, there's probably a lot of blowby pressurizing the crankcase and sending oil-laden vapor out the vent to the airbox.

[AZZKICKER]

Thanks Mike I will check that!

I wasnt aware that there was a breather system on the esprits to vent the crank case pressure. I will check that definetly!

I really dont want to replace/rebuild my turbo right now, if I dont have to. I will pull the turbo ducting off all the way to the air box and see if I can see if it came up from the crank case hose.

Now then is it common for the crank case to become that pressurized? Wow I hope the bottom end is OK.

I guess we'll see

THanks guys I will try to post this on the yahoo group later on tonight as well!

Thanks for the quick response fellas!

cheers

[AZZKICKER]

OK guys great job

I pulled the crank case hose off and thats definetly were the oil was sent from. And it wasnt as much as I thought it was so I think everything is alright. I then drained allittle oil out just to make sure that I hadnt pressurized it by blowing the head gasket. No coolant in the oil so I think everything is fine.

Forgive me I am used to driving Normally aspirated V8's to seeing oil up by the air filter was a huge shock today I thought I was going to pass out LOL.

I am still surprised that Lotus would vent it so far from the intake. Alot of the newer GM and Ford motors are actually venting it into the very front of the actuall intake. I am sure there is a reason, or this was one of the first setups to improve emmissions, and to meet the OBDI emmisions requirments.

Anyways thanks for your help guys! I can go to sleep now

[22/11/71]

Oil in the air filter is very common, I got so sick of it happening to me that I redirected the vent hose and lengthened it to vent down directly to atmosphere down along the same route as the petrol tank vent pipe.

Remember to plug up the vent hole in the air box, or better still remove it altogether and replace the air box with a k&n cone filter.

The car has never run so smoothly and sounds better too !!!