Has anyone installed any aftermarket turbo oil feed/return lines what are the best options? I have done a little searching but I ahve not fond much info. frogy
If you have a stock turbo or stock like turbo you can do what i did... i got mine through Forced performance. the ss line was easy to install. I have it going straight up from the engine, over the heat shield, then down to the turbo. I wrapped the part of the line that goes over the heat shield to protect it from rubbing and heat. With the return line I didn't care too much about since the turbo just dumps the oil out the bottom. you can use a rubber hose. I don't think there's a benefit to an ss line.
Mine doesn't have a rubber core, its teflon, just like brake lines and what not. I didn't really have a choice with a rotated mount turbo. I was installing an exhaust on a friends '07 STi and noticed it had braid brake lines from the factory. They had a clear plastic sheath over the line though, since dirt is what leads to a braided line's failure over time. I got all the stuff at Northern Engine Supply in Duluth. Its all Eaton fittings. Eaton is the parent company to Aeroquip, which is a subsidary of Honeywell, IIRC. I think MAS sells the same steel fittings. Unless you need to save the 4oz, steel is the way to go. I also got a -8 45 degree adapter for $6.50 at Northern, compared to around $30 for an aluminum counterpart. The steel fittings are also more compact. That was for my feed. My return is a bastardized compilation of 5/8", an adapter, and 1/2" hydralic hose. I learned my lesson about using heater hose, which doesn't like oil. -4 refers to a AN (Army Navy) size. -4 is roughly 1/4". -8 is 1/2". -16 is 1". And so on and so forth.
^ that's the same setup I have basically, -4 for the feed, and 5/8's return that's got as much metal in it as I could get to work well. Also from Northern Engine in duluth. Jay is the Man!
Hey everyone, thanks for the great info! I was almost thinking silicone for the oil return, still not sure? frogy
