I am getting a new turbo with water cooled center housing.
Please post your suggestions on coolant line routing for the inlet/outlet.

I live where it gets real cold in the winter so I don't know about bypassing the throttle body completely?

I thought about running like this:
thermostat---->throttle body---->turbo--->return to heater core.

any better ways to do this?

 

^
please make specific suggestions if you have done this before!

thank you


[Modified by GruvyTune, 7:16 AM 5/16/2002]

 

Mine goes...
throttle body outlet nipple--->turbo coolant supply--->turbo coolant return--->intake manifold inlet nipple (where throttle body outlet was located)

So, basically my turbo is run in series. BTW, it's best to use the lower coolant port on your turbo as the supply side as to prevent any air pockets.

 

Im going to T into my heater core lines

T into both the heater core inlet and outlet lines to get coolant,
and feed the turbo that way instead of bypassing anything..

hth

 

thanks for the answers.
Do you know the sizes for the heater core lines? I thought they were larger (like 1/2in)? Do they make reducer Tees to go to 3/8 line for the turbo?

 

I'm not bypassing anything. Just adding something.

 

it was just a general comment, because most guys here
suggest to bypass lines. I dont like that idea and agree with you
to just T lines off existing ones, or add the turbo lines inline like yourself.!

 

ive looked for such a T, but havent found one...
i had to buy a 1/2 inch T for the heater core lines..
and then add a seperate 3/8 inch reducer to the T..

hth!
goodluck!

 

so do you t off the heater inlet line for the turbo inlet and run the turbo outlet back to the heater outlet hose?

 

Yep. Inlet on the inlet, outlet on the outlet (parallel circuit). Otherwise, if you were to say T the turbo's inlet and outlet into the same line, you wouldn't get any flow. No pressure differential = no flow.

 

This may be a dumb question, but why are you running a coolant line to your turbo instead of an oil line?

 

Because it has a water cooled center section. I still have an oil feed for lubrication purposes. MMMMmmmm....lubrication

 

some turbos have a water-cooling jacket, some don't and just rely on the oil to cool 'em.

 

And in that case it is good to have an oil cooler.

 

can you run in series off the 3/8" fittings that go from the manifold to the thermostat? I like the idea of running in series rather than T off of 2 lines. All you need then is 2 lengths of hose. (I don't want to use the smaller diameter throttle body lines because then I need an expander to go to the 3/8" turbo inlet/outlets).

 

are you guys using steel braided hose? I need to know the best size. Anyone?

 

braided line???
im just using regular 3/8 inch rubber hose.....
its only coolant.!

 

Man, my turbo came with 5/8" fittings!
The hose is huge and kinks behind my turbo against the block. Still seems to be flowing coolant though. Do all of these T3 turbos come with such large coolant fittings?

 

My coolant line is in series with the throttle boy coolant supply line

 

5/8.?? thats huge...is there no other way to run it
so it doesnt kink.???
kink will reduce flow and increase pressures.!
just a suggestion..
hth

 

I know its huge. I thought they would be 1/4 in lines like on the throttle body!

I don't think many people here are running wet housings. What size are your openings for your inlet/outlet on your turbos housing? Do you have a reducer or something bringing the size down? Man, the space is so tight back there I don't know if i'll even be able to get a wrench in there to change it without taking the whole turbo/manifold out again--thats a full day or 2 project!

They do make hoses with 90deg bends built into them that I may be able to get on there and just use some hoses couplers to conect them all.

 

I have an IHI turbo, and yeah they're 3/8 for the inlet and outlet nipples.

i have mine tapped off the heater core.. 1/2 inch T...and then i reduce it to a 3/8,
then i just run ordinary black rubber hose...

 

3/8 would be a bit better to work with.
Mine are a whopping 5/8" inlet and outlet off the turbo.


If you tap into the heater core, won't you lose flow if the heater valve is closed??




[Modified by GruvyTune, 9:41 PM 5/19/2002]

 

u are Ting into the existing lines...
so regardless of the valve being open or closed
you still have flow going to the turbo because u tap into the
coolant line b4 the valve.

tap the turbo feed b4 the heater core..
and then tap a return after the heater core..

 

do you think there will be enough flow once you open the valve?