Im currently running a B18 with a s362 @ 12psi. I have the proper feed/return line sizes. I DO NOT have a catch can setup at this time. I noticed oil around the center section as if the "oil seal" is bad. My question is...is it possible that without proper ventilation for the crankcase that is will create enough positive pressure in there to not allow the return line to drain properly and in turn keep the oil up in the center section and burn up the oil seal? Im using the term oil seal bc i cannot think of the proper term of the part that keeps the oil inside the turbine.

TIA

P.S. I am already planning on rebuilding the turbo and getting a catch can system. Just curious if my question is true or not.

 

i'd Say the seals are bad.

 

If you reread the post, thats not the question that i'm looking to have answered. Thanks though.

 

Crankcase pressure does not = oil pressure.

If you have crankcase pressure in your turbo I'd say you have other bigger problems. lol

 

OK, so then even a high amount of crankcase pressure would not effect the draining of the oil into the oil pan from the turbo. Correct?

 

from what i know crankcase pressure can create poor drainage, (i could be wrong) Also what size oil return line you running and what manifold. I hadf a issue with a log and a #8 drain line and since i upgraded to #12 drain its been dry just a thought since its a cheap option

 

not true, had a car that the catch can somehow got plugged up and the car smoked and had oil coming from the turbo, cleared the blockage from the catch can and the issue instantly went away. kinda an extreme case but true none the less

 

I actually just not too long ago cleared this issue with my setup. Yes this issue can cause your oil to improperly drain and sit in the center section and pass the seals on the exhaust side...in my case it did. Got the catch can properly set up and the problem cleared instantly.

 

Excess crankcase pressure will stop the turbo from properly draining into the oil pan. The oil will find the easiest place to escape from, which it seems like in this case is through the "seals" in the center section.

Sometimes when the crankcase pressure issue is solved it'll quit smoking.

 

Yes crankcase pressure will impede the flow from the oil return line. The oil is only gravity fed back down into the oil pan. If you have pressure present in the crankcase and say a less then ideal (small vertical) return line you can most definatly have the oil backup and leak through the seals.

 

Excessive crankcase pressure will slow oil return. We had a car that didn't have proper crankcase ventilation, and would get some oil into the compressor and turbine, and you would see some smoke out of the exhaust on long pulls. Did additional venting and quit doing it all together. ^^^^ didn't catch that post. Same explanation as the oil return getting pressure and not letting the oil drain back quick enough. When it backs up in the oil return, it can seep out of the seals, and get circulated into the engine or exhaust.

 

what seals? A turbo has seals?

OP: you've answered your own question.

just as you stated "positive pressure" in the crank case is not good and that pressure has to go somewhere. Well it backs up past the piston rings and into the turbo cartridge. You want that crank case to be at 0 psi.

here's a log Tony Palo did on his crank case.