Lost my turbo oil when sled tipped on its right side?

[snowmanx]

didnt quite make the climb, and sled ended up on the right side, pointing down, I immediately turned it off, but noticed oil pouring out of the exhaust.

Once we got her out I checked my turbo oil and the resivior was empty???

I put some 2 stroke in to get her out, played around a bit more, every thing seems fine with the turbo, ran good, checked the play and it is good.

WHY did that happen? Is it anything to be concerned about? It's never happened before.

Any input would be apprecited.

 

[snowmanx]

Sorry, it's an OVS system, no intercooler, 3071 garret turbo.

 

[JSCC]

Seals are probably a little worn if the connection between the turbo and tank stayed tight.
Mine does the same thing. I run two stroke oil most of the time for my turbo anyhow so I am certain you are fine.

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

That is what the OVS oil tank does. there are no baffles or any type of no spill system, so you tip or roll it you are going to loose your oil. I have a redesigned tank for the OVS system that does not leak, But I haven't had the opertunity to have it welded up.

 

[snowmanx]

That is what the OVS oil tank does. there are no baffles or any type of no spill system, so you tip or roll it you are going to loose your oil. I have a redesigned tank for the OVS system that does not leak, But I haven't had the opertunity to have it welded up.

Just never happened before, and I've had her on her side plenty, how much are you going to charge for your redisigned tank?

Thanks

 

[dubbs]

Every turbo I have had always seems to burn a bit of oil when I get stuck climbing... I don't know what the difference is between letting off the throttle at full load and letting off stuck but I don't notice it burning any oil except when I get stuck.

Also I don't know the exact amount of oil these ball bearing turbo's need but it really isn't much. I had a turbo supplier tell me they just need it dripping on the shaft... They really aren't designed to end up upside down full of oil when they are scorching hot.. I know mine won't pour oil into the exhaust though. Hopefully your seals are still ok.

 

[Sparx]

That is what the OVS oil tank does. there are no baffles or any type of no spill system, so you tip or roll it you are going to loose your oil. I have a redesigned tank for the OVS system that does not leak, But I haven't had the opertunity to have it welded up.

Weird, had mine on it's side for quite a while trying to roll it over when I got stuck, no leaking. I specifically asked Travis from OVS this before I bought the kit and he re-assured me that they don't leak unless you have it upside down for 3 days and it's supposed to be triple o-ringed somewhere to prevent this. Never had my setup apart yet but so far I haven't lost a drop of oil in any situation yet.

We had Turbo Nytro's throwing up everywhere whenever we had them on their side so I know my OVS kit isn't as bad as those for sure.

It might be an update since I have the Tial turbo setup, give Travis or Garr a call at the OVS shop. Doesn't sound right to have lost that much oil that quick....

 

[snowmanx]

Spoke with Garr, and he couldnt' quite figure it out except to say that it

shouldn't happen and he's never seen it. That would happey if th eoil seals in the center are shot, but he's never seem them go either. He said run it and watch it, see if it's burning oil or getting more out the exhaust.

I did try to duplicate it today, and I didn't see any leakage, so maybe it's okay? I hope so.

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

I'm confused... there is nothing to stop the oil from running back into the turbo on the OVS kit. there must be a reason why every other builder has came up with a no spill turbo oil reservoir. I know I have lost my oil on the hill before and it sucks. hence the reason I redesisgned the tank. I am hopefully going to get it fabed up and tested soon. it would be alot easier if I knew how to tig weld LOL

 

[Sparx]

I'm confused... there is nothing to stop the oil from running back into the turbo on the OVS kit. there must be a reason why every other builder has came up with a no spill turbo oil reservoir. I know I have lost my oil on the hill before and it sucks. hence the reason I redesisgned the tank. I am hopefully going to get it fabed up and tested soon. it would be alot easier if I knew how to tig weld LOL

I think it's not so much about the oil running into the turbo shaft as the whole system is closed is it not? It's about it sliding past the seals on the shaft and either exiting the compressor or exhaust side. If your o-rings are shot it would leak out, otherwise they seal and prevent it entirely of leaking out. Maybe some tanks like BD are vented and others are not? From what I can see it's just a pump that pumps oil to the top of the turbo and it gravity feeds over the shaft right back into the tank to start the cycle all over again, no open sections anywhere as long as the seals hold up? I could be wrong, haven't spent much time looking at all this so far....

 

[Klimbing Kitty]

Last year in May I rolled mine on its side and the oil ran out the stinger and ignited. Scared the sh!t out of me. looked like a dragster with a 3 foot flame out the side of the sled. oh yah mental note for any of you that this may happen to.................snow does not put out oil fire

 

[badass1000]

if your sled rolls upside down and their is nothing preventing the oil from going back into the turbo you are going to get oil into the intake and exhaust turbine houseings. I built my own turbo system for my xp and it has done this from day one ever since I built it with a brand new garrett turbo. I didn't build any thing into the tank to prevent the oil from going back up into the turbo when I roll it. So when I roll it some oil gets past the seals and into the intake. then you get oil inside the turbo, pipeing, etc.. As long as it does not sit upside down for a long time it is not bad. I am trying to think of something so it does not do it any more and is not to much of a hassle to build or may buy a oil tank from someone else.
It is the same way on my turbo street bikes. the turbo has to be above the engine oil level. my turbo street/drag bikes sit really low. where the turbo is located for the bike to be the lowest and have tire clearance is not much above the engine oil level. I put one in a buddys trailer that has the hole cut out in the floor for the wheel chock. When we got to sacramento it had oil dumping out of the turbo inlet. Turbo was good. Just the seals do not hold oil. Others have to make sure not to put too much oil in their engine so it does not leak out the turbo. Don't ask me how it works, but they will leak oil even on a new turbo.
My oil reservoir does have a vented cap with a check valve in it. Motorcycles have a vented crankcase. I wonder if the cap was not vented if the oil would not leak past the seals. oil can't leak out if it doesn't have a place to suck air in to displace the leaking oil. hmm....
I thought the tank would have to be vented. I guess it does not because the oil going out of the bottom of the tank to the pump is displaced by the oil droping back in the tank from the turbo. Might have to try putting a cap on it that is not vented. I have a hobs switch that turns a red led light on if I do not have oil presure to the turbo. This would let me know if I have problems runing with a non vented cap.

 

[Sparx]

Hmmm, not good! So in that case is it better to have injection oil in your tank or no? At least with that if it leaks into your intake it shouldn't be as much of an issue and you can always top some up on the hill if you do leak out?

I think I got 0W30 motor oil in there right now....

 

[JSCC]

Hmmm, not good! So in that case is it better to have injection oil in your tank or no? At least with that if it leaks into your intake it shouldn't be as much of an issue and you can always top some up on the hill if you do leak out?

I think I got 0W30 motor oil in there right now....

Yup.

 

[Sparx]

What's the benefits and disadvantages of each oils? Why doesn't everyone run injection oil then?

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

if your sled rolls upside down and their is nothing preventing the oil from going back into the turbo you are going to get oil into the intake and exhaust turbine houseings. I built my own turbo system for my xp and it has done this from day one ever since I built it with a brand new garrett turbo. I didn't build any thing into the tank to prevent the oil from going back up into the turbo when I roll it. So when I roll it some oil gets past the seals and into the intake. then you get oil inside the turbo, pipeing, etc.. As long as it does not sit upside down for a long time it is not bad. I am trying to think of something so it does not do it any more and is not to much of a hassle to build or may buy a oil tank from someone else.
It is the same way on my turbo street bikes. the turbo has to be above the engine oil level. my turbo street/drag bikes sit really low. where the turbo is located for the bike to be the lowest and have tire clearance is not much above the engine oil level. I put one in a buddys trailer that has the hole cut out in the floor for the wheel chock. When we got to sacramento it had oil dumping out of the turbo inlet. Turbo was good. Just the seals do not hold oil. Others have to make sure not to put too much oil in their engine so it does not leak out the turbo. Don't ask me how it works, but they will leak oil even on a new turbo.
My oil reservoir does have a vented cap with a check valve in it. Motorcycles have a vented crankcase. I wonder if the cap was not vented if the oil would not leak past the seals. oil can't leak out if it doesn't have a place to suck air in to displace the leaking oil. hmm....
I thought the tank would have to be vented. I guess it does not because the oil going out of the bottom of the tank to the pump is displaced by the oil droping back in the tank from the turbo. Might have to try putting a cap on it that is not vented. I have a hobs switch that turns a red led light on if I do not have oil presure to the turbo. This would let me know if I have problems runing with a non vented cap.

good post! I know mine has leaked since day one as well. I don't think the vented or non vented cap will make that much of a difference. the OVS cap isnt vented and they still leak.

 

[badass1000]

I thought it might be worth a shot trying the non vented cap.
I need to do something about my oil tank. it is ok if I do not roll it, but every time I roll it, it loses a little oil into the turbo and a little comes out the vented cap. Usually the only time I roll my sled is to get it unstuck in certain situations. if I only roll it once or twice and it is not upside down for too long it is ok. Just check it before every ride and it is fine.
I got stuck several times one day and got stuck in a really bad spot and no one could get to me one day. Had to roll it over myself and it was upside down for awhile. Luckily I have the led on the hobs switch to let me know if I am not getting oil presure. I tiped my sled over and got some two stroke oil out of the tank to put in the turbo tank to get me through the rest of the day.
I use some 10-30 mobile one synthetic car oil just because that is what I have leftover from a car I had. Don't have any thing else to run it in. Boondocker used to say to run two stroke oil incase it gets in the engine. I don't think it really matters what oil you use on a ball bearing turbo as long as it always has oil. I just put good car synthetic oil in because that is what i feel works best and it doesn't use hardly any of it.