FYI, ball bearing turbo's

JSM

Active member
Just so everybody knows on a ball bearing turbo you MUST run a restrictor on the oil feed line. If you don't it will smoke badly and the local pest control agents will be asking for your license information and permits.

I recieved a turbo that was missing a fitting, so I grabbed one at local store. Doesn't work.

The one guy at stop light did think we were on fire though.
 

VermontTy

Support Our Troops
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Explain this one Jeff.....why do you need a restrictor? Sorry. I'm dumb.
 

JSM

Active member
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Being BB turbo it doesn't need as much oil pressure to operate. If you feed it directly (in this case was new motor 40-60psi or so) it blows oil right past the rear, into downpipe which then becomes smoke. BB turbo's only need ~20psi max oil pressure. Obviously if your drain is too small that will cause issue also, but that isn't case on this truck.

I just called PTE, they confirmed what I have seen and sending new fitting. One of those cases where $10 part can ruin your day. I was almost ready to pull intake off, looking for leaks.

Did some searching last night, only found one thread where it was debated. Figured I would just confirm that they DO need restrictor.
 

VermontTy

Support Our Troops
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Thanks for the explaination. You learn something new every day.
 

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

ya the pte's have a special fitting that you have to use with them. E told me it's got a certain flair to it and your hardware store stuff wont cut it.
 

JSM

Active member
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

it is 7/16" inverted flare, aka brake line. But with BB turbo you need a .035 restrictor. No biggie PTE sending one to me today, be here tomorrow, well now that I know about it.
 

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

I wouldnt count on it fixing the oiling problem. both of the ones I've gotten from them(BB) smoked and the 1 they fixed started smoking again after ~2500 miles.
 

canadian

sy in progress
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

maybe if that chick in your avatar wasn't licking your turbo you wouldn't be "spilling" your oil into the downpipe....
 

JSM

Active member
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

jwaller said:
I wouldnt count on it fixing the oiling problem. both of the ones I've gotten from them(BB) smoked and the 1 they fixed started smoking again after ~2500 miles.

Great I was sleeping well at night, now I won't until fitting arrives. :rant:
 

2kwik4u

Resident slow guy
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Cripes, you're going to have more in fittings than the turbo cost.......The one I picked up for you was like $15 wasn't it?!?!
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

One more iron in the fire: Did the unrestricted oil pressure/flow blow the seal?
 

JSM

Active member
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Don W. said:
One more iron in the fire: Did the unrestricted oil pressure/flow blow the seal?

PTE says it didn't hurt anything. So did another source I talked to.

Time will tell. Hopefully my pain will help someone in future avoid it.
 

canadian

sy in progress
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Don W. said:
\blow the seal?

That's one happy seal....

Kinda like the penguin who brings his car to the mechanic. The mechanic says it will be a while before he can get to it, so why doesn't the penguin go across the street and get some ice cream. So the penguin goes to the ice cream place and asks for a vanilla cone. Now, not having hands makes it kinda hard for the penguin to eat it, so he's got it smeared all over his face.

He goes back to the mechanic and the mechanic says to the penguin "looks like you blew a seal".... The penguin says "no, it's just ice cream"
 

QUICK STORM

B.A.M.F. BMW Tech
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

i wonder if e sent me the right one, please post a part# when you have the part in your hand.
 

Tooky

Serious about performance
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

I installed a Garrett GT ball bearing turbo on my Turbo Grand Prix and they mention this all over the import sites I researched for information on the small T2 turbos I was looking at. I went with ATP. Here's what they've got to say about it: http://www.atpturbo.com/root/releases/release112403.htm

IMG_6427.jpg


The Oil Inlet Fitting With Oil Control - Our custom CNC machined oil inlet fitting is a simple but elegant solution. Unlike the older T turbos, the GT Ball Bearing turbos use an inverted ¼” flare inlet. Our inlet fitting is designed as a simple adapter that screws on to the top of the turbo while allowing any -4 AN style oil feed line to screw onto it. In addition, we have incorporated a precisely drilled (.035) hole into the body of the fitting in order to restrict the excessive flow of oil (typically during morning startup) into the bearing housings that can overwhelm and blow the oil seals. We have seen oil leakage problems virtually disappear since we have begun using these fittings in all of our kits.

They say it's good for GT28R/GT28RS/GT30R/GT35R.
 

blk00z28

Forced to by choice
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

canadian said:
That's one happy seal....

Kinda like the penguin who brings his car to the mechanic. The mechanic says it will be a while before he can get to it, so why doesn't the penguin go across the street and get some ice cream. So the penguin goes to the ice cream place and asks for a vanilla cone. Now, not having hands makes it kinda hard for the penguin to eat it, so he's got it smeared all over his face.

He goes back to the mechanic and the mechanic says to the penguin "looks like you blew a seal".... The penguin says "no, it's just ice cream"
:rotf:
 

cdezzz

Active member
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

TookyCat said:
I installed a Garrett GT ball bearing turbo on my Turbo Grand Prix and they mention this all over the import sites I researched for information on the small T2 turbos I was looking at. I went with ATP. Here's what they've got to say about it: http://www.atpturbo.com/root/releases/release112403.htm

IMG_6427.jpg




They say it's good for GT28R/GT28RS/GT30R/GT35R.


I am just using Tooky's post as a reference, I would have to back to the dealership and ask them, but when I worked for Peterbilt, there was a gauge that we would install after the truck came in, and it used this same fitting, I think we sold it for $4 or something like that. If someone wants the part #, it may take me a few days, but i can come up with it
 

Jer

Don't taze me bro!
Re: FYI, ball bearing turbo's

Thanks for the heads up. I plan to go DBB on the Supra and am shopping turbos as we speak. Trying to find a cheap source for T61 in DBB (GT61BB?) to compare against the GT35R to decide which one I want on the Supra.
 
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