Turbo Drain R&R Technique

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

I've still got a leak from my turbo - and I'm pretty darned sure it's from the drain. The engine was put back together on a stand, and the both the upper gasket and lower seal were replaced, but somehow I blew it. Or, maybe, there is leak between the hard and braided section of the line... I can't really tell.

My three step plan is:

1. Get access to the drain flange, try and tighten it. All put together, I really cannot get to the inner bolt
2. If that fails, pull the drain, replace the upper gasket
3. If it's still leaking, I guess I'm shopping for a new drain tube

Any advice on technique here? It seems like if I remove the turbo support bracket I should have pretty good access. Any better approach?

krb · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2021 9:23 am

I had the same leak when I did my headgasket. Turns out I hadn't tighten the bolts at the engine block. Don't remember how I accessed it though, seems like I had to take a few things back off to access?

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Which bolts at the engine block?

krb · **Posted:** Sun Jan 24, 2021 2:05 pm

Where the turbo oil return line attaches.

geordi · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2021 3:50 am

The drain does not bolt to the block at the bottom. Just slips into the rubber grommet.

As for getting to the top - if the bolts you used were too long (wrong bolts) then the gasket won't be properly compressed. But you can get to both of them with 1/4" drive sockets and wobble extensions. I do it all the time.

krb · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2021 6:04 am

geordi wrote:

The drain does not bolt to the block at the bottom. Just slips into the rubber grommet...

Well that's what I was thinking when I was trying to remember dealing with it. Well then in that general area there was something that I had failed to tighten/torque that was leaking. Could it have been where the tube bolts to the turbo? Sure seems like it was at the block though. I'll have to try and remember or maybe pop the hood and have a peek/think.

In the mean time, Thesameguy, can you clean the area and then start it up and maybe watch using a mirror?

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2021 12:22 pm

Reminder] there is a dye you can buy to add to the oil to find an oil leak using a UV light.
It works very well.... :wink:

Like this one:

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Yeah, I have dye but I am very sure the leak is from the drain. I suspect it's from the flange as the tube is pretty stout... I will see how it does after being tightened down a bit. It's not too bad if I need to replace the gasket again as well... Although the engine is tall enough that the turbo CHRA is "just* out of reach for me, making it tough to do work up there.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 25, 2021 4:42 pm

thesameguy wrote:

Yeah, I have dye but I am very sure the leak is from the drain. I suspect it's from the flange as the tube is pretty stout... I will see how it does after being tightened down a bit. It's not too bad if I need to replace the gasket again as well... Although the engine is tall enough that the turbo CHRA is "just* out of reach for me, making it tough to do work up there.

Keep us posted on your results.
I believe my turbo drain line has a bit of a very small weep, so I may be in need of replacing it or the gasket and block seal in the future, so I am most interested in your outcome.
I may order the Turbo Drain line kit from IDParts. I like the idea of having a flexible braided steel drain line in place of the solid OEM one which I have heard is a PITA to deal with.

https://www.idparts.com/turbocharger-oi ... -3208.html

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Interesting! My '05 has that pipe already. If it's not the gasket at the drain flange, it's the pipe leaking between the flex and hard section. I replaced both the upper gasket and lower seal while the engine was out, but perhaps I bungled it. Hopefully just cinching up the bolts at the flange cured it. OTOH, maybe I should have followed my instinct and used a Nissan gasket... for whatever reason, Nissan's turbo drain flange gaskets are the best.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

HOLY CRAP! I forgot ENTIRELY that I replaced the drain tube when the motor was out!!!! Thank Dog we had this conversation... I would have replaced the drain tube twice!

krb · **Posted:** Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:12 am

Ha Ha! Now I don't feel so bad about forgetting where my leak was and how I fixed it. At least I didn't forget about a new part...

So since it's new, the pipe shouldn't be leaking at the flex. And since it flexes it should join/line up and mount better. In theory anyway...

Jay ne Ohio · **Joined:** Sun Dec 12, 2010 5:49 pm **Posts:** 216

If I am seeing the picture correctly, it looks like the new pipe has a thinner plate at the top compared to the original. I am betting that your bolts are too long for the thinner plate and not allowing it to seal tight. Try some shorter bolts.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

No, the bolt holes on the turbo drain flange are through, there is no depth limitation there. Well, certainly not a limitation of a few mm.

Turbo Drain R&R Technique

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