To continue your train of thought regarding a plugged turbo oil return,
1) the entirety of this is located on the opposite side of the engine
2) the volume of oil would be unmistakable.

When i bought mine, the failed turbo had pumped so much oil through the intercooler, it was filled, completely, below the exit port on the passenger side, and in fact, was FLOWING (not dripping or dribbling) out the exhaust pipe. It would idle, but that's it. (HUGE smoke cloud)

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'06 Lbrty Sprt CRD 150K

Sasquatch
DSS Turbo
CAT-elimntr
Weeks Stg1&2 EGRfix
PV-200
BLING
vent gauges

IDParts
head
cams
rockers
Timing set
ARP studs
eTn1 GX2123 5v GPs

YETI Custom Tune
Flowmaster 8325508
Carter P76611M
GM 12611872
Hayden 2986
GM 15976889
PATC Custom Billet
2010 Ram Hemi Trans
Sonnax 44957
Transgo kit
Cooper 51770

When my son replaced his turbo with GDE turbo the turbo oil return hose had worked its way out of hole in the block and he didn't realize it and when it started up there was immediately a large puddle of oil under it and more pouring out until cut engine off.

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05 Blu LIM, OME GDE Tbo, wk II 245/75/17, KC Lights, bull bar, 195K H TC
05 Blu Lim, Dayton, GDE HT, 255/75/18 , 210K , H TC
06 Bla Lim, GDE Eco, Destination AT 245/75/17, 151K, H TC
06 D Khaki Lim 126K wkII Eur TC
05 D khaki Lim 145k refurbishing
All CRDS: Fumoto, Lift , Fan Shroud mod, fuel head Gen II, SAMCOS,self TB, 2 Mic filt, Hayden

Yeah I hear you Gordnado, turbo and drain are on the other side from where I am seeing the oil show up. But I think what that turbo shop was suggesting was that if the return was plugged (or crankcase pressure too high) the oil in the turbo bearings would find another way out, which is thru their oil seals into the intake and exhaust. Pulling the exhaust pipe at the turbo and seeing what that is like might be a good test. If it shows signs of oil, then it's got to be coming from the turbo, either a clogged return or bad turbo.

I don't think that my intake leak has filled up the intercooler as badly as yours was, at least not yet. This CRD will start, rev up the rpms, and has good power going up hills. A bit more smoke than I would like to see but nothing terrible, smoke is probably in line with extra oil in the intake and/or exhaust. I had considered making a "dipstick" for the intercooler. Probably just a long wire tie that I could push down one of the openings and see what level the oil has accumulated to in there. At first glance it seemed there were enough turns that it might be hard to snake anything down there, but probably easier than pulling the intercooler.

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2006 KJ CRD