Pre oil new turbo?

thunder550

thunder550

Active member
Apr 2, 2013
1,176
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Phoenix, AZ
I've read several places that it's good to pre-oil a brand new turbo before starting the engine for the first time. Most common recommendation I've seen is to install the oil feed line but not the drain, disable the fuel/ignition system and crank the motor over until oil starts to flow out the drain fitting, then button everything up and go.

Anyone do this? Can I just pull the fuse and/or relay for the FICM to accomplish a crank with no start?
 
ScreaminDuramax

ScreaminDuramax

New member
Sep 19, 2013
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Torrance
I just get a funnel and slowly pour oil in the turbo as the last step before connecting the feed line and starting the engine. The oil will quickly get there from the valley
 
WolfLMM

WolfLMM

Making Chips
Nov 21, 2006
4,005
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AL
Yes just pull the fuse. What I did, was leave the feed line disconnected, drip oil into turbo, crank motor over, drip more oil into turbo, and repeat till oil comes out of feed line (have it in a bucket, lots of oil will shoot out) then attach and crank over again.

Turbo isn't going to spin over much (if any) with ign fuse pulled. I don't remember which one it is, Ben had a thread on here about it. I believe when he was installing his hTT, so it's an old thread. But he outlined basically the same procedure I just did.
 
P

pizza pig

I Like to Party
Feb 13, 2012
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CT
I've never pre-oiled and never had an issue. Its should see its needed oil pressure as its cranking. If youre that anal you can just turn the key and not actually hold the key long enough to start it, just so you can get oil into the line, and then start the truck. But like I said, I've never had the need to do anything like this. :thumb:
 
Y

yellowchevy

Well-known member
Sep 9, 2010
1,928
82
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Louisburg, KS for now
Put some oil in the turbo oil feed port.
Look at the oil level while you rotate the compressor wheel.
When the oil level doesn't drop go ahead and connect the oil feed line.
Remove all 4(if I remember right) injection fuses.
Crank the engine over about 5-10 seconds; depending on how dry everything has been.
Reinstall the injection fuses.
Have your scan tool available to clear any codes you might get being it cranked without firing; my LB7 gets CP3 codes when I do it.

Yellowchevy
 
Burn Down

Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
7,092
28
48
Boise Idaho
Always pre-oil the turbo! You don't know how long they have been sitting or if they had much lube when they were assembled... I have changed several over the years that failed within a few hours from techs not pre-oiling.

For Journal turbos I just pour some oil in a small cap and dump it in the oil inlet side of the turbo, spin the compressor wheel by hand and top the oil back off. I usually do this several times. On ball bearing chargers I hold the compressor wheel with a screwdriver handle and start the truck, I hold it for 10-15 seconds and then let it go.
 
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