Oil Supply
Rotating assembly, consisting of turbine wheel, connecting shaft and compressor wheel, can reach speeds of 120,000 RPM. A sufficient supply of clean engine oil is absolutely necessary for proper operation of assembly. Engine oil enters turbocharger center housing rotating assembly through an inlet fitting. Oil drains from turbocharger through hole in bottom of center housing and is returned to engine through oil return line. Any interruption or contamination of oil will result in major turbocharger damage. An oil feed pipe runs from a fitting on left side of engine block to turbocharger. See Fig 1 .
Whenever oil and filter are changed on a turbocharged engine, oil system must be primed with oil prior to starting. This can be done (after oil and filter are correctly installed) by disconnecting ignition switch electrical connector from ignition module at distributor. See Fig 2 . Crank engine several times (not longer than 30 seconds at a time) and observe when oil light goes out. Reconnect electrical connector at ignition module and start engine.
Whenever oiling system has been contaminated in any way, change oil and filter and flush turbocharger assembly with clean oil. Any time center housing rotating assembly is replaced, in part or in whole, oil and filter should be changed.