Re: Oil leak on turbo lines...

[Audial@aol.com]

I lost the return line on my car at 5k rpm, at full-throttle, taking an
onramp onto I-94 in Chicago.  Great billowing clouds of smoke and instant
loss of oil pressure.  The car spat all of its oil onto the ground in about 1
second.  I reflexively got off of the gas and on the clutch, and coasted down
the off-ramp directly in front of me into the arms of a service station right
across the street, where I shut the engine off.  My lines are SS braided but
the clamps look to be made of an inferior metal that corroded on the
invisible side, letting the braided part blow right off the pipe under high
pressure.  I replaced it with a boneyard hose but I am hoping to get a
complete set made for the car out of premium materials.  

As long as it was a relatively slow leak and not a total loss of oil pressure
you are probably OK.  As it was I got <very> lucky and my car started right
up with no damage once I clamped the line and refilled the engine.  Another
second or two of high-load operation with no oil pressure, though, and I
might have been singing the blues.  Bet I got all of the gunky oil out of the
lifters, though! ;-). They usually do not go as gracefully as what you
describe.  

Another lister recently suffered major engine damage as a result of this
failure.  
It bears repeating:  if you have a turbo, check the oil lines!!! If they look
suspect, replace 'em!  

That tears it...I'm gonna start looking for aeroquip suppliers in Chicago
today.

Graydon?

Best Wishes,
Alex
'86 5KCSTQ