Turbo oil return pipe leak

[Garfinkles Motor Works]

Can I braze the area around the flange ? Cheep and easy .I do make flanges for oil lines for 3rd gens but time is not on your side .

[Pete_89T2]

Yeah, it's definitely the oil return pipe (bottom of turbo). Gaskets were RTV'ed on assembly. I know it's not leaking from the gasket by inspecting it, here's why. The stock return pipe on the S5 turbo (turbo side) is basically a flange with an elbow pipe brazed/welded into it; there is also a sheet metal piece that sort of shields the OUTSIDE surface of the elbow, which is attached to the flange, probably brazed/welded as well to the outside of the flange (as it doesn't come off). My oil leak can only be seen right at the low spot at the bottom of the elbow, in the space BETWEEN the elbow and the sheet metal shield piece if that makes sense. No oil is seen anywhere on the outside of the flange, or the outside surface of the metal shield piece, the turbo or from places above (i.e., oil inlet line). So the leak has to be coming from the brazed joint where the elbow pipe enters the flange.

I like Garfinkle's idea of fixing it, but not sure if that's do-able with that shield piece in the way? Might just be easier (and maybe cheaper than a new Mazda part) to fab up some flanges and use properly sized AN line/fittings.

Since it sounds like this leak isn't likely to become a gusher, do you guys agree I can press on to DGRR and deal with it when I return if necessary?

[FerociousP]

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

Yeah, it's definitely the oil return pipe (bottom of turbo). Gaskets were RTV'ed on assembly. I know it's not leaking from the gasket by inspecting it, here's why. The stock return pipe on the S5 turbo (turbo side) is basically a flange with an elbow pipe brazed/welded into it; there is also a sheet metal piece that sort of shields the OUTSIDE surface of the elbow, which is attached to the flange, probably brazed/welded as well to the outside of the flange (as it doesn't come off). My oil leak can only be seen right at the low spot at the bottom of the elbow, in the space BETWEEN the elbow and the sheet metal shield piece if that makes sense. No oil is seen anywhere on the outside of the flange, or the outside surface of the metal shield piece, the turbo or from places above (i.e., oil inlet line). So the leak has to be coming from the brazed joint where the elbow pipe enters the flange.

I like Garfinkle's idea of fixing it, but not sure if that's do-able with that shield piece in the way? Might just be easier (and maybe cheaper than a new Mazda part) to fab up some flanges and use properly sized AN line/fittings.

Since it sounds like this leak isn't likely to become a gusher, do you guys agree I can press on to DGRR and deal with it when I return if necessary?

Take the line off and either braze it or JB it for the gap... I'd rather have JB on a pinhole (on the return) than nothing at all.