Can a turbo that has oil and water cooled bearings be used as oil only? I want to use on an air cooled engine. Can I just cap off the water ports?
Thanks, Bob

 

I wouldn't try it

The way an oil cooled, and a water cooled/oil lubricated, turbo are designed interally is different.

The oil cooled/lubricated turbos are basically just a large opening, allowing to maximum volume of oil to flow through as possible. There are, in some turbos, small chambers for the oil to flow through first as to direct flow and to keeop oil pressure from dropping in the motor.

In a water cooled unit, there is an oil "jacket" that goes directly to the bearings, to lubricate them. The water jacket is a completly different passage. So while the oil gets to the bearings, there isn't sufficient oil in the turbo to prevent cooking and internal failure.

 

Thank you for the reply. I am going to use an atv radiator and fan with an electric coolant pump to cool the turbo.

thanks again,
Bob