BorgWarner Journal Bearing Turbo Oil Supply Specifications

Correct oil supply is critical to the reliability and lifespan of any journal bearing turbocharger. BorgWarner has published recommended oil flow and pressure specifications for a range of journal bearing turbocharger models. Below is a reference guide alongside additional workshop insights from Turbo Care NZ.

At Turbo Care NZ, a large percentage of the turbocharger issues we diagnose can be traced back to oil supply, oil drain and crankcase ventilation problems rather than the turbocharger itself. Incorrect oil feed line sizing, restricted oil drains, excessive sealant use, poor drain routing and inadequate crankcase ventilation are some of the most common causes of premature turbocharger failure.

While oil pressure is important, correct oil flow volume and unrestricted oil return are equally critical to the reliability of a journal bearing turbocharger. Delayed oil pressure during startup, contaminated oil or excessive crankcase pressure can quickly damage the turbocharger bearing system and lead to oil leakage, smoking, poor performance or complete failure.

The BorgWarner oil supply guidelines above provide an excellent technical reference for understanding the recommended oil flow and pressure requirements across a range of journal bearing turbochargers.

When installing or diagnosing a turbocharger, we recommend checking:

• Oil feed line internal diameter and restriction
• Oil pressure at idle and under load
• Oil pressure delivery time during cold start
• Oil drain angle, routing and unrestricted return flow
• Crankcase ventilation system operation
  

Many repeat turbocharger failures occur because the root cause was not identified correctly the first time.

If you require assistance with turbocharger diagnostics, oil system troubleshooting or turbocharger upgrades, contact the Turbo Care NZ team.

Technical information courtesy of BorgWarner Turbo Systems