S13 SR Turbo Coolant Return (please read and comment)

[g6civcx]

Problem:

Okay, here's the problem. The stock S13 SR20DET turbo coolant return line is routed to the back of the motor at the factory. When the motor is already installed in the car, it is very difficult to get back there since there is very little clearance. Plus there will be additional chances of damaging the hose fittings back there, which would be very difficult to repair.

This picture shows the return hose. Note where the braided line goes. It's very hard to get to that fitting without having to pull out a lot of wiring and hoses.
http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/TakaReturnLine.jpg

I checked with a few sources on how to re-route that line, and I wasn't very happy with what I found.

Solution 1:

Install a new line and fittings/clamps when you prep the motor out of the car prior to installation. This is definitely the best way if you still have the motor out. Not good if it's already in.

Solution 2:

Install a water outlet from an S14 or newer SR20DET. Nissan addressed this problem in the newer generation motor by tapping the water outlet for the return line. You can see the new water outlet below, and the full write-up is here: http://www.sr20tuning.com/fittingaturbo.html
http://www.sr20tuning.com/turboswap06.jpg

This part is very hard to find. I already tried calling all the local shops. Then I started contacting major Nissan parts supplier, and nobody can get a hold of one. If you're lucky, you'll find a blown S14 motor and you can pick it off, but I wasn't so lucky.

Solution 3:

Fabricate a tap with the stock water outlet. This could work, but it's also very difficult to source a stock S13 water outlet so I could not risk the machine shop damaging the part.

Solution 4:

Blitz makes a silicone upper radiator hose for the SR. It comes with a bung meant for the water temperature probe. I imagine you could insert a hose fitting and tap it for the water return line. The cost is around $120 shipped.
http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/BlitzUpperHose.jpg

Solution 5:

I got in touch with a vendor over on SR20Forum. He manufactures custom water outlet adapter plates (amongst other things) that has fittings for a coolant return line. He doesn't have any RWD application at the moment, but I've been corresponding with him to try to help him develop some adapters and bring them to market. Cost will be around $40. His site is under development: http://www.customsteel.com/sr20/

http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/WaterPlate.jpg


So right now I've put the words out on #3 so that's out of my hands. A couple of shops are looking for me but chances are slim. I'm going to look more into #4, and he's working on #5.

If anybody has a good solution to this, please post up. Thanks for your time.

[nissantuner22]

Just to touch on solution 5, i toyed with that exact idea. The problem is, take a look at your water outlet neck. Theres not enough room for that spacer. If you look at it, you'll understand what I mean. The water neck is a good idea, I would go that way. Just tap the one you have now. Tapping is not hard at all, just take your time and make sure you use the right size.

[Z3NK1]

I just used a hack saw to cut the stock coolant return line further down where it starts heading towards the turbo, and stuck on the new braided line. All with the motor in the car....beacuse you're right, it's impossible to get at the back of the motor with all the wiring and brake lines in the way.

[lok]

I also noticed that the rear hose was really hard to install when the motor was already in and the fact that it is hard to run the line without damaging it or other stuff.

I just kept the factory hard line since it is easy to bend out of the way and it only installs with a factory hose clamp.

The s14 water neck would be the easiest fix if you could find one.

[Dousan_PG]

s14 water neck imo is the best route.

[g6civcx]

Okay, thanks for the comments.

Just to touch on solution 5, i toyed with that exact idea. The problem is, take a look at your water outlet neck. Theres not enough room for that spacer. If you look at it, you'll understand what I mean.

I took a picture of the redtop waterneck. Can you point out the clearance issues? It has the CAS on the left, manifold on the right. So I think the best way is to go up, yes?

http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/noturbo2.JPG

I just used a hack saw to cut the stock coolant return line further down where it starts heading towards the turbo, and stuck on the new braided line. All with the motor in the car

That's a good idea. The only problem is there is still a rubber hose back there to connect the two hard lines together. It would suck if you blow that hose on the track and the motor is smoking hot so you can't get back there to seal them up.

Please keep the comments coming.

[g6civcx]

s14 water neck imo is the best route.

At this rate, I'm going to have to find somebody with a newer motor and borrow it... :axe:

[Dousan_PG]

dang i found one i 3 days
did you CALL places around the country??

[g6civcx]

I worked my way around all the local shops. Then I started going down the list with places people here usually go to. Most places don't have it. Some places don't like to answer their phones and emails. Courtesy told me they don't have it. I have Performance Nissan looking for an OEM part from Japan for me. That would be ideal, but I think that's a long shot.

I'll keep looking I guess. I was toying with #5 because he only wants $40 shipped for it, and it doesn't look too bad.

[Dousan_PG]

call shops in CA
sr20store.com
phase2motortrend (email them)
ooh my friends at Garage WOrks probably has one www.garageworksltd.com
um..venus auto, who else...jspec..mmmm g-dimension.com
etc etc etc
heavy throttle?
jarco?

i called like 8 shops and i found one by 2 day and had it in hands on day 3. takes time and energy but it pays off.

[g6civcx]

Thanks for the tip. I already contacted a few of the ones you posted there.
I'm waiting on one place, and if they can't come through then I'm going to hit up everybody else left.

[1mns13]

Thanks for the info on the S14 coolant neck. That is the route I would take.

[nissantuner22]

hahaahah I'm a moron, my apologies. I commented about a FEED, not a return. I thought you were trying to get the feed to the turbo, in which case you would have needed to tap off where the thermostat is, on that housing. If that was the case, you couldn't fit the adapter in question there. But if your talking about the RETURN, that bracket your talking about should work if he makes you one.

Of course, you can always just use the Throttle body coolant lines, like the FWD guys do.

[lok]

venus auto usually has parts like this. when my friend needed just the bell housing for his sr they were the only ones willing to part with just the bell housing.

[Z3NK1]

[QUOTE=g6civcx]
That's a good idea. The only problem is there is still a rubber hose back there to connect the two hard lines together. It would suck if you blow that hose on the track and the motor is smoking hot so you can't get back there to seal them up.
QUOTE]

Good point.....:duh:

Back to the drawing board

[g6civcx]

I pulled off the hose that connects the metal coolant return line to the block. You can see it here. It's connected by little spring clips that were very difficult to get. It took a lot of patience to get out. I can't imagine doing this at the track when the motor is hot and you're short on time.

The rubber has hardened, and the weave is starting to stray. It looks good on the outside, but the rubber coating is really just cosmetic. It's the weaving inside that gives the hose its strength and structural integrity.
http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/OldHose1.JPG
http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/OldHose2.JPG

If you're curious where it mounts, look at the picture below. The red line is that rubber tube there. It mounts up to the block and connects to the blue line, which is the turbo coolant return line. If you get the Taka S13 T25 kit, it replaces both the rubber and metal lines.
http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/TakaReturnLine2.JPG

[g6civcx]

Also, http://www.performancenissanparts.com/ can get it by special order from Japan for about $75 apiece.

[SirWarrior]

even if you go with S14 waterneck deal, you still have to get to that hardline to plug it up. So why not just do the SS line??

[Dousan_PG]

yeah s14 waterneck w/ ss line
DONE
takamotorsports.com

[g6civcx]

even if you go with S14 waterneck deal, you still have to get to that hardline to plug it up. So why not just do the SS line??

The S14 water outlet will allow you to access the line much more easily since it's right where coolant flows from the block to the upper radiator hose, below the cam angle sensor. The advantage to this is if you remove your turbo often, such is necessary with tuning and rebuilding, it will consume less time.

The problem isn't working with the car in the shop. When it's here, I have as much time to do whatever I want. The problem is when you are at the track, and that coolant line ruptures, you have a hot motor, leaking coolant, and limited time to fix it while your precious track day is winding away. I am after reliability, simplicity, and cost savings in both time and money.

Plugging up that hard line isn't a big deal. It's a one shot deal. I just don't want pressurised hot coolant running back there since it increases the risk of a rupture.

Nissan already thought about this and this is why they changed it for the S14. We're just retrofitting the solution to the older redtop.

[g6civcx]

yeah s14 waterneck w/ ss line
DONE
takamotorsports.com

+1 on all counts

[Dousan_PG]

ill be up at GW working on my friends car alllllll day long. (rebuild w/ big turbo going in again)
soill look for one
if they have one ill buy it and sell it to you w/ shipping costs.

kepe u updated and let u know friday.

peace

[g6civcx]

ill be up at GW working on my friends car alllllll day long. (rebuild w/ big turbo going in again)
soill look for one
if they have one ill buy it and sell it to you w/ shipping costs.

kepe u updated and let u know friday.

peace

HOOK IT UP///:eek3d:

[killjoy]

I just ordered one from sr20store for 75 shipped.

[SirWarrior]

The problem isn't working with the car in the shop. When it's here, I have as much time to do whatever I want. The problem is when you are at the track, and that coolant line ruptures, you have a hot motor, leaking coolant, and limited time to fix it while your precious track day is winding away. I am after reliability, simplicity, and cost savings in both time and money.


OK that makes sense now.

[g6civcx]

I just ordered one from sr20store for 75 shipped.

Thanks for the tip. I just ordered it from B&E Customs so I'm hoping it'll be here soon. If they don't come through, I'm definitely going to keep trying.

[nsn240]

if you can use the s14 sr neck for a return line, where can you tap for a feed? (rwd sr20de doesnt have the feed tapped into the block) closer to the turbo would be better

[g6civcx]

if you can use the s14 sr neck for a return line, where can you tap for a feed? (sr20de doesnt have the feed tapped into the block) closer to the turbo would be better

Are you using a RWD SR or a FWD SR and flipping it around for RWD? You may want to check with the folks over on sr20forum.com. They turbo the DE all the time.

[Z3NK1]

I hooked up the braided line to the back of the redtop tonight, and surprisingly it wasn't as difficult as I thought. I had to remove the brake booster hose, heater hoses, coil packs and a few misc brackets and from there it was pretty easy.

Also if you remove your turbo a lot, just disconnect it at the turbo and leave the line on the motor. I was easily able to attach it to the turbo after the line install by tilting the whole manifold/turbo assembly upwards. Of course your DP and elbow must be off.

[g6civcx]

You can get to it from the left side by tucking under all that wiring and hoses. It's hard to get at the factory hose clamps so replace them with better clamps.

It'll be hard to get the return line where it meets the turbo since it's on the other side of the turbo, wedged between the turbo and the block.

[g6civcx]

Okay, after spending 2 months struggling with it I think I have found the best solution for those who plan to run T25 or T28 turbos.

By far the easiest way is to track down the S14 or newer SR water outlet. It will have the tap for you. If you can't find one, there is a vendor called Custom Steels. He manufacturers a spacer you can use on your water outlet. He's generally manufactures stuff for the FWD SR, but he's building me a prototype which theoretically should fit with no problem. His site is here:

http://www.customsteel.com/sr20/html/turbo_install_goodies.html

What I did was I got in touch with Harp at Taka Motorsports: http://www.takamotorsports.com

With his help, I was able to piece together a S14 T28 standalone kit. You discard all of your stock hard lines and banjo bolts, and upgrade to these AN fittings. It makes it so much easier to remove the turbo since the AN lines are much more flexible and don't bend and break like the hard lines do.

He also manufactured me a custom cap line to plug up the water return port behind the motor. All you have to do is slip the hose on and cap it, and you never have to deal with it again. The water return line runs to the water outlet which is easily accessible up front by the upper radiator hose.

Although there are other ways to do it, this is by far the easiest solution I've found to this problem, and I was surprised people either don't know this or don't want to share their knowledge. You figure everyone who gets an SR will upgrade their turbo at some point, and everyone will have to deal with the same problems.

[g6civcx]

After corresponding with them, mynismo.com is now carrying the S14 water outlet:

http://performancenissanparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1234_146_560_577_588&products_id=6633

They're an OEM Nissan dealer so it should help.

[g6civcx]

Update for those who are interested. I got an ultra trick water outlet spacer from Custom Steel. It has a 90* -6AN fitting to bolt straight onto my Taka Motorsports S14 T28 water return line. It also has a 1/8 NPT outlet for water temperature sender.

I think this is the best solution for those who can't find an S14 water outlet. I'll post pictures after installation. Trial fittings led me to believe that it shouldn't have any problems.

Those interested may contact them on the Web at http://www.customsteel.com/sr20/ or via http://www.sr20forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=114

http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/CustomSteelH2O.JPG

[krustindumm]

Can't you just eliminate the cooling lines? Generally they are not needed except on engine shutoff, when there is no oil flow.

[g6civcx]

You can generally eliminate cooling lines on the stock turbo with no problems. I've been running with no cooling lines for a while now.

But if you upgrade your turbo, you may have to run them if your turbo was designed for coolant. They have smaller oil restrictors.

I know most people just tap the stock water outlet, but you risk breaking a hard to find part. Stupid motor that was never sold in the US!

[boosteds13]

Update for those who are interested. I got an ultra trick water outlet spacer from Custom Steel. It has a 90* -6AN fitting to bolt straight onto my Taka Motorsports S14 T28 water return line. It also has a 1/8 NPT outlet for water temperature sender.

I think this is the best solution for those who can't find an S14 water outlet. I'll post pictures after installation. Trial fittings led me to believe that it shouldn't have any problems.

Those interested may contact them on the Web at http://www.customsteel.com/sr20/ or via http://www.sr20forum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=114

http://g6civcx.angryhosting.com/S13/Tech/CustomSteelH2O.JPG
LOL, this is what I ended up doing with the water lines you sent me :)

Thanks!

http://www.escic.com/CAinstall/ca-35.jpg

[g6civcx]

It's nice that you can prep the motor when it's out like that. Looks very nice.

[95zilvia]

Bump, this thread is useful.

[MrFairlady]

back from the dead...."Newb Style"

So basically There is only 1 line I need to replace/get rid of Metal Line?

so total Parts Needed:
http://www.takamotorsports.com/ :
1 taka T25 braided line?($160),.and this should bolt up to the Stock SR Block fitting..runnning to the S14 Water neck right (bolts up to that w/o anything too?)
This is the coolant line correct?
DO I need the Oil Restriction Fitting? If so 2.....or just the 1 for the block?

**is there 1 other hard line I should go ahead and replace?Motor will be out of the car is why I'm asking.

if so..that would mean 2 of the Braided lines and 2 fittings total - Oil & coolant and done.Or just do the 1 coolant return line and thats it?

Need to bring this back...some of the pic's are Dead so I was seeing where everyone is @ now 2 yrs later and th eissue has Been I'm sure address w/ this solution.

Thanks - Gonna be prepping the SR before install soon..told by a fellow member to Def DO THIS.

[MrFairlady]

Figured out.ummmkay