Removing CT-26 without draining coolant?

emiliorescigno

Supramania Contributor
Sep 17, 2006
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Woodbury, MN
Is it possible? The TSRM says you have to, but is there a way to just "block off" the coolant passages to the turbo instead of having to drain the whole radiator before removing the coolant lines?
 

CRE

7M-GE + MAFT Pro + T = :D
Oct 24, 2005
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Denver, CO
I'm going to go with "no" on this one... The closest you could get would be draining about half of the system's coolant.
 

Sawbladz

Supramania Contributor
Mar 14, 2006
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Oshawa, ON, CA
I've never drained the coolant when pulling the turbo. I plug the coolant line with one of the bolts from the turbo support brackets.
 

emiliorescigno

Supramania Contributor
Sep 17, 2006
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Woodbury, MN
johnathan1 said:
I've always pulled the turbo without draining the system...you only lose about a cup of fluid...not a big deal really.

By "lose a cup of fluid" do you mean just letting it spill out of the turbo coolant hoses onto the ground until it stops?
 

johnathan1

Supra =
Aug 19, 2005
5,056
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Downey, California, United States
emiliorescigno said:
By "lose a cup of fluid" do you mean just letting it spill out of the turbo coolant hoses onto the ground until it stops?

You can use a rag/towel to catch it, put some kind of container under it, or use vise-grips to pinch the end of the hose...or let it spill on the ground...LOL.

Even if you drain the whole cooling system, there will still be some coolant inside the turbo.
 

lagged

1991 1JZ
Mar 30, 2005
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geez use your heads people.

first, remove the water lines FIRST, block off with two bolts.

be sure to do this BEFORE removing the ic pipes and most importantly, BEFORE you remove any oil lines. the coolant will spurt out and the chance of spilling some into the oil drain is high.
 

emiliorescigno

Supramania Contributor
Sep 17, 2006
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Woodbury, MN
Well thanks for the tips guys, hopefully this time around changing my turbo I won't have to empty my whole Koyo radiator...that's a lot of coolant that's just about new since I last had the turbo off...:icon_conf
 

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
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go buy some hose pinch off pliers... vise grips work, but the pliers made just for the job won't harm the lines...
 

MDCmotorsports

Offical SM Expert: Turbochargers
SM Expert
Mar 31, 2005
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www.MDCmotorsports.com
lagged said:
geez use your heads people.

first, remove the water lines FIRST, block off with two bolts.

be sure to do this BEFORE removing the ic pipes and most importantly, BEFORE you remove any oil lines. the coolant will spurt out and the chance of spilling some into the oil drain is high.

Agreed.

Ive always just taken the water lines off and plugged them with bolts. It will be a little messy, but sometimes this is easier than draining coolant.
 

Sawbladz

Supramania Contributor
Mar 14, 2006
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Oshawa, ON, CA
annoyingrob said:
Is is really THAT hard for you guys to drain the damn coolant? Unscrew the drain plug, and leave it for a few minutes.

Why go to the extra effort and expense when it takes 2 seconds to just plug the line?
 

JASONA70

nomnomnom
Oct 27, 2006
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i tried to remove the turbo chargers without draining the coolant and it ended up getting in my mouth. :nono: