ProOPR Rising Rate Turbo Oil Pressure Regulator

How does an inline OPR work?
The Turbosmart OPR range is a patented system of regulating the oil supply to your turbocharger to ensure the right amount of oil is delivered to the bearing system. Turbocharger bearing systems require oil at pressure in order to lubricate the bearings of the main, balanced assembly and the OPR range has been developed to take the guesswork out of getting the target oil pressure right.

Why reduce or modify the oil pressure at all?
There are 2 main reasons you will want to look closer at the oil pressure feeding your turbocharger.
1. Unlike some presume, oil is not simply forced in and then forced out the other side into the oil return. The inside of a bearing housing is more like an engine's crankcase. Oil is forced in, through the bearing but it is then simply left in the sump and needs to be given a good reason to leave. Some of this is engineered into the housing and gravity helps with the rest. But it is not forced. If you have more volume than your design and gravity can handle, you end up with oil pooling in the assembly and can overcome the oil management system within the assembly and enter into either the compressor or turbine covers. A symptom of this issue is oil traces in your compressor and charge pipes , or unexplained oil smoking from your exhaust.
2. Even if your turbocharger oil return is in good shape, there are two dynamic seals on your turbine shaft, one at each end near the housings and each of these forming part of the oil management. At low shaft speeds (also, low boost) these systems are generally less efficient and less able to effectively seal. The symptoms can be the same as pooling and overflow, but the cause is different. You simply have too much oil pressure at low shaft speeds.

Why would you use a rising rate regulator?
It’s not for everyone - In fact, the OPR V2 inline regulator is for the greater majority of performance enthusiasts and racers as this isn’t rising rate, isn’t boost referenced and constantly targets and oil pressure of around 40 psi which is the sweet spot for the virtually all modern ball bearing turbochargers! The new ProOPR however comes in handy when you are feeding huge turbos and running an even bigger boost. By using a boost-reference rising rate system were able to effectively provide a slightly lower base pressure at lower boost pressures and ramp the oil supply up inline with the boost pressures the turbocharger is making. This provides protection and confidence under the extreme conditions of big horsepower drag racing applications while not compromising cold start and low boost performance which can impact bearing system efficiency and reduce spool and transient response and in some turbocharger designs, allow oil overcome the oil control systems and enter into either the turbine or compressor circuits of the car.

There is a filter included?
Yes, like the OPR V2, the ProOPR includes a built-in, serviceable and replaceable oil filter to further protect your valuable turbocharger. The 44um Stainless Steel Mesh filter is specified to ensure protection for your turbocharger, while not impacting the filtration balance of the engine and existing ‘motor-oil’ filter. These filters can be cleaned and refitted and are also available separately as a complete replacement element.

What Oil Pressure Will it deliver?
This will depend slightly on if you have one, or two turbochargers plumbed into it. Note, that unlike our OPR V2 which has a fixed target of around 40 psi, the Pro OPR are rising rate and ‘start’ at a lower pressure. At or under zero boost you can expect around 15-18 psi which should then show a rising rate of 0.6-0.7:1 when compared to your boost reference, until maximum oil pressure, or maximum boost is achieved - Whichever occurs first. The regulator of course cannot up-regulate, only down-regulate.

Where should I get the reference signal from?
You have to pick up your boost reference from the turbocharger compressor cover, or charge pipe near to it. Do not use a reference from the intake manifold for example as this can potentially provide a vacuum reference to the regulator & this will further reduce your regulated oil pressure.