Who runs a turbo timer?



Is it really necisary? Because I have heard from some people that it is a waste and others that the turbos will alst longer.

 

this being my first turboed car i know not much about the topic. so with that in mind, yes a turbo timer will extend the life of your turbos by allowing then to come close to "room" temp before shutting the engine off.

so maybe youre wondering the same thing my dad was, "those turboed race cars dont have a turbo timer, they just run park and shut down." well some do, some also place big fans for engine cooling. but then again, they probably rebuild engine and turbos after every couple of races...

 

I run a turbo timer, and here's why:



Turbos are typically oil-cooled. The idle speed of a turbo can be as much as 90,000 RPM. After running hard, a turbo can spin as fast as 300,000 RPM. BB turbos can take minutes to return to the idle state. If you just get done running hard, and your 300,000 RPM turbo suddenly looses it's cooling supply (oil), it can become quite hot! The heat and lack of flow can cause the oil to cook into the bearings, block the oil passages, etc, not to mention the lost lubrication on the turbo shaft. While the accomplishments of a turbo timer can be duplicated by just letting your car idle for 30 seconds before shutdown, a tubo timer offers the convenience of automatic engine kill. I have the Apex'i unit, which most people HATE, but I love it. it auto-calculates the idle down time based on O2 sensor readings - the harder you run it, the longer it times for.

 

Not to bag on anyone who uses them, but they are pretty much useless. Unless you are boosting hard and stop the car immediately, there is really no "cool down" needed. And even then so I'm not sure you will extend the life of your turbos at all.



I'd actually like to see examples of turbo damage due to improper cool down. I honestly think none exsist. You'd literally have to have glowing red turbos to cook the oil inside them....



Use the hundred bucks and get an aluminum AST.

 

Lets see......



Spend thousands of dollars on your turbocharged application, and then treat it like ****. Not a good idea. If you don't have a turbo timer, let the car run for about a minute after hard driving. If not- hell, why even change the oil.



Sinful 7- right on



Most race cars don't use them- then again most high end race teams use their turbo/s once before a rebuild.

 

I have one but I rarely ever use it.

IMO I would rather lose the turbos than the engine for letting the car sit and idle.



Not saying your car will over heat at idle. If everything is doing what is supposed to then it definitely will not but why tempt fate ya know

 

This could quickly get to the "synth vs. dino" level of debate... So I'm out.



Both sides have good points. I'm not saying don't buy one... I'm just saying I'm not.

 

I dont use a turbo timer.



What happens to your temps when you sit and idle?

 

My mr2-t used to have a long cool down period....



Considering I don't boost on my road, which is a 1 minute 30mph stretch, then I get home, and have to let the car sit there as I open the garage door, then I pull it in....and finally it gets shut down.



The turbo's spool down when the car idles right? and they slow down when they are not boosting right? Thought so...

 

Yeah, a good easy run for about a few minutes normally cools the car down, and alows things to slow. Letting it sit at idle rises temps...