Hi

Just bought a 58k 04 plate VRS {way better than my old e46 BMW}. Years ago my dad had a Saab 900 turbo which had a device which idled the engine after he locked it in order i think to keep oil feed to turbo active until it spooled

down. Do need to do this with my car? I have been idling the engine for approx 2 mins after a run. This is the first turbo car I have owned {one owner completley standard} thanks in anticipation.

I always let my vehicles idle for around 2 mins and infact in the Skoda manual says to let it idle for around 2 mins, sounds as if the Saab had a turbo timer?

due to the speed limit on where i live just driving around the estate seems to keep my vrs alreet

I tend to just take the last mile or so steady so the turbo would of cooled down by the time I turn the engine off.

I only let it idle if I'm stopping at a motorway service station or similar, usually drive for atleast 5 mins at 30 or 40 mph before stopping so gives the turbo plenty of time to cool down.

the idea is not to cool the turbo,but to maintain the oil feed to the turbo because the turbo shaft still spins (at silly rpms) after the engine is switched off. if you idle the car for a couple of minutes after driving the turbo slows down and doesnt suffer oil starvation at higher rpms for a longer period of time.

the turbo will be at its lowest rpm after a few seconds of idleing, its not a great big flywheel or anything lol

if your drive ends with a mile or so of 30mph stuff then no problem just switch it off, if your drive ends with a blast down a duel carrigeway ect then let it have a couple of mins to cool off.

but to be fair oil tech has improved a lot since the early turbo cars and its not really a problem anymore just wasting fuel

is your VRS diesel or petrol then?

I tend to drive it steady the last mile home and let it idle for 15-30 seconds before switching off, having seen my turbo after a hard drive (engine idleing of course), glowing bright red .

I hate to think what that would do to the oil if it stayed in there too long.

Has anyone ever tried to fit the auxiliary coolant pump to the octavia? The one which is in the LCR from the factory?

I just drive fairly slowly normally "off boost" for the last 2 miles or so.....Then when i reach the destination, let it idle for 30 seconds then switch it off..

i just drive the last few miles steedy

The device on the SAAB is called a "turbo timer" (guess why ) and is actually illegal for road use in the UK, since you're leaving an unattended vehicle with its engine running.

As others have said or implied, a couple of minutes off-turbo, like the "last mile home" (or actually finding a parking place in most MSAs ) is enough to get the turbo bearings cooled down.

This will give you an idea how long a turbo spools after you turn off the engine:

(hardly any time at all - don't forget it's meeting resistance as it moves air!)

I usually leave it long enough to turn off my hands-free kit and fit the steering lock...

aren't the turbo's on the VRS water cooled as well as oil? Like others I just take it steady for the last couple of miles turbo timers are pointless on these.

Forgot I had this:

NB: Can't speak for the Mk1 Octy, but the turbo in my Fabia is NOT water cooled!

the idea is not to cool the turbo,but to maintain the oil feed to the turbo because the turbo shaft still spins (at silly rpms) after the engine is switched off. if you idle the car for a couple of minutes after driving the turbo slows down and doesnt suffer oil starvation at higher rpms for a longer period of time.

The idea is actually to cool the turbo down AND let the turbo speed settle.

The point of taking the last few miles easy or letting the car idle for a couple of minutes is to avoid hot shut down. Hot shut down has historically been one of the main causes of turbo failure, as the oil carbonises on the bearings, seal rings and drain cavities if you don't let it cool properly.

It's less of a problem with water-cooled bearing housings (like on the K03s on the vRS), but is still worth doing to look after the turbo as best you can.

Turbo timers are just to make the car idiot proof! So some mug can spend all day ragging the hide off the car, and then just suddenly turn it off because they don't understand their engine. A normal person will appreciate that they need to let things cool.

An auxillary water pump is a nicer idea, so the coolant continues to circulate for a period after the engine is switched off. But still not required if you remember to cool things yourself.

Here's a graph! http://www.holset.co.uk/mainsite/files/4_3_5-operating%20procedures.php

aren't the turbo's on the VRS water cooled as well as oil? Like others I just take it steady for the last couple of miles turbo timers are pointless on these.

The 110TDI certainly isn't watercooled and unless something has seriously gone wrong, then a turbo timer would be the least of your worries :s******:

The 110TDI certainly isn't watercooled and unless something has seriously gone wrong, then a turbo timer would be the least of your worries :S******:

Thanks for the quick response and sound advice guys I forgot to mention that its petrol

Thanks for the quick response and sound advice guys I forgot to mention that its petrol

All Octy 1 vRS are petrol anyway.

Forgot I had this:

NB: Can't speak for the Mk1 Octy, but the turbo in my Fabia is NOT water cooled!

Temperatures seen on a diesel turbo are much lower than those seen on a petrol equivalent, and you would only normally water cool a diesel turbo when it is operating in a confined space, such as a marine application.