In the absence of the ability to search I figured I'd ask so sorry if this is a topic that's been covered repeatedly..

 

Back in the 90's I had a few pals with Sierra Cosworths and they felt that a turbo timer was essential in order to keep everything working as it should.

 

True or false?

It will be true that you had pals that believed that.

 

Others might have just ensured cooling down to care for their turbos.

My mates R33 had one of these. A cool gadget which ive not seen on anythin newer actually.

Others just prefer to wait in the car with it ticking over for a few minutes after a hard drive.

I asked for that didn't I 

 

Ok.. what's the gen on turo timers and, if they are not needed, how does one look after a turbo'd petrol engine?

I asked for that didn't I

Ok.. what's the gen on turo timers and, if they are not needed, how does one look after a turbo'd petrol engine?

Id be driving it steady for the last mile befor home, then leaving it to tickover for a minute before switching off.

I asked for that didn't I 

 

Ok.. what's the gen on turo timers and, if they are not needed, how does one look after a turbo'd petrol engine?

Technically at least, a turbo timer is illegal in the UK, since it will leave the engine running after the driver has left the vehicle. (Inquire on Police 101 about "quitting" in the context of driving a vehicle if you don't believe me)

 

Now you can probably guess how they work. When armed, they keep the engine idling for a few minutes to allow the turbo to cool down after a run and then shut it off. So, as others, just drive for a minute or 2 off-boost before parking.

I have one on the pulsar and I use it as and when I feel it needs to be used.

After a hard drive ill let it idle for a minute or two, its easier to just set the turbo timer, lock the car go in and put the kettle on, the car then shuts off by itself whilst I'm now in the process of brewing a cup of tea

I had an Impreza Series McRae with one fitted and a 2.9V6 Twin Turbo Technics Sierra with one fitted. 

 

Lee

Thanks chaps..

So, you 2 who have them fitted, obviously you think they are useful but is the 'cool gadget' aspect a chunk of the appeal?

Now I understand them I doubt I'd get one, a couple of miles of sane driving and a minute sitting in the car before switch off isn't impractical.

Thanks chaps..

So, you 2 who have them fitted, obviously you think they are useful but is the 'cool gadget' aspect a chunk of the appeal?

Now I understand them I doubt I'd get one, a couple of miles of sane driving and a minute sitting in the car before switch off isn't impractical.

Its just a fail safe to help protect your turbo I doubt if its needed as much on newer cars with the advancement of technology unless your running big power.

Would I go through the hassle of fitting one? I doubt it. Would I remove mine? I doubt it.

Thanks chaps..

So, you 2 who have them fitted, obviously you think they are useful but is the 'cool gadget' aspect a chunk of the appeal?

Now I understand them I doubt I'd get one, a couple of miles of sane driving and a minute sitting in the car before switch off isn't impractical.

 

I wouldn't bother on a modern turbo.

 

80's and 90's high performance turbo petrol (Early Cossies, early Impreza's, Evo's etc) usually ran big turbos that would require 3500rpm+ to spool up. They would produce big power in the motorsport variants but hammer them on the road and the turbos would run very hot. There was a danger of damaging the turbo or killing the oil if you just switched the engine off after a high speed run.

 

There were rumours of some Police Evo's using Turbo Timers.

 

Turbo technology has moved on and modern turbo engines are designed as turbo units from the initial design stage. It's just not an issue anymore.

 

Lee

Doesnt the modern turbocars have something similar? Only that cooling is run on electric power instead of an idling engine.

Something still circulates for a while after I shut down the engine on my car.

I cant think of many times I've gone from balls out flooring it to getting out straightaway. Even motorway services it takes me a few min to drive down the slip road and into a parking space. The only time I'd benefit would be on a track day, but again, half a cool down lap and it's all good. 

Doesnt the modern turbocars have something similar? Only that cooling is run on electric power instead of an idling engine.

Something still circulates for a while after I shut down the engine on my car.

I dunno what car you're talking about, but some Renaults ran the radiator fan (electric) for several minutes if switched off "very hot".

eg.

the VW Built 1.4 TSI / TFSI 132-136 kW Twinchargers will also bring the temperature down if required and as they are designed to after switching off the ignition.

Doesnt the modern turbocars have something similar? Only that cooling is run on electric power instead of an idling engine.

Something still circulates for a while after I shut down the engine on my car.

Pretty sure my Octavia has an electric water pump that circulates the coolant through the turbo for a few minutes after the engine's switched off.

I was speaking to an RAC man (I needed a new battery) who'd just bought a diesel Octavia vRS with a blown turbo - he said he bought the car for £2k and the seller had paid about £6k some months earlier - he (RAC bloke) said he he'd sourced a turbo (can't remember the figure for that or whether it was used or new - it was certainly under £1k though) - anyway, this brought us onto the subject of looking after turbos and he said people weren't running the engine for a short spell after use - my view was that wasn't needed these days - anyhow, how often does anyone come straight off boost into their drive / garage?

I dunno what car you're talking about, but some Renaults ran the radiator fan (electric) for several minutes if switched off "very hot".

 

That was to cool the carb as the early versions would vapourise the fuel in the carb and they would be very difficult to restart when hot. The carb sat above the turbo.

 

Renualt being French didn't fuse the perculation fan properly and it would often seize and the wiring loom would set on fire causing an under bonnet blaze.

Pretty sure my Octavia has an electric water pump that circulates the coolant through the turbo for a few minutes after the engine's switched off.

 

Many modern turbos are water cooled and oil lubricated.

 

Early turbos were oil cooled and oil lubricated hence the need for a cool down period or risk damaging the turbo or destroying the oil.

 

Lee

I dunno what car you're talking about, but some Renaults ran the radiator fan (electric) for several minutes if switched off "very hot".

My Octy 3 1.8tsi.

Im quite sure it circulates oil after shutting down the engine. It only does it when the coolant and oil is up on normal operating temps.

My Octy 3 1.8tsi.

Im quite sure it circulates oil after shutting down the engine. It only does it when the coolant and oil is up on normal operating temps.

 

Not sure about oil continuing to circulate but not studied the new units.

 

Many TSi's circulate water around the turbo after the engine stops, even the 1.2TSi.

 

Lee

My work Peugeot Partner 1560cc turbo-diesel van (62 plate) ran its cooling fan for a good five minutes once when I got home and switched off; I think it may have been midway through a DPF regeneration, burning extra fuel, so running hotter than usual. That's once in a year and a half that the run-on has occurred.

Richard.

Edited 7 March, 201610 yr by RichardatWakefield

Not sure about oil continuing to circulate but not studied the new units.

Many TSi's circulate water around the turbo after the engine stops, even the 1.2TSi.

Lee

It mighy be water, I just know something is circulating

Pretty sure my Octavia has an electric water pump that circulates the coolant through the turbo for a few minutes after the engine's switched off.

I nearly mentioned this earlier

But i dont know how many motors use auxillary pumps, so i didnt haha.

Edit:

This is one isnt it?

1.8TSI and 2.0TSI

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/OEM-Auxiliary-Water-Pump-For-SKODA-Octaiva-Superb-SEAT-Altea-Leon-1-8TSI-2-0TSI-/221446157412

Edited 7 March, 201610 yr by fabiamk2SE

That was to cool the carb as the early versions would vapourise the fuel in the carb and they would be very difficult to restart when hot. The carb sat above the turbo.

 

Renualt being French didn't fuse the perculation fan properly and it would often seize and the wiring loom would set on fire causing an under bonnet blaze.

That would make sense, except that the first time I encountered this the car in question wasn't turbocharged (clue in how all R18 turbos had "Turbo" written down both sides about 8" high).