What kind of turbo timer???

[supergoose]

Trying to decide which is the best brand and easiest to install turbo timer? Are they really worth the $$$???

 

[sierra248]

Get The APEXI pen one, mounts perfect in the actual Ashtray, no wires to be seen, u just drop it in the ashtray compartment from above and then wedge it into the Ashtray and perfect. Also it works perfect, 2 wire hookup to ignition and a ground and a Parking Brake wire. Alarm can be armed while running and all, plus its nice that if u have a GT, it keeps the headlights lit when its running. Also if u have it set for 40 sec and it takes you 20 to get your mail or whatever just get back in turn key to on and leave, dont even have to turn it off.
Tom

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

So basically, if you have it set to 1 minute, but get back in the car and put it back in gear, the TT will automatically shut off? What does it use, the parking brake wire to know what you're doing?

That'd be kinda scary if the car like just completely shut off within the 1 minute of driving lol.

Do you have a How-To with this pen style Apexi? I've been really lookin at this one seriously as one for my MS3 when I get it.

 

[sierra248]

as soon as u put key back in and turn it to on, tt shuts off.

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I see! Do you have a how-to with that setup Sierra?

 

[crossbow]

Turbotimers were originally recommended when turbo's were only oil cooled. The MS3 uses an oil/water cooled turbo. A turbotimer is unnecessary for this application, though it can't hurt (except in wasting a miniscule amount of gas).

I think in this day and age, turbotimers are used as conversational pieces more then anything else.

"Hey your car is still on..."

"Thats cause I got a turbo and I be ballin!"

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

Turbotimers were originally recommended when turbo's were only oil cooled. The MS3 uses an oil/water cooled turbo. A turbotimer is unnecessary for this application, though it can't hurt (except in wasting a miniscule amount of gas).

I think in this day and age, turbotimers are used as conversational pieces more then anything else.

"Hey your car is still on..."

"Thats cause I got a turbo and I be ballin!"

I've never had a turbo vehicle, so i'll say that I feel it's unnecessary to run your car for 5+ minutes after a run, because if you were hauling ass like that, you wouldn't just automatically stop the car.

However, I think it's helpful peace of mind. Say if I am hauling ass on the way to work and am running late. I could just set the timer at 1, 1.5 minutes and have the comfort of knowing it's cooling.

If it's not necessary, why would the manual also recommend to let the car cool for 30seconds? Of course, the manufacturer recommends bare minimum. They say 7500 miles on oil changes, I say 5000. They say 30 seconds, I say 1 minute.

 

[neox.286]

to my knowledge the turbo timer isnt for cooling, its to keep the oil running through the turbo while it spools down after a spirited run rather than just cutting off the oil supply from the pump? thats why 30 seconds to a minute are usually what they run for...that isnt nearly enough time to cool off the turbo

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

To my knowledge, after a hot run, your oil temps are higher than normal. That hot oil then sits in your turbo's bearings and can gunk up over time of consistently doing that. If you were to let the turbo timer run, the oil temperature circulating through the bearings will be cooler and less apt to gunking.

http://www.alamomotorsports.com/blitz/dualtimer.html

 

[neox.286]

ah, makes sense as well, both are related to each other....I was half right haha

 

[ericrapp]

To my knowledge, after a hot run, your oil temps are higher than normal. That hot oil then sits in your turbo's bearings and can gunk up over time of consistently doing that. If you were to let the turbo timer run, the oil temperature circulating through the bearings will be cooler and less apt to gunking.

http://www.alamomotorsports.com/blitz/dualtimer.html

I think coking, odd word, is what we are describing and we don't want that

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

I think coking, odd word, is what we are describing and we don't want that

Yes, thank you!

 

[robin2660]

to my knowledge the turbo timer isnt for cooling, its to keep the oil running through the turbo while it spools down after a spirited run rather than just cutting off the oil supply from the pump? thats why 30 seconds to a minute are usually what they run for...that isnt nearly enough time to cool off the turbo

It is exactly to "cool it down", to low enough temp that it doesn't coke the oil and ruin the turbo.

 

[neox.286]

ah, makes sense as well, both are related to each other....I was half right haha

^^^
yup, I stand corrected

 

[matsuda]

To my knowledge, after a hot run, your oil temps are higher than normal. That hot oil then sits in your turbo's bearings and can gunk up over time of consistently doing that. If you were to let the turbo timer run, the oil temperature circulating through the bearings will be cooler and less apt to gunking.

http://www.alamomotorsports.com/blitz/dualtimer.html

I'm curious as to why someone would install a turbo timer in lieu of using synthetic oil. In other words, if you are worried about turbo bearing damage as a result of coking (which is highly unlikely with a water cooled turbo), why not just use synthetic oil?

Mazda does not require the use of synthetic oil but if you really want peace of mind, it is well worth it.

 

[ericrapp]

I'm curious as to why someone would install a turbo timer in lieu of using synthetic oil. In other words, if you are worried about turbo bearing damage as a result of coking (which is highly unlikely with a water cooled turbo), why not just use synthetic oil?

Mazda does not require the use of synthetic oil but if you really want peace of mind, it is well worth it.

I may be speaking out of turn, my understanding is that during and after working hard, the turbo temp will rise to extreme degrees. which if not cooled in short order, it will surpass the oils tolerance but can begin to even distort metal. An even cool down process will help assure the oils integrity and of engine life. But you are right about using a quality oil. It is the engine's best protection from heat and wear.

 

[07speed3]

Get The APEXI pen one, mounts perfect in the actual Ashtray, no wires to be seen, u just drop it in the ashtray compartment from above and then wedge it into the Ashtray and perfect. Also it works perfect, 2 wire hookup to ignition and a ground and a Parking Brake wire. Alarm can be armed while running and all, plus its nice that if u have a GT, it keeps the headlights lit when its running. Also if u have it set for 40 sec and it takes you 20 to get your mail or whatever just get back in turn key to on and leave, dont even have to turn it off.
Tom

do you have any pics of how it looks in there?

 

[FMOS Racing]

Turbotimers were originally recommended when turbo's were only oil cooled. The MS3 uses an oil/water cooled turbo. A turbotimer is unnecessary for this application, though it can't hurt (except in wasting a miniscule amount of gas).

I think in this day and age, turbotimers are used as conversational pieces more then anything else.

"Hey your car is still on..."

"Thats cause I got a turbo and I be ballin!"

Great way to put it.

I've been driving and racing turbocharged vehicles for a while and have never had a problem with a turbo. My "turbo timer" is to drive gently through the subdivision after some "testing" runs on the local remote farm roads, or to take my time coming back down the return road at the strip, or to sit with the engine idling while I look at the data logs from a couple of hot laps.

Plus synthetic oil and reasonable oil change intervals.

I in no way think a turbo timer is a BAD idea, just think it's pretty unnecessary.

I did have an absolute conniption with a dyno operator who shut down one of my trucks immediately after a pull. I was jumping up and down screaming "Turn it back on! Turn it back on!" Probably looked kinda like Yosemite Sam.

 

[sceraxn]

Ive had tons of experience with turbod cars of all kinds, and i can honestly say that turbo timers really dont do anything at all. Ive seen non-water cooled, journal bearing turbos last 150k miles without a turbo timer. The main reason behind a tt is to allow oil to remain running through the turbo while the wheel is slowing down. Its not for cooling purposes, especially on water cooled turbos.

The only way it would cool the turbo is if it kept running for 30-45min. The turbo(and all the metals on the motor) will actually get hotter AFTER the car comes to a stop. During a hard pull the motor will obviously get hotter, but the increased coolant flow and airflow around the engine will keep at a certain level. When the car comes to a stop that extra coolant flow and airflow are no longer there, so the metals begin to absorb all the heat. The 1 to 1.5 minutes of extra run time from the tt will do absolutely nothing to radiate that heat from the motor/turbo. In fact, it probably hasnt even reached its highest temperature at that point. From my experience using a laser thermometer, the manifold will reach its highest temp 15-20 minutes after a hard pull.

Dont think that im totally against TT's. I mean, i know they really dont do anything, but they do look cool as hell...and some of them have some pretty cool features that could be handy for other areas as well. And if a tt will enhance the persons driving experience then i say go for it. In the end, thats what having a sports car is all about!

 

[ericrapp]

Ive had tons of experience with turbod cars of all kinds, and i can honestly say that turbo timers really dont do anything at all. Ive seen non-water cooled, journal bearing turbos last 150k miles without a turbo timer. The main reason behind a tt is to allow oil to remain running through the turbo while the wheel is slowing down. Its not for cooling purposes, especially on water cooled turbos.

The only way it would cool the turbo is if it kept running for 30-45min. The turbo(and all the metals on the motor) will actually get hotter AFTER the car comes to a stop. During a hard pull the motor will obviously get hotter, but the increased coolant flow and airflow around the engine will keep at a certain level. When the car comes to a stop that extra coolant flow and airflow are no longer there, so the metals begin to absorb all the heat. The 1 to 1.5 minutes of extra run time from the tt will do absolutely nothing to radiate that heat from the motor/turbo. In fact, it probably hasnt even reached its highest temperature at that point. From my experience using a laser thermometer, the manifold will reach its highest temp 15-20 minutes after a hard pull.

Dont think that im totally against TT's. I mean, i know they really dont do anything, but they do look cool as hell...and some of them have some pretty cool features that could be handy for other areas as well. And if a tt will enhance the persons driving experience then i say go for it. In the end, thats what having a sports car is all about!

Interesting statement sir. I certainly do ' cruise the car ' the last five minutes. But I will start to do some pyrometer readings. I am almost paranoid about turbo generated heat.