Are turbo timers really needed?

[djuosnteisn]

I know the bmw335 has an electric oil pump, and keeps the oil running as long as it has to to cool the turbo, even after the car's turned off. It would just make sense to me that our cars would be similarly equipped. Both oil and coolant run to the turbo, so do either of them continue cooling after shut-off?

 

[Yoichi]

Our cars are water & oil cooled. Turbo timers are not needed

 

[SPEED3TYPE2]

Our cars are water & oil cooled. Turbo timers are not needed

it does say in the manuel that after a long highway drive or going up along hill to leave the car running to let the turbo cool down. not to just shut the car off

 

[djuosnteisn]

Yeah, but if both the oil pump and coolant pump are only belt driven, then we would need timer's right?

 

[SPEED3TYPE2]

na, just let it idle a little when you get off the higway or been running hard before shutting it off

 

[djuosnteisn]

Yeah, i do that already, simply because i'm anal retentive. I also check my garage door 3 times before i leave the house, and wash my hands 7 times before bed, and turn around 18 times before... regardless, i would just like to know how our cars were designed. Electric water pump, belt oil, etc etc...

 

[Igve2shtz]

Im pretty sure the water pump and oil pump are belt driven. However, we do have an external oil cooler. I feel 99% correct in saying this, but turbo timers are not needed AS LONG AS you are not in a rush. If you are driving around normally, just coast the last block before your house. That will cool it down. Or, let it idle for 10 seconds -

Try this- Put the car into its parking spot, let it idle, shut off all electrical accessories, radar detector, headlights, radio, etc, unplug the seat belt, set the parking break, that right there would be about 10-15 seconds, and plenty long enough if you were just cruising.

If you were driving hard/uphill/freeway speeds, etc, then, i highly recommend you let it idle for the full 30.

 

[BoostedSpd6]

i agree but i still have one... its nice when ur boostin hard into work and are mildly late, now i just need to figure out how to overide the locking system of the car so it locks while the car is timing down. anyone?

 

[Zixxspeed]

i want to get one im looking at the apexi

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

The water/oil cooling on the 6 is the same as the 3 right? We are having this debate over there and I still think its a good idea to have one. Not for no 10 minute cool downs but 1 or 2 minutes if necessary.

Now say that your car is in the dealer for service and they just turned on and off while moving the car. Shouldn't be a big deal right? Worst case you could go do a few hot laps to remove any build up and then properly let the car cool? Or does that sound stupid.

 

[Shagate]

The water/oil cooling on the 6 is the same as the 3 right? We are having this debate over there and I still think its a good idea to have one. Not for no 10 minute cool downs but 1 or 2 minutes if necessary.

Now say that your car is in the dealer for service and they just turned on and off while moving the car. Shouldn't be a big deal right? Worst case you could go do a few hot laps to remove any build up and then properly let the car cool? Or does that sound stupid.

The manual is pretty clear on all of this. If you run the car hard then you need to allow it to cool. It will take about 30 seconds of idle time for this to happen. This is because the oil can be superheated on the hot turbo and cake if it just sits. By allowing for those few seconds things can cool down enough for this not to be a problem. That means red lights, parking, anything that keeps you off the turbo for 30 seconds or so will give it time to cool down. So unless your flooring it into a parking space I think you'll be just fine, or wait a few seconds to check your breath before getting out of the car. (boom02)

 

[Silver Ecstasy]

So realistically, if a service porter were to move my car, that's no different than turning on/off a regular car. It's mainly the boost + oil temp that causes problems and requires cool down. I think I need to get a boost and oil temp gauge lol. You'd think that'd be important to watch right??

 

[amp]

waste of hard earned dough imho...

 

[tunersteve]

I had asked this a while ago, and I was told that they weren't needed. All I usually do is park it, close the lid on the console, and watch for the clock to change to the next minute, then hop out of the car. Save the $100 bucks and use it on something else.

 

[djuosnteisn]

OKay, so i think i might have some insight to my origianl post. I think both oil and water pumps (or at least oil) are belt driven. I was watching the boosted air temperature on my dashhawk (just installed today, and so damn cool). And i noticed that while moving pretty quick (60mph-ish), if i took the car out of gear and just coasted, the temp would rise, due to dropped rpm. And as i shifted back it and brought rpm up, temp would fall.

So long story short, these lil cool down habits (clap my hands 3 times, watch the clock, then run around the car, then turn off ignition) do indeed help.

 

[robin2660]

OKay, so i think i might have some insight to my origianl post. I think both oil and water pumps (or at least oil) are belt driven. I was watching the boosted air temperature on my dashhawk (just installed today, and so damn cool). And i noticed that while moving pretty quick (60mph-ish), if i took the car out of gear and just coasted, the temp would rise, due to dropped rpm. And as i shifted back it and brought rpm up, temp would fall.

So long story short, these lil cool down habits (clap my hands 3 times, watch the clock, then run around the car, then turn off ignition) do indeed help.

But some people are worried about being in a big hurry and not having the 30 seconds to a minute to cool the turbo. If I had to measure my life in minutes I'd go nuts.

My suggestion then is to change your priorities, and leave 1 minute earlier (who on this earth can't pull that off?).

 

[djuosnteisn]

Yeah, see i never really cared bout the hurry, i've always allowed for an extra min or two for cool down. I was more interested in the actual design of our cars. Beamers have it all taking into account with electric water/oil pumps, mazdas still have belt driven. You would think that now a days, a car company would do all it could at the design level to assure care of the vehicle. Regardless though, there is a point when a car becomes "too smart", and then its like driving a pc. lame.

 

[CHICO2003]

Regardless of the type of turbo, if you're using a synthetic a TT's probably not necessary. There have been a number of studies that prove synthetics won't coke like regular oil.

above and beyond that...almost all modern turbos are water-cooled in addition to oil. It's no longer necessary to worry about leaving the car running or not boosting before shutdown because the water line continues to circulate after shutdown (as the water evaporates and more flows in), keeping the turbo from reaching the temps where oil coking could occur.

 

[88323GT]

IMO, and from working on turbos as a carrier, a Turbo Timer is a great thing to have. True, not everyone needs one if you have time, but if your heading over to the store, having fun on the way, the last thing you want to do is wait in your car for the thing to properly cool down. It doesnt matter how turbos are cooled. Oil, Coolant or both. Its always good to let the oil and coolant circulate after driving hard. If you have just been cruising not really boosting, then its not necessary. If you have been hitting it hard and then come to your destination quickly, you really dont want to turn your engine off. All oils can cake if they get hot enough, no matter the grade, weight, etc. Ive cracked open many coolant lines to find burnt build up reducing efficiant cooling to the turbo, which can and will lead to a rebuild long before its due.

Is a Turbo Timer Necessary? Not if you want to take the time to bring your engine to idle temps.

Turbo Timers also provide other advantages which is nice. My HKS has a Battery volt meter, RPM reader, Warnings which act as shift lights as well, its a good investment in my book, but too each his own.

 

[fracture]

So if I troll into my neighborhood not getting over 2.5K rpm for 4-5 minutes, will this be enough to cool down the Turbo after an average highway drive home?