Author Topic: Turbo Timers.. (Read 5436 times)

BILL*69 · « **on:** Oct 22, 2006, 12:09AM »

Hey all, i know a little bit about cars, im not 100% noob, but i havent really studied much 4cyl stuff til i got my pinny T. Im stumped as to the operation of the turbo timer. Along my lines of thinking, which will be 99% incorrect probably, it lets the car idle after you have parked to stop the turbo doing something bad, but i dont know what. Please correct me if im way wrong, im just totally stumped.

Jtas · « **Reply #1 on:** Oct 22, 2006, 01:56AM »

thats basically right mate.

its to give the turbo a chance to cool down/let the oil cool down.

Craazy · « **Reply #2 on:** Oct 22, 2006, 10:13AM »

a turbo timer operates when you turn the ignition off, turn the key to off, it keeps the engine running so that cooler oil flows through the turbo's core, and in the case of water cooled turbos cooler coolant. this aids in prolonging the life of the cores bearings.

these days they can be set to a specific time from 1 sec to 10 mins, or they can automatically time how long a cool down period is by knowing how the car has been driven.

a pretty simple device that while not necessarily needed is an aid for those with a very fast lifestyle.

BILL*69 · « **Reply #3 on:** Oct 22, 2006, 02:50PM »

ok thanks guys. now i understand it lol. when i was younger i remember seeing a car running with no one in it, now i know why. cheers

omad · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 16, 2006, 02:48AM »

Quote from: Craazy on Oct 22, 2006, 10:13AM

a turbo timer operates when you turn the ignition off, turn the key to off, it keeps the engine running so that cooler oil flows through the turbo's core, and in the case of water cooled turbos cooler coolant. this aids in prolonging the life of the cores bearings.

these days they can be set to a specific time from 1 sec to 10 mins, or they can automatically time how long a cool down period is by knowing how the car has been driven.

a pretty simple device that while not necessarily needed is an aid for those with a very fast lifestyle.

It's also to cool the turbo itself. They get hot enough to boil and burn oil if it's not flowing (ie: engine off). Which in turn becomes a solid deposit blocking the oil lines/flow/etc. No oil in something that can spin at 15,000+ RPM = BAD.

Sticky · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 16, 2006, 08:58PM »

Quote from: omad on Nov 16, 2006, 02:48AM

No oil in something that can spin at 15,000+ RPM = BAD.

as far as im aware, turbos can spin in excess of 100000rpm? which is a hell of a lot worse than 10000rpm

Budgie · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 16, 2006, 09:02PM »

If I was to get a turbo timer... I want one that is quite small and that I can hide somewhere just under the dash.

Can anyone recommend me anything small and pretty good quality?

Jono · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 16, 2006, 10:25PM »

I've seen a few that are just two switches on your dash: a 3 position toggle switch for the idle time and a push button to kill the motor.

Sticky · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 16, 2006, 10:45PM »

some of the Greddy ones are small, little bit bigger than a matchbox, i think they retail around $129

omad · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 17, 2006, 12:49AM »

Quote from: Sticky on Nov 16, 2006, 08:58PM

as far as im aware, turbos can spin in excess of 100000rpm? which is a hell of a lot worse than 10000rpm

I wasn't 100% sure and didn't want to look like a tool saying that they spin at light speed. I did leave the little '+' at the end though. So 100,000 is still in excess of 15,000

dave-trx · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 17, 2006, 01:10AM »

The old turbo charades little turbo can spin to 300 000rpm easily.

omad · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 17, 2006, 12:09PM »

I could beleive that... they'd have to, have you seen how SMALL they are??

This one's off a GTI swift, but it's much the same setup:

GTI Swift Turbo (link)

I just linked it as it's a large image

Craazy · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 17, 2006, 04:45PM »

you remember where my turbo timer is budgie?? its not big and very uninvasive.

i'll sell it to you

Resin · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 17, 2006, 11:12PM »

turbo timers are gay

just drive sedately in the last few minutes of ur journey ...and u'd been fine .........prob with turbo timers is that they only cool down the turbo ...if that ...what about the transmission, coolant etc ..... ...better to keep the car moving a bit longer ...take it around the block once or twice casual driving. plus they are illegal !

Craazy · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 18, 2006, 10:45AM »

you do realise that the trans and coolant fluids are moving all at the same time as the engine is turning over?? the trans is made to operate and a set temp and generally is regulated in the box itself.......

so a turbo timer negates the need to drive around the block casually. and its only illegal if you get caught

Jono · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 18, 2006, 01:49PM »

Autos have oil pumping through them when the engine's running, manuals do not. But manual transmissions don't get hot enough for it to make a difference.

omad · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 18, 2006, 04:08PM »

Quote from: Resin on Nov 17, 2006, 11:12PM

turbo timers are gay

just drive sedately in the last few minutes of ur journey ...and u'd been fine .........prob with turbo timers is that they only cool down the turbo ...if that ...what about the transmission, coolant etc ..... ...better to keep the car moving a bit longer ...take it around the block once or twice casual driving. plus they are illegal !

Just because you don't have one is no reason to get jelous and spiteful

It's more common for a turbo car to have them than not to. And for an owner of a turbo car, if nothing else, it's good to have it there just for the peace of mind. Though you should drive a little more sedately before stopping anyway.. turbo timer or not. Not so much because for coolant or anything, but to cool the exhaust parts down slowly. If you flog the car, then stop, then let it idle and turn off, the exh. mani and turbo exh. housing cool down too fast making it more prone to cracks/warpage.

Turbo timers are not illegal to have fitted to the car. They are only illegal if you leave the car running and walk away from it.

Resin · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 07:30AM »

Quote from: omad on Nov 18, 2006, 04:08PM

Turbo timers are not illegal to have fitted to the car. They are only illegal if you leave the car running and walk away from it.

so why have one then?

..........just stand around ur car a little longer ......

did the car come with it when it was stock? ......no....so does it really need it .....no....

Craazy · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 05:40PM »

so enough of the whether you need one or not. its just a matter of whether you want to sit there and time the cool down time......

so in that instance how long does everyone think is an adequate time to cool down??

i have always used the principles that 30secs-1min is enough for normal city driving. 1min minimum freeway open road stuff.
then 3 mins for hard serious driving. that all set on my timer makes things easy

omad · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 08:22PM »

Mine is just a basic one with 1, 3 and 5 mins selectable on a switch. I always leave it on 1min. If I've given the car a bit of a hard time shortly before parking etc, I'll usually change it to 3 mins and I occasionally use the 5min one if I'm just popping in to pick someone up or drop off a video, so the car's still running when I get back

Turbo timers are good. You don't have to remember to leave your car running or whatever, it just does it.

My car also came with a stock 91 octane RICH tune, a smaller MAF & intake pipe, tiny intercooler, a weaker clutch, worse & higher suspension, no tint, standard rims and a 4 speaker tape deck. So I guess I don't need any of the replaced items either, better take them out!

Craazy · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 08:28PM »

hehe, go the VR-4

Budgie · « **Reply #21 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 08:50PM »

Quote from: omad on Nov 20, 2006, 08:22PM

My car also came with a stock 91 octane RICH tune, a smaller MAF & intake pipe, tiny intercooler, a weaker clutch, worse & higher suspension, no tint, standard rims and a 4 speaker tape deck. So I guess I don't need any of the replaced items either, better take them out!

hehe, I get your drift omad

Timers aren't all that great when you have an immobilser that arms after 45seconds and can't be changed...

Craazy · « **Reply #22 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 09:08PM »

doh......

Jono · « **Reply #23 on:** Nov 20, 2006, 09:58PM »

Quote from: Budgie on Nov 20, 2006, 08:50PM

Timers aren't all that great when you have an immobilser that arms after 45seconds and can't be changed...

There's ways and means to bypass them Budgie. And it still immobilises after your turbo timer times out.

omad · « **Reply #24 on:** Nov 23, 2006, 02:00AM »

Quote from: Craazy on Nov 20, 2006, 08:28PM

hehe, go the VR-4

Yeah, she does the J-O-B

And budgie: I'm pretty sure my immobilizer is much the same, though I'm still able to use the turbo timer.