how long should a turbo timer run for

[glen73]

Hi, any advice on how long i should run the timer for?
it's the TD04H oil cooled turbo.

[sabretooth]

This probably doesn't help, but I have a GReddy TD04H-15C and don't use a turbo timer at all. You probably wouldn't need it to run anything more than a minute, I'd expect.

[glen73]

thanks, i did ask anthony (maztech) and he said it would be wise on a oil cooled turbo but water cooled are fine without.

[Benny]

I don't know about Victoria, but in NSW it is illegal to have a turbo timer as we have a law that prevents you from leaving a car with the motor running.
I believe they call it leaving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, or something like that.

I think these turbo timer things are useless and over-rated.
I've owned turbo cars since the early 80's and I've never had one, nor needed one.
The only time you might need one is if you are driving to your destination using a lot of boost just as you arrive. Then you should allow the motor to idle for a minute or so, but what I have always done in turbo cars is just take it a bit easy as I approach my destination, and let the car idle as I take my phone out of the hands free kit, remove my seatbelt, get my house keys ec., then just tuern off the motor.
A lot cheaper than having a turbo timer.
It might also be usefull for track days, but then it's better to drive the car slowly around the pits for a minute or 2 before switching off the motor.

[Alf]

I don't know about Victoria, but in NSW it is illegal to have a turbo timer as we have a law that prevents you from leaving a car with the motor running.

Here in Vic. they're completely legal but we have the same law that says it is illegal to get out of the car while they're keeping the motor running. So as long as you stay in the car while the timer's running, you're doing nothing wrong, and one can still get the enormous ego boost involved with having a techo gadget to impress one's chav mates. Indeed, one can get that feeling with a turbo timer and boost gauge, even without having a turbo, and so much cheaper too.

Cheers,
Alf

[NMX516]

I'm with Benny on this one...

Simply take it easy for a couple of minutes before you are going to switch the car off. Turbo timers are just a bit of marketing b.s in my opinion. The number of times you would be getting the turbo 'that hot'in street use would be very minimal. How many factory turbo cars have a turbo timer fitted? None. Yet those cars still have 5yr/100,000km warranties...

I did have a car fitted with a turbo timer once, which resulted in a couple of 'incidents' as a result of having it fitted. Both involved car being parked on steep inclines with only the handbrake to hold it. By the design of the hand brake mechanism, when the brakes cooled down, the metal contracted, relieving the pressure applied by the handbrake. Because the car was not in gear - as you obviously can't leave it like that with a turbo timer doing its thing, the car rolled down said inclines. First time, I happened to be looking out the window at a mates place to see it starting to roll towards a busy intersection! Luckily it only took out a couple of wheelie bins before I got to it.... Second time wasn't so lucky. My mechanic took it home for a night with an oil guage connected after an engine rebuild, parked it in the middle of his steep driveway, only to have it roll into the brick pillar between his two garage doors about half an hour later....

Simply be aware of the potential of a very hot turbo to cook it's oil, and drive easily for the last couple of minutes before switching off. Use decent oil and change it every 5000kms or so.

Normal street driving does not require the 'turbo to be cooled down'.

[glen73]

thanks for the replys guys but i have already purchased one.
i just need to know how long but this doesnt matter.
i will run it for 2 minutes i guess. i used to drive it a bit slower before i stopped but i would just like to get out and go without worry or driving slowly before stopping.
in relation to which stock cars came out with a timer i know the VL commodore had one.
IIRC also a saab turbo had one aswell. i cant recall which model though.
NMX516 i shall be aware of where i park my car and thankyou for the heads up.

[AJ]

around town driving = 1 minute, or not at all
spirited driving, but not extended high revs = 3 mins
extended highway driving & pulling in for say lunch or a pee off said highway = 5 mins

that was rule of thumb when i was using a timer on a turboed holden 6 glen

[glen73]

around town driving = 1 minute, or not at all
spirited driving, but not extended high revs = 3 mins
extended highway driving & pulling in for say lunch or a pee off said highway = 5 mins

that was rule of thumb when i was using a timer on a turboed holden 6 glen

thanks AJ

[Garry]

How many factory turbo cars have a turbo timer fitted? None. Yet those cars still have 5yr/100,000km warranties...

A lot of modern factory turbo cars use an auxilary electric water pump to cool the turbo after you switch off the engine. rjastra's PoLo has one. Niffty idea and much more convenient than sitting in the car waiting for the turbo to spool down, especially if you've stopped on the side of the road for an emergency \"comfort stop.\"

[NMX516]

NMX516 i shall be aware of where i park my car and thankyou for the heads up.

No worries. Running down the street trying to get into your car is not something I would recommend to anyone!!