ididoth

I ran across the Apex'i NA/Turbo timer and I was wondering if there is a reason to put a timer on an N/A car? I searched, but it didn't turn up anything.
Thanks

Scott 89t2

no.

there isn't even a good reason to put one on a turbo car

mine's an expensive volt meter.

$150FC

no reason eh? explain that more, please

Wankel7

If you have a water cooled (And oil) turbo which the 2nd and 3rd gens have you really do not need a turbo timer. Just a waste. However, if the turbo is oil cooled only then it might be a good idea. Or you could just let it cool for a little while before shut down.

On a turbo charged airplane the turbos are only oil cooled. Since most piston engines on planes are air cooled. And they will let the engine idle for a few minutes before shut down.

However, on an NA that would be a total gimic. Would go nicely with the intercooler style intake

James

NZConvertible

Why would you need to cool down the turbo when you don't have one?

As mentioned, water-cooled turbos like ours don't even need a turbo timer, unless you feel the need to boost to get down your driveway.

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

Exactly. Timers= turbo timers are SUCH waste of money.
When do we ever boost into the driveway? Usually it's a coast down a couple blocks or so and maybe couple traffic lights. By then , the turbo has cooled down from freeway driving. People use them NOT for practical reason but for show off. There are reasons for installing turbo timers but for a street driven/ water cooled turbo car, it's sensless.

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

Marketing. Marketing.
There is no reason for a non turbo car to install a timer.
I heard some company put out a blow off valve for non turbo cars as well. If kids will buy them , they'll market them.

brokeFC

isnt the point of a turbo timer to prevent carbon lock? thats why you warm up your car before you drive and let it cool down before you turn it off.. it is also and added security feature which will kill the ignition if you disengage the e-brake.

correct me if i'm wrong? seems worth the 90 bucks

neptuneRX

....added security... if you don't have a turbo.. why would you leave your car running?

brokeFC

because oil gets injected into the chamber too.. you let your engine cool down before you turn it off to prevent carbon lock.

BDoty311

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

It's just the opposite. If you let the car sit at idle too long, it will cause carbon lock. That's why you never just idle the car say, to charge the battery if you plan not to drive it for awhile. If you drive the car like a granny, that causes a lot of carbon build up since you need to have it revved up now and then to blow it out.

ddub

that may be true for FC's, but not for all turbos... my friend had a 1st gen DSM and had to have one, if he didnt his car got so fuxed cuz **** was so hot and never got cooled, eventually his car wouldnt boost worth **** until it was able to sit like over night or something

Scott 89t2

because he couldn't sit in the car for an extra 30 secs? ......

7th Deadly Sin

turbo cars should, well from my knowledge, have one, this is what i heard, it will leave oil clogged up in an area, not really sure but something like that, and it'll let it run and have the oil circulate. oh and i have a auto timer...and my car is NA

NZConvertible

Rotaries have been running around for decades without the need for a cool-down timer of any sort.
Not leaving it running in the first place seem so much smarter and easier.
See above...

It is true for all water-cooled turbos. If your friend's turbo couldn't be kept cool enough by the engine's cooling system, then he had major problems elsewhere.

With older air-cooled turbos, the bearings ran very hot and if not cooled down before shut-down, would boil the oil left in the bearings, leaving carbon deposits that scored and eventually ruined the bearings.

Modern water-cooled turbos fitted to all cars since the mid-late 80's (including FC's) do not have this problem. The center runs much cooler, and unless you've just been boosting hard, will not be hot enough to cause damage. If you have been, driving the last mile of your journey without thrashing it is all that's required.

Turbo timers became practically obsolete 15 years ago (a few aftermarket turbos still aren't water-cooled), and are only kept alive by the aftermarket fooling people who don't know any better. NA owners have no excuse however...

$150FC

i was referring to his comment about them not being neccessary on turbo cars, not on n/a cars. that much was obvious.

that said, i think anytime something spins at 100,000 rpm it's a good idea to let it cool down a little. but i will agree that a turbo timer is not neccessary, given this newfound knowledge.

NZConvertible

Ah I see, apologies for the misunderstanding.

ddub

his timer kept his car on for about a minute or two, and he didnt really wanna have to sit for a minute or two everytime he arrived somewhere

White_FC

Wasn't his turbo water cooled or something?

ddub

not that i know of

brokeFC

okay , so i was wrong about the carbon lock , but the apexi timer has other features that couldnt hurt to have..

and as for the security remark , if the e-brake is disengaged the car wont start without the key in the ignition which means no hotwiring

RXSevenSymphonies

iTrader: (2)

yes dsm turbos are water cooled

NZConvertible

He didn't ever have to. Whoever told him he did was wrong.

Um, the car's not supposed to start without the key in the ignition anyway, regardless of handbrake position. How the hell does having a turbo timer mean no hotwiring? What are you smoking?

boosted1205

iTrader: (9)

People will say anything or make up whatever to justify their purchase. This thread is getting stuuuupid.