2nd Generation Specific (1986-1992) 1986-1992 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections.
Sponsored by:

Running stock turbo dry (no coolant) and using a turbo timer, good/bad/insane?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-15-05, 01:00 AM
  #1  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
MountainTurbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Utah (land of mountains)
Posts: 515
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Running stock turbo dry (no coolant) and using a turbo timer, good/bad/insane?

Going to be putting the engine back together here soon, but since my housings were kinda toast I'll be using FD housings.

The FD housings don't have the coolant feed, so I'm either stuck running the turbo dry (is anyone doing that?) or I need to find a new place to pull coolant from.


If I need to re-route coolant from somewhere else, can I use the feed that's on top of the engine, and then just block off where it goes into the back of the water pump? (the coolant line highlighted in the attached picture). When I got the car, that line was very ghetto (as you can see), so I think it was probably the line that used to feed the accelerated warm-up, right?

Anyway, any input would be great.
Attached Thumbnails Running stock turbo dry (no coolant) and using a turbo timer, good/bad/insane?-coolanthose.jpg  
Old 07-15-05, 10:15 AM
  #2  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
MountainTurbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Utah (land of mountains)
Posts: 515
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nobody has any ideas/experiences with this?
Old 07-15-05, 10:43 AM
  #3  
Reverse Cerberus

iTrader: (1)
 
evileagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,788
Received 11 Likes on 7 Posts
higher rpms == more heat

turbo at 50,000 RPMs == more heat

more heat + no coolant == bad
Old 07-15-05, 11:17 AM
  #4  
Haven't we ALL heard this

 
Wankel7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Indiana
Posts: 3,948
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Dude, if you got the turbo that you can risk it with .... I would say go for it!

I am going to guess ANY answer you get here is based on zero experience.

So, if you can risk it...I say go for it and see what happens....

James
Old 07-15-05, 11:18 AM
  #5  
Rotors? What Are Those?

iTrader: (6)
 
TwEaK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Jefferson City, Tn
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
even im wondering what would happen how about you take some pics to ;D
TwEaK
Old 07-15-05, 12:45 PM
  #6  
7th Heaven

iTrader: (9)
 
slpin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: California
Posts: 3,654
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by evileagle
higher rpms == more heat

turbo at 50,000 RPMs == more heat

more heat + no coolant == bad

turbo spins more than 50k rpm

many MANY other turbo that spins higher have no coolant

shut up!
Old 07-15-05, 12:48 PM
  #7  
Boost This!

 
bcty's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Nanaimo, B.C, Canada
Posts: 1,935
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
most turbo that have coolant and a oil option need both for cooling..
use it or the turbo will have a short life
Old 07-15-05, 01:02 PM
  #8  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
88 SE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Phoenix
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
It's simple to prove, look at the 1984 Nissan 300ZX Turbo.

Original turbos had no additional cooling. It generated so many complaints and had such high failure that for 1985 model year the turbo was revised to include cooling.
Old 07-15-05, 01:18 PM
  #9  
Engine, Not Motor

iTrader: (1)
 
Aaron Cake's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 29,789
Likes: 0
Received 109 Likes on 92 Posts
Wow, such useful answers.

Some have run the stock turbo without a water feed, and it seems to work fine. However, it is VERY EASY to provide water for the turbo, so there's no reason not to.

Easiest thing would be to drill the FD housing for the water hole. I might be mistaken, but I think the fitting is already there, but not drilled?

Failing that, you can get water from the feed on the top of the rear iron, and return it to the nipple on the water pump housing.
Old 07-15-05, 01:42 PM
  #10  
dag
Senior Member

 
dag's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 258
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
You'd most likely be able to get away with it, however I'd take the time as Aaron has said and tap into a coolant source.
Old 07-15-05, 01:56 PM
  #11  
My girl

iTrader: (3)
 
Houstonderk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Andrews AFB, MD
Posts: 2,173
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Yea thats how i have my turboed n/a setup with the coolant.
Old 07-15-05, 03:03 PM
  #12  
Reverse Cerberus

iTrader: (1)
 
evileagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 1,788
Received 11 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by slpin
turbo spins more than 50k rpm

many MANY other turbo that spins higher have no coolant

shut up!

I understand that the turbo doesn't spin at 50k RPM, it was just a number I pulled out of my ***.

But thanks for the thought.

Also, I think you need to move some s's around in that sentence for it to make any sense.
Old 07-15-05, 03:09 PM
  #13  
whats going on?

iTrader: (1)
 
SirCygnus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: atlanta ga
Posts: 4,929
Received 8 Likes on 7 Posts
run a seperate coolent line. just get an inline pump, and have a resovour, and a heat exchanger. simple a that no fuss no muss.
Old 07-15-05, 03:30 PM
  #14  
I break Diff mounts

iTrader: (1)
 
Digi7ech's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Avondale, Arizona
Posts: 4,403
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts
I would think tht the turbo'd cooling abilities woulc be cut in half.

On all oil turbo's the entire cartidge is used for cooling.

Now cut that space in half and leave it void instead of running coolant through it.

Honestly find a way to get the coolant in there.
Old 07-15-05, 04:11 PM
  #15  
Rotary Enthusiast

 
xtremeskier97's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bossier City, LA
Posts: 984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by evileagle
I understand that the turbo doesn't spin at 50k RPM, it was just a number I pulled out of my ***.

But thanks for the thought.

Also, I think you need to move some s's around in that sentence for it to make any sense.

Dont worry about him. He's just a sad little man that enjoys nothing more than pissing people off and cursing all over the forum.
Old 07-15-05, 05:52 PM
  #16  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
MountainTurbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Utah (land of mountains)
Posts: 515
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Aaron Cake
Wow, such useful answers.

Some have run the stock turbo without a water feed, and it seems to work fine. However, it is VERY EASY to provide water for the turbo, so there's no reason not to.

Easiest thing would be to drill the FD housing for the water hole. I might be mistaken, but I think the fitting is already there, but not drilled?

Failing that, you can get water from the feed on the top of the rear iron, and return it to the nipple on the water pump housing.
I wouldn't have a problem just drilling the FD housing, the problem is trying to drill a lip for the o-ring to sit in.

Yea thats how i have my turboed n/a setup with the coolant.
What is how you have it? Using the line I had in the pic I posted or what?
Old 07-15-05, 09:16 PM
  #17  
Never give up!

iTrader: (8)
 
The Spyder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,726
Received 59 Likes on 39 Posts
Why not just drill out the rear housing? Thats what you do when you have to use a NA housing on a turbo housing.
Old 07-15-05, 10:15 PM
  #18  
Senior Member

Thread Starter
 
MountainTurbo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Utah (land of mountains)
Posts: 515
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by The Spyder
Why not just drill out the rear housing? Thats what you do when you have to use a NA housing on a turbo housing.
Like I said I'm OK doing that, the problem is machining out a groove for the o-ring to sit in.
Old 07-15-05, 10:19 PM
  #19  
I live in an igloo

 
BlaCkPlaGUE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: calgary alberta
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yeah, I'd find an alternate source. Your idea that is posted in the picture looks alright, I see a feed line, but where is the drain line underneath the turbo?
Finally, for NA turbo conversions, most guys use the coolant lines that run from the TB to the BAC valve and back to the water pump housing. If you don't use the BAC or the TB warmup system, using this would be ideal.
The reason that mazda, like a few people have mentioned already, included a water cooled turbo was so that customers did not need to buy or worry about turbo timing. It also GREATLY increases the turbos bearing life. You can run it without water cooling, but like aaron said, there really isn't any reason why NOT to.

good luck.
Old 07-15-05, 10:21 PM
  #20  
Never give up!

iTrader: (8)
 
The Spyder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,726
Received 59 Likes on 39 Posts
Originally Posted by MountainTurbo
Like I said I'm OK doing that, the problem is machining out a groove for the o-ring to sit in.
I had a buddy at the machine shop do it for $20. Shouldnt be that hard to have done.
Old 07-15-05, 10:33 PM
  #21  
RX-347

iTrader: (2)
 
digitalsolo's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Fort Wayne, IN
Posts: 2,115
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Don't use an o-ring. Drill it and tap it for a hose barb and connect the hose to that.
Old 07-15-05, 10:56 PM
  #22  
Never give up!

iTrader: (8)
 
The Spyder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oregon
Posts: 3,726
Received 59 Likes on 39 Posts
Originally Posted by digitalsolo
Don't use an o-ring. Drill it and tap it for a hose barb and connect the hose to that.
LOL.

Seems like you have no idea what we are talking about....
Old 07-16-05, 12:52 AM
  #23  
I

iTrader: (6)
 
KompressorLOgic's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Spanaway, WA
Posts: 3,755
Received 12 Likes on 12 Posts
id say, if its designed to have water and oil cooling stock, it must have it for a reason!,

so id find a way to add water line to it.
Old 07-16-05, 02:10 AM
  #24  
just dont care.

iTrader: (6)
 
jacobcartmill's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 9,387
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Originally Posted by digitalsolo
Don't use an o-ring. Drill it and tap it for a hose barb and connect the hose to that.

yeah great idea.

EXCEPT THERES AN INTAKE MANIFOLD SITTING ONTOP OF IT.
Old 07-16-05, 02:20 AM
  #25  
BOOSTED Vert

 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Miami
Posts: 2,307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Why cant you just use the one on the rear platE? and the drain just plug it up to the WP housing... I mean come on its not that difficult.... theres no complication... plenty of places to pull water from...If oil was the problem, then I would understand, but water?

O and if you wanna check if the place you pulled water from is sufficient, just connect the supply to the turbo and disconnect the drain. Turn on the car and check for water, you should be able to make a decision if there is sufficient water.

Last edited by MARTIN; 07-16-05 at 02:22 AM.


Quick Reply: Running stock turbo dry (no coolant) and using a turbo timer, good/bad/insane?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:55 AM.