I think turbo timers are useless because for one, it's not "really" cooling the turbos, but just passing some oil and coolant through during idle. The whole reason for the turbo timer is supposedly to prevent "coking" of the turbos from hot oil.

The oil isn't any cooler during idle since it isn't getting any air flowing through the oil cooler. Does the oil entering the turbo coming from the oil cooler or oil pan? Does anyone know the route of the oil lines?

I think the best way to cool your turbos is to drive very lightly right before you turn your car off, so that the radiator and oil cooler can cool and in turn cool down the turbos more efficiently.

Who here has replaced their turbos who did use a turbo timer?

 

I dont use that ****. And yeah, I agree with you on the "driving lightly before shutting down" part.

 

Does this belong in the 3rd Gen Forum?

I think that having a turbo timer does work. What else would you pass over the turbo's to cool them own with?

Have you every REALLY drove your car hard? I've had my exhaust housing so hot that when I opened up the hood(In my TII), that it was GLOWING. That was after about 30 seconds of cooling.

 

It's just a toy. I have my own cool down routine.

 

The turbine housing gets hots, and when you shut the car down, some of the heat soaks into the center section, possibly coking the oil that is sitting in there. But there is also water in the center section on the stock turbos, so I think the chance of it getting hot enough to coke the oil is very small. Plus, I've never heard of it happening to anyone with an FD.

I don't use a turbo timer (even with my non-water cooled single turbo) because I don't want my car to sit and idle, getting hotter than it was when I stopped. I do take it slow before I shut the car off, or I'll maybe sit for a few seconds on the rare occasion that I zoom in and park the car quickly. But nothing obsessive, and it isn't really a conscious activity for me.

I had a turbo timer on my T2 and I used it every time I shut the car off. I don't think it helped much, but the turbo did last 125K hard miles. Now I think turbo timers are a waste of money -- in purchase price and gas.

At the track, I do pull in the pit, pop the hood, and let the car idle. The fans run and cool everything off. But this isn't necessary for street driving, IMHO.

-Max

 

it's not that it cools the turbos (literaly), just helps them lower their extreme temp (from high boost)closer to the engines normal temp by circulating the oil long enough to shut them down withought damage.

You can have the same effect by putting on the streets before you shut off. On red lights you will be at idle, the same as in a parking space.

They have a purpose for people that don't understand this, don't wear a watch, are too impatient or if someone else drives your car, like your g/f. You can spend an extra $15 for an automatic one though (Apexi & Blitz).

The dual function ones are nice. Buy a boost controller and get a turbo timer free (Blitz).

 

When I first got my car, I used to think that letting it sit and idle would help to cool it down. Then I found out I was wrong and I stopped doing that. Now I just drive it lightly before shutting it down, no need to let it sit. Not when driving normally on the street.

 

Really the only time I "really use my turbo timer is right after I race or do some spirited driving to redline, then I'll use it for like 2-3 minutes since I'm sure the car is baking under the hood. I'll usually drive normally and pop the hood while driving down my road to let cool air pass into the engine bay to help cool things down. Just driving from point A to B I set it for less than a minute. Just a habit.

 

When driving hard, it is a good idea to do a little cool down run where you keep the RPMs very low. I use my turbo timer to run my fans after a hard run. What i do is put the key on start to start everything but not crank the moto, start the turbo timer and turn on the fan, then i take the key out and cool the car down for a minute or two afte hard driving... Other than that, I don't see any other reason to get it

 

I think they are worthless as well. I don't ever just park the car after driving hard anyway. I always drive easy for a few minutes. If I'm running an errand or something like that, I don't drive the car hard anyway, so not much need to cool off the turbos. Waste of money in my mind.

 

I don't use one. I personally feel that with a modern, water-cooled setup like the FD has, that a turbo timer doesn't do much good. Now, if you were in a situation where you just couldn't let the car cool down some normally, say you were rushing to a court appointment where they were gonna lock you up if you missed it, then yeah, the turbo timer would be a pretty good idea to use. But really, just giving the car a short cool down period after a hard drive is sufficient.

In my opinion........

 

The idea behind the turbo timer is let the turbo spin down while oil and water are still pumping through and not just to cool the housing. You don't want the turbo to spin down from 100K rpm in the same small amount of oil and have it burn off and seize the turbos. The timer is for the people in a hurry.

 

yeah, definitely for people in a hurry. All you have to do is slow down a bit before you get to your destination. It's a nice toy to have but you could put the $100 elsewhere.

 

I don't use a turbo timer either. It's a waste of money.

 

Something else to keep in mind is that it's not necessarily a good idea to have a car idling unattended. The previous owner of my car had a turbo timer and had the extreme misfortune of a coolant hose popping off while it was on the timer. Time for engine #2! Wouldn't have happened had he been in the car checking the gauges. He immediately ripped the timer back out....

I say you know where you're going. Just cruise a couple of minutes before you get there. No big deal.

 

i am the turbotimmer

 

I am my own turbo timer

 

Don't use one here either.

If I've been driving it hard on the freeway or streets, I just take a little longer route home and stay off boost. Then I let the car idle for a minute when parked.

 

Didn't install one in my 2d gen and have driven it over 100K without a turbo problem. Won't install one in my 3rd gen. I just try to drive the car without boost for a few minutes prior to parking. Seems to work. I agree that although there may be some residual cooling effect from even hot oil running through the oil cooler with no airflow (turbo timer), I believe those advantages are less than you would gain from oil flowing through a oil cooler with airflow (reserved driving prior to parking).

 

It sure sounds cool though! I had some lil kids in the car the other day, and they asked, "why is it counting down?" I told them, that since everyone calls the car the timebomb, its counting down until it blows up. At first they didn't believe me, but when I got out of the car and ran with about 7 seconds left, they jumped out and ran as fast as they could. Pretty funny if you ask me. So that makes it worth it right there! Other wise put the money else where cause IMO if you can take care of your car you don't need one.
Save the money and take the old lady or the kids out to the nudie bar!

 

All I need is my cd player for my TT!!

 

Just chiming in...I too do not use turbo timer. Never have. Never needed to. Usually because of following:
1) Taking it easy (low RPMs, zero or low boost) for the last few blocks before reaching my destination.

and/or

2) Gathering needed items/papers/bag/groceries/laundry, taking off cell phone from its mount, detaching car stereo faceplate, hiding CDs

plus, if all else fails

3) letting the song finish on my CD player

 

I do the exact same thing. I set it for 9:59 cut the engine turn off the turbo time to stop the motor. Turn on the ignition and the A/C and let the turbo timer keep the fans running. Other than that it makes a good voltage meter. I think the consensus is that water cooled turbos do not benefit from turbo timers.