Turbo Timers

[georryan]

Has anyone installed an HKS or a Greddy turbo timer in their cars? Was the install easy? How do you like the device, do they work pretty well?

-Ryan

[georryan]

hmm, no one used either of these?

[Fernely]

georryan with water cooled turbos you rarely see oil temps high enough to warrant the use of a turbo timer. The water passages in the turbo help prevent getting oil to a coking temprature. Many peoplr who use a turbo timer are using it because they think its cool to leave the car running, but unless you a stricly oil passage turbo there is not a big need for a turbo timer. I had one on my WRX but I mostly used itfor the volt meter that it had.

[georryan]

Really?? hmm, I always heard they were good to have anyway. From what I've heard quite a few legacy owners have them.

So they aren't real needed? It is still a good idea to let your car run for a while after drive, though, isn't it?

-Ryan

[boostjunkie]

There's still debate whether it's worth it or not. I personally run a Blitz DTT DC, just in case. It's got that built in timer function that sets time based on how hard you drive the car. Also, it comes with a boost gauge that's as accurate as my old HKS gauge.

There's also the convenience factor . . . I'll stop by the gas station on the way to work and leave the timer on for 9 min and lock the door . . . keeps the car running while I go inside to get a cup of coffee, etc. The car's a little more warmed up by the time I get back!!

[Legacy777]

The reason most stock setups don't need turbo timers is that they have coolant lines running through it.

Plus how the coolant system is setup, it uses heat convection currents to circulate the coolant from the top of the coolant resevoir. That's why the tank is where it is

[georryan]

hehe, ok, but then what if you start playing with your boost and are up to 16, 17, 20 psi which I may be able to do someday.

Is the coolant going through the turbo still good enough? (of course it isn't recommended to run that boost on the stock turbo)

This is the first time I've heard that turbo timers are not really needed. So I'm just curious.

-Ryan

[Legacy777]

technically, it shouldn't matter.

Convection is driven by heat. Hot fluid rises, while cooler fluid sinks. If you have a closed loop system, if you have hot fluid from down around the turbo rise through the exit line, the cooler coolant in the resevoir will fall to take it's place. This essentually causes a slight amount of flow. Obviously the system needs to be designed to do this. Most OEM systems, or at least the ones I've seen do this to "some" extent. I brought up the turbo timer issue for my uncles audi 2.7T, he asked the regional rep, who asked the tech guys over in germany, and they replied back with something similar to what I described.

Sure if you beat the piss out of the car, it'd probably be good to let it idle down.

The main reason for the coolant and everything else is to keep the oil from coking up on the turbo's bearings, and also causing hot spots. The coolant cools the oil and keeps it from coking up. Also, using synthetic oil will help this greatly.

Common sense in most cases will be just as good as a $100-$200 turbo timer.

[NuwanD]

i don't think temperature is much of a factor for having a turbo timer. However lubrication is the important factor. The turbo spins at a rediculous rpm and will continue spinning after the car has been shut off (especially after using boost), the bearings need lubrication which comes from the oil/oil pump. If the car is off, there's no lubrication and that can't be good.

[georryan]

huh. Well cool, thanks for the info guys. You learn something new everyday.

-Ryan