39 replies to this topic

[rob323]

In one of my previous cars, I pulled up home one night with a glowing red exhaust housing, set the tt for 5 minutes but hung around to make sure it cooled down before it shut off.

Long story short, it took 30 minutes for the housing to stop glowing, and another 30 minutes before I could shut it off without it boiling the coolant in the turbo.

I am very anti-turbo timers as they have cost me one engine rebuild and one turbo rebuild in the past.

[MDK87]

Hey guys, I've been told many times that idling your engine (any type of 4 stroke petrol engine) for prolonged periods is not good for it. See, I have a habit of warming up the engine for a while before I drive a car, esp. if I drive it hard.
However, no-one has been able to tell me why it's not good? Just wondering if any of you fellas would know?

Cheers.

[BO-00-ZT]

I have a habit of letting it cool down aswell, atleast for 30 secs, its just a habit and its something I think in my own opinion is good for the car, rather than just turning it off.
Is it good or whats the go? What does everyone do themselves?

[Mottafied]

Why do most trucks have them fitted from factory??
My father in-law's last 2 K\worths both had one.
I mean if they were such a bad thing i they wouldn't be putting them on a $400,000 thruck.

[rob323]

I have a habit of letting it cool down aswell, atleast for 30 secs, its just a habit and its something I think in my own opinion is good for the car, rather than just turning it off.
Is it good or whats the go? What does everyone do themselves?

These is nothing wrong with the habit of sitting in your car for 30 seconds while it is idling.
I just cruise sedately for the last couple of minutes (or more depending on how hard a time I have been giving it or how hot the ambient temperature is) whilst trying to refrain from giving it any and then I just shut it off when I get to my destination.

My issue with turbo timers (apart from the fact that they are now illegal) is that they breed contempt.
Assuming that who ever installed it did it properly and DID hook up the thermo fans as well, some people believe as I stupidly did that they can cane the crap out of their car for 5 minutes or more and that everything will cool back down to normal while the car is sitting there idling with next to no airflow through the engine bay during the minute or so that the timer keeps it running and everything with be sweet.

[xjokux]

These is nothing wrong with the habit of sitting in your car for 30 seconds while it is idling.
I just cruise sedately for the last couple of minutes (or more depending on how hard a time I have been giving it or how hot the ambient temperature is) whilst trying to refrain from giving it any and then I just shut it off when I get to my destination.

My issue with turbo timers (apart from the fact that they are now illegal) is that they breed contempt.
Assuming that who ever installed it did it properly and DID hook up the thermo fans as well, some people believe as I stupidly did that they can cane the crap out of their car for 5 minutes or more and that everything will cool back down to normal while the car is sitting there idling with next to no airflow through the engine bay during the minute or so that the timer keeps it running and everything with be sweet.

I've just experiance that.. lesson learned!!

[BO-00-ZT]

I didnt know turbo timers were now illegal?
So does the car cool down more just driving along normally for the last 2 minutes before you reach a destination, rather then letting it idle in the driveway for 30 seconds? So it actually does no harm driving normal for a couple of mins then when arriving at destination, turning it straight off?

[xjokux]

I think so, more air rushing through engine bay even if the fan are not spinning than standing still.

[BO-00-ZT]

Well I might skip buying a turbo timer and spend it on a fuel pump instead

[rob323]

I didnt know turbo timers were now illegal?

Turbo timers themselves are not illegal, leaving your car running when you are not in it is, and you can be fined for it.

So does the car cool down more just driving along normally for the last 2 minutes before you reach a destination, rather then letting it idle in the driveway for 30 seconds?

Absolutely

So it actually does no harm driving normal for a couple of mins then when arriving at destination, turning it straight off?

It's worked for me for the last 10 years or so. Of course, how long you drive sedately for depends on how hard you've been fanging it before hand.

[CJEVO8]

how can you tell how long to cool the car down for if you dont have a turbo timer?

[rob323]

You can't really, but then again, nor can most turbo timers.

If you have an oil temp gauge, that will give you a rough idea when things are getting back to normal, that is what I use to determine how long to take it easy for.

[bazeng]

did you solve the problem?

[MDK87]

Hey guys,

I have a turbo timer in my car, which counts etc when my car is on, but as soon as i turn the car off, the timer turns off as well.

Does anyone know why it is doing this?

Is it possible that the turbo timer is hooked up to acc. power rather than constant 12V?

[Liberoz]

Awesome guys, thanks for the tips. However, I just bought a new one and installed it on the weekend...thanks again

Q: How good to you think a car at idle will cool down a red hot turbo
A: F all

Turbo timers are for the uninitiated that just want to buy something accessible that they think will actually do something good, The fact is there are more bad reasons for running one than good:rolleyes:

You just wasted more money and time buying and installing another one

[Dean]

Q: How good to you think a car at idle will cool down a red hot turbo
A: F all

Turbo timers are for the uninitiated that just want to buy something accessible that they think will actually do something good, The fact is there are more bad reasons for running one than good:rolleyes:

You just wasted more money and time buying and installing another one

theres no way you can say that turning the car straight off,
is better than letting it sit on idle for a minute of two to cool down.

[CJEVO8]

I see I've created a bit a debate with this topic...lol

[rob323]

theres no way you can say that turning the car straight off,
is better than letting it sit on idle for a minute or two to cool down.

Certainly there is no harm is letting your car idle for a while to cool down, but if you drive sanely for a few minutes before arriving at your destination, there is no need to.

Water temps and oil temps are higher when sitting still idling than they are cruising along at 60 kph.

The problem is that some people have the misconception that they can fang their car on boost right up until they arrive at their destination, switch their car straight off and that their magical turbo timer will magically make everything cool down at an enormous rate and prevent damage in the minute or so it keeps the car running for with out any real airflow through the engine bay.

[rob323]

I see I've created a bit a debate with this topic...lol

Debate is good. It provides you with lots of different opinions from which you can base a decision on.

[CJEVO8]

Certainly there is no harm is letting your car idle for a while to cool down, but if you drive sanely for a few minutes before arriving at your destination, there is no need to.

Water temps and oil temps are higher when sitting still idling than they are cruising along at 60 kph.

The problem is that some people have the misconception that they can fang their car on boost right up until they arrive at their destination, switch their car straight off and that their magical turbo timer will magically make everything cool down at an enormous rate and prevent damage in the minute or so it keeps the car running for with out any real airflow through the engine bay.

That makes sense. I suppose if people actually take this into account when they are driving, then the turbo will cool down effectively....an additional turbo timer to make them feel extra safe wouldnt hurt, but again, its up to the individual.