Are turbo timers really necessary for bolt on daily drivers

[calico]

Hi, i'm curious as to wheter i should shell out $100 for a turbo timer. I am just building a bolt on daily driver, no racing, just a little more than stock. I am using the bcs mod and may upgrade the exhaust, intercooling piping, and intake induction. That's it, the turbo will be the stocker until it craps out. Is a turbo timer really necessary, or will i be okay if let the car run for a few seconds before shutting down?

thanks...would love to hear opinions for and against......

 

[timloomis]

This is a good thread,Ive always wondered if it was mandatory to let it idle.Ill let mine sit for a few seconds after a hard run,but I'll shut it right off after going 35-40 mph.Just to give the coolant time to run through a bit.On a side note,I dont have the owners manual with my tsi,but the underside of my visor says to let it sit after "heavy loads or high speeds".

 

[Defiant]

With 75k miles, my T25 died (shaft broke), and there was a moderate amount of coke on the turbo.

Coke on the turbo is only from oil coming out of the engine (probably exhaust valve stem seals) or the turbine seal, neither of which would have been affected by a turbo timer.

 

[kenamond]

Coke on the turbo is only from oil coming out of the engine (probably exhaust valve stem seals) or the turbine seal, neither of which would have been affected by a turbo timer.

Coking on the shaft and seal on the hot end of but still within the center section is from oil breaking down INSIDE the center section. I had coking IN the center section. There was some soot on the turbine wheel, but not any coking.

 

[blkwidow]

I think it works good for warming up your car in the morning. Makes you breath easier knowing your doors are locked and the key is out.

 

[Weenie4]

If i were you, i would just get one,so you can run the piss out of it, and still be lazy, and prolong the life of your turbo. it'd be a better bet in the long run.

 

[DGajre777]

If i were you, i would just get one,so you can run the piss out of it, and still be lazy, and prolong the life of your turbo. it'd be a better bet in the long run.

I still say no, unless you are pulling in the parking lot at WOT and 5000 RPMs I don't see why you need to wait to shut off the car if you have a wet bearing turbo. 15-30 seconds is okay if you are paranoid (like me), and if people can't wait that long to shut off a car and are that lazy, then yes, get a turbo timer because products for laziness are for convinence, not necessity.

EDIT: If you have an oil cooled dry bearing turbo and need to wait 3 minutes to shut off your car, then yes, get a turbo timer. Personally if I had to wait 3 minutes everytime I had to shut my car off, I'd get a wet bearing turbo or get a turbo timer.

 

[DSMnOOb00]

So how long should i let my car warn up before i drive in the morning?
how long do i let it idle before i turn it off?
i have a 50trim turbo, witch im unsure what that means i came with the car.

 

[olmytsi]

I let mine warm up til the needle is in the middle of the bottom half but you can start driving a bit before that, just keep the rpms and the throttle percentage down.

You let the car idle depending on the driving you do. Normal driving, 30 seconds to a minute. Hard driving, more. I have my turbo timer set for 1 minute and 30 seconds (oil cooled turbo) for everyday driving. I add time if i drive hard right before i park.

 

[DGajre777]

DSMnOOb00 - Do you have a wet or dry bearing 50 trim? Is is the new PTE ball bearing one? FP Green? PTE? AGP? which one??

You are not supposed to boost until your engine has warmed up. Once the water needle is in the center, I go WOT.

 

[99gst_racer]

I have a dry CHRA 50-trim and I time mine for 1.5 minutes every time.

 

[daren_p]

Do I think a TT is worth the $100, yes because I have better things to do then wait in my car for 30 seconds for it to cool down . When I bought mine I was more concerned about the additional features then the actual TT I use the HKS Type 1 & the main feature I use is the shift light and peak rpm recall, use it all the time. If the budget is tight spend it on something else. As for warming up, you should wait until the car is up to normal operating temperature befoer you start to push it, which is standard with every vehicle.