Do I *NEED* a turbo timer?

[droopynuts]

I live in a small town, and rarely drive beyond a 5 mile distance. In addition, I try to stay in vacuum as much as possible because I'm not tuned, and my car just eats gas. I know under the best circumstances I should get one to prevent premature turbo failure. But can I get away with not having a timer based on these factors, or does being careful not matter at all?

BTW I'm running a T28

 

[Quasimondo]

Unless you're completely unwilling to sit in your car and let it idle for a bit before you shut it off, then you don't need a turbo timer.

 

[96whgsx]

No, a turbo timer is more of a luxury than a need. Baby it before you park it and I would let it idle for 10-20 seconds. A turbo timer just allows you to leave your car with the motor on and it will automatically shut off.

 

[droopynuts]

No, a turbo timer is more of a luxury than a need.

I figured this much. I had one one my previous car, and used it because I was informed the turbo would wear out prematurely due to hot oil sitting sitting inside the turbo. I just wondered if its a "necessity," then why wouldn't turbo cars come from the factory with them?

Speaking of having it on my civic, how many times have you guys locked your keys in your car, while its running? I always used to leave the keys in the ignition thinking I put them in my pocket.

 

[Tallen]

Umm, a turbo timer is not needed for water cooled turbos...ever. This is the reason I suspect most auto makers, minus old turbo diesel mercedes, use water cooled cartriges. With todays precision machining/casting on turbos, as well as better quality materials and designing, there is really no other reason to run water cooled. People never really do research into why they buy a timer, they just purchase one because of its thought benefits like a zombie.
If you are running an oil cooled turbo, its not a bad idea.

 

[a_scobel]

Speaking of having it on my civic, how many times have you guys locked your keys in your car, while its running? I always used to leave the keys in the ignition thinking I put them in my pocket.

Just once!


My post from another thread...

You only need to let it cool down if you run it pretty hard...if you're just cruising along through the city at a constant 40 mph or so, you don't really need to let it cool down.

I only let it run for about 15 seconds after if I was just cruising through the city normally...If I'm just getting off the highway or ran it hard, I'll set the Turbo Timer for like a minute & a half, two minutes...

Honestly though, the turbo timer was a waste of money, I've come to realize...It's like an A/F gauge now to me...it's pretty much just a light show. Or a conversation piece I find the battery voltage readout that it gives me more useful than the actual turbo timer.

 

[heavyD]

If you have a watercooled turbo it is a luxury not a necessity to have a turbo timer as there are still alot of original 14B & T25 cars running around that never had turbo timers or owners that would let the car idle after hard driving. If you have an oil cooled turbo it is a necessity.

I have a Blitz one in my Eclipse because it has an FPgreen but my Talon has a T28 and no turbo timer.

 

[L2RTSiAWD]

No you don't need one.

 

[Goodguy162000]

This is what it comes down to... Turbo Timer = Aprox $150 bucks give or take... compared to 30 seconds of your time to let the car idle after you've driven it hard. What's it worth to you? Here's a little simple math. I make $15 dollars an hour. I'd have to work ten hours (not including what uncle sam takes) to buy that timer. There are 120 half-minute intervals in an hour. Basically, that means it would take 1200 times of letting my car idle to get my money's worth. If I was young and only made $7.50 like alot of younger people do... it would take 2400 times.

Turbo Timer

 

[damnthecops]

its really up to you... i recomend it...its and easy intall and it helps ur turbo either way... there is going to be times that u dont have time to let the car just sit and cool... in my opinon its a good investment .. this way u dont need one when u get ur bigger turbo

 

[bhop]

I locked my keys in the car while it was running about 2 weeks ago.. I was late for dinner with my girlfriend on her college graduation night too.. heh. Since my sunroof shade is broken, I managed to break into my own car by lifting the roof (with a quarter..all I had in my pocket) enough to stick my wiper blade in and push down the power window button with it.. sounds weird, but it worked. Ever since, I keep my spare key in my wallet.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

check this.. ive had a turbo timer from my old gs-t that i transferred to my gsx.. however i never bothered to install it because it was the last thing on my mind and i wanted to get an alarm that would work with it.. this was about 3 years ago.. for the past 3 years (utnil now) i ran without a turbo timer.. but had one.. it was koo waiting in the car.. but after a year.. it got annoying.. i finally said fugk it.. i never installed a turbo timer.. which is funny because of all the harder things ive installed myself.. (turbo, fmic, etc).. but it was so easy i dont know why i didnt do it int he first place.. after 3 years of waiting in the car.. i NEEDED it.. at least needed it installed.. after that was one.. life became just a lil bit better..

if u got spare cash.. get one.. and install it right away not like me.. its very easy.. and u dont need a harness if u want to save cash..

 

[c5chris]

It's not a must, it's a want.

Having a turbo timer is cool. You have a turbo car, you CAN have a turbo timer.

Mere mortals () and women ask me why my car keeps running while I leave and all of a sudden it stops. It's a good conversation piece.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

I got one for my 2g tsi because it's my daily driver, and when I get to work in the morning Im usually RIGHT on time. I don't have time to sit in my car or I'll be late for work. This way I can be at full boost up to my parking spot, jump out and run inside, all the while the car cools down on its own outside

 

[96whgsx]

Mere mortals () and women ask me why my car keeps running while I leave and all of a sudden it stops. It's a good conversation piece.

Heh, you could tell them the ECU was from Nightrider. See if anybody believes you. hehe.

But yeah, if you have some cash, go for it. I'm sure you can find a used apex'i pen one for cheap somewhere.

With me and the whole timing idling, I really didn't care. It was more of a stopwatch for me, since I just sat in the car right before work and when the motor stopped, I would just leave the car. I'm usually a very patient person so it didn't bother me at all for about 5 months...then my car decided to go into hibernation...for a long time.

So buy the timer, I doubt you or anybody else regretted it, or don't and use your money elsewhere.