Anyone fitted a turbo timer?

[Iaing01]

Having a bit of a run of bad luck at the moment, put my car in to have an exhaust fabricated for it and in the process the garage found a massive crack in the turbo housing.

Anyway since I was going to have one of the turbo's refubished I thought I may as well get the other done at the same time. Once removed both turbos have cracks in the housing.

The cause, well apparenly because the car hasn't been left to run down for long enough not allowing the heat to dissipate. Anyway I can only put this down to the previous owner as I always let the car sit for a good few minutes after a run.

So has anyone fitted a turbo timer to their Noble to prevent this sort of thing happening?

[S26VE P]

If you feel your leaving it long enough then why bother? i had one fitted many years ago in my first subaru but you still have to wait for it to shut down before you can lock the car.

[Adrian W]

I don't pretend to be an expert, but I thought that if you don't let the Turbo's cool down enough you could damage the seals, not crack them.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Turbo timers are an utter UTTER waste of time. They don't have thermocouples on the hot bits or in the oil flow so have no idea how long to run the engine for it to cool down.

Do you really want to get out with the engine running and leave the car locked?

They were made for people who like bling but can't afford proper car bits.

All IMHO obviously

[Biggriff]

You would be better off having a temperature controlled pump circulating the oil post switch off than a turbo timer. They are a pig to interface with car alarms and as already mentioned are not very effective.

Sort out some additional airflow to the turbos first off to stop the heat build up.

[chuntington101]

are the turbos water cooled?? if so some cars (i think the new MINI Cooper S) have an aux. water pump that keeps the water flowing around the engine (inc turbo) to help with the problem. also i think some PUGs have a similer system.

alternatively take it easy and try and stay out of boost for a few minuets before you arrive at your destination.

Chris.

[Iaing01]

chuntington101 said:

alternatively take it easy and try and stay out of boost for a few minuets before you arrive at your destination.

Chris.

out of boost? whats that

[snuffy]

I thought the problem was that the oil carbonised and knackered the bearings - not cracked the casing.

I'm also not sure about the legality of turbo-timers. I'm sure it's an offence to leave a car running with no one in it. And if you stay in the car then why bother with a turbo timer ?

[worty]

The Road Vehicles (Constriction and Use) Regulation 1986 (SI 1986/1078 )

Regulation 107(2)(a). This states that no person shall cause or permit to be on any road any motor vehicle which is not attended by a person duly licensed to drive it unless the engine is stopped and the parking brake is effectively set. Exemptions to the requirements of this Regulation as to the stopping of the engine include a fire brigade vehicle, the engine of which is being used for any fire brigade purpose.
Otherwise known as quitting a motor vehicle
HTH
worty

[Jenx]

Much cheaper than all that st is to not drive like a nob...show the car some mechanical sympathy. (That comment is NOT aimed at the OP )

[Mike Tuckwood]

It's just simple heat cycle fatigue many factors come into play, particularly the quality of iron used in the turbine housing and casting process.

A Turbo timer will NOT affect this in any way at all.


Mike.

[Iaing01]

Well as I said before I always let everything cool down according to how the car has been driven..it was simply a garages advice that I was enquiring. I was under the impression that a turbo timer would monitor how the car had been driven and let the car run down accordingly.

Anywway I'm not going to bother, it seems the general concensous is that everything I'm doing is fine. I'll put it down to the previous owner.

As I speak my turbo's are down at Turbo Technics being reconditioned.

Iain

[S26VE P]

My old one did monitor the way the car was driven via a link into the boost, if it was boosting a fair amount the countdown timer would head north from 2.00 (minimun setting that i chose) up to max of 10 minutes. altho rarely see that but 5 mins was easily had.

[gadgeroonie]

if you have given the car some stick just before you stop let the fans kick in and out

this will ensure the heat in the water system has dissapaited

[Adrian W]

Most journeys I take end in a 30 limit, I would have thought that would be enough to cool the car down, there are a few exceptions to this, motorway services etc but can’t think of many.

[mgbond]

Adrian W said:

Most journeys I take end in a 30 limit, I would have thought that would be enough to cool the car down, there are a few exceptions to this, motorway services etc but can’t think of many.

Agree, I suppose that it wouldn't be an issue for motorway services as when cruising your not on much if any boost.

Bondy

[S26VE P]

gadgeroonie said:

if you have given the car some stick just before you stop let the fans kick in and out

this will ensure the heat in the water system has dissapaited

I always do this even after a gentle plod (have approx half a mile @ 40 & a touch less @ 30 from a dual carriageway) by the time the garage has been openned and the car reversed in its possibly twice that the fans cut in/out.

[gotapex]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Do you really want to get out with the engine running and leave the car locked?

Does it matter all that much? Once the handbrake goes down, the car shuts off immediately.

[Jenx]

gotapex said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Do you really want to get out with the engine running and leave the car locked?

Does it matter all that much? Once the handbrake goes down, the car shuts off immediately.

Fine if you use the handbrake...