Is it really necessary to let your car engine idle for a certain amount of time to let the turbo cool gradually, even if you haven't been revving high or driving for that long?

"Chivalry: The code by which a man will defend a woman from every man except himself"

 

thats what a turbo timer is for, and better be safe than sorry *shrugs*

 

it's very necessary, i dont know if you're asking for future reference or if you have a turbo now but if you've ever opened your hood after driving at all, and put your hand anywhere even remotely near that turbocharger, even the air around it is scorching hot, i burnt the **** out of myself yesterday replacing my wastegate bolts after driving it very lightly around, and i didnt even touch anything, just the air around it burnt me.

 

if you want the turbo to be in good shape then yes...if you dont care then no...no turbo timer for me....my alarm is too sketchy ....but yea...just sit there of rlike a minute and a half and you should be straight

 

Hmm...yeah. I've just heard different stories that's all. Some guys say that you don't need them for some vehicles. I've got a turbo Lancruiser, and I'm considering going turbo for my Integra, and it's just one of those questions.
My mate has a Land Rover, and he doesn't bother with a timer, and when I got my Cruiser the dealer guy (yeah I know he's a dealer) said you don't need them. But it makes sense for me, since the turbine is connected staright onto the exhaust manifold. Of course it's gonna get hot, esp after it's been spinning at anything up to 150,000rpm.
Just wondering what you guys have to say.

 

i also have heard pros and cons for both sides. but with me, i am putting my kit together and i decided to just put in a timer... it doesnt hurt anything to have one, but i hope it will help with allowing my kit do last a little longer.

 

You do NOT need to let the car idle after you come to your destination unless you were boosting and did not give it adaquate time to cool down. Turbo timers are basically designed for careless/lazy people who boost right up into their garage and do not want to wait for a minute or two for the oil to circulate through the turbo. It's much better for your turbo AND car to simply take it easy a few minutes before you park so you don't idle needlessly and cause excess engine heat. This is true for all turbo cars, although some newer models will continue circulationg the oil after the car is shut down if it senses high boost pressures right before shut downs [i believe the sti has a similar system].

 

The purpose of the turbo timer is not to reduce turbocharger temperatures, it's to avoid oil coking on the turbo which can damage it. The turbo is going to get extremely hot by design no matter how much cool it. Letting the car sit for minutes parked will just make the engine bay hotter, and no matter what surrounding metal [like bolts and the turbo itself] are going to be too hot to touch, becareful!