Turbo Question????

[vroooom]

DOes anyone know if we need to cool down the turbo before we turn off the engine?

[Raider]

The manual suggests idling if you get done in hard driving. A turbo timer is a good idea, but alas, those with smartkeys are SOL.

[AWmustang]

I was hoping the remote start would have a turbo timer function.

[vroooom]

The manual suggests idling if you get done in hard driving. A turbo timer is a good idea, but alas, those with smartkeys are SOL.


Im assuming that the smartkey users are the ones with the Navi System?

[AWmustang]

That's correct. The only remote start (which a turbo timer basically is) that works with the smart key is the Mazda system.

[vroooom]

Cool....Do any venders supply turbo timer harness for our vehicle?

[giraffe]

That's correct. The only remote start (which a turbo timer basically is) that works with the smart key is the Mazda system.


OK I'm confused. I thought remote start was when you pushed a button on your keychain and your engine starts and a turbo timer was something that automatically ran coolant (oil??) thru the turbocharger after you shut off your engine so you don't need to sit there idling. What does one thing have to do with the other? Does this mean that if I have the remote start installed, I don't have to idle the engine after hard driving? I'm sorry if I sound like a complete moron - I have absolutely NO car knowledge and don't even know what a CAI or BOV is!!!

[Raider]

Not that I am aware of. Just need to tap into the line.

Cool....Do any venders supply turbo timer harness for our vehicle?

[AWmustang]

OK I'm confused. I thought remote start was when you pushed a button on your keychain and your engine starts and a turbo timer was something that automatically ran coolant (oil??) thru the turbocharger after you shut off your engine so you don't need to sit there idling. What does one thing have to do with the other? Does this mean that if I have the remote start installed, I don't have to idle the engine after hard driving? I'm sorry if I sound like a complete moron - I have absolutely NO car knowledge and don't even know what a CAI or BOV is!!!

Some (if not most) aftermarket remote start systems also include a turbo timer funtion which idles the engine after you get out for 30 seconds or a minute. The only remote start system that works with the smart key card system is the Mazda remote start, but this system does not have the turbo timer function.

If there is a style of turbo timer that just runs coolant without running the engine I am unaware of it, but this is my first turbo car so I'm still learning about things specific to turbos. I guess with the number of stick shift turbo cars, it would make sense that there would be something that wouldn't require the engine to run.

CAI is a Cold Air Intake. It replaces the stock air box (place where you put the air filter) and allows cooler air to enter the engine. The cooler the air is the more dense it is and thus the more oxygen. The more oxygen you get into the engine the more power it makes.... up to a point.

BOV is a blow off valve. This is something that is needed in turbo engines. When you rev the engine and then let off the engine speed slows faster than the turbo fans. Thus you have air being crammed into an engine that doesn't want or need it, so it has to go somewhere. Thus there is a valve to take care of it.

[giraffe]

Thanks AWMustang! If this is your first turbo, you really know your stuff - you should teach Turbo 101 to all us noobs :)

[rexercx7]

In the "old days", back when turbo motors in automobiles were a "new thing", we had to "idle down" the engine for 1-2 minutes after driving for any extended time, freeway or city it didn't matter, it was just something that was normal. Back then turbos were *only* oil cooled, and didn't have the special water jacketed+oil cooling that modern turbocharged engines have, if you didn't "idle down" your turbo, eventually something called "coking" (no, nothing to do with drugs and the 1980's either) would occur, and the oil passages/bearings/bushings in the turbo's cooling system would quite literally "clog up", no more oil would flow into the bearing system and you'd get a "fried turbo", ie the system would fail.

I remember when I briefly worked for Mitsubishi Motors USA we had a sports car called the "Starion" with a 2.6L turbo motor, and part of the "Driver's Handbook" was a stick-on decal for the dash/speedometer area that said "Idle engine for 90 seconds before shutdown."

I remember driving one of the 1st Starions imported into the USA at Laguna Seca Raceway in Northern California, with professional drivers from Skip Barber's driving school, and it had one of those decals above the speedometer. As I recall my specs from way back then (1982-3), the motor had 185HP and 225 ft pounds of torque, and it wasn't made for high-RPMs. It didn't have an intercooler either. The pro drivers practiced the "cool down" technique by idling the engine for 2 minutes or more after taking us on hot laps, then we got our turns at the race course with the pro drivers being the passengers. The Starion had an excellent chassis setup, with almost 50/50 weight distribution, and was a blast to drive at speed.

Volvo began selling its turbo cars in the USA in 1982 also, and as I recall they were the 1st import manufacturer to build their engines with intercoolers, beginning with the 1984 model 244/245 & 242 GLT Turbo cars, if memory serves me well. And oh how things have changed since then!

Kindest regards,
rexercx7:cool:

[gabrielh]

yep...in other words:

Older turbo (oil cooled) = Idle 30sec -1 minutes before shutdown
New turbos (coolant cooled) = no need to idle...but I still do it as a habit (for 15-20sec)

[miatateer]

It is my understanding that a good quality synthetic oil has substantially better very-high temperature properties. The old "coking" issue would be hard to reproduce with syn's. I've got a Mazdaspeed Miata. 50K+ on the ODO. I've not made any attempt to "baby" the turbo...and this car gets to stretch it legs rather frequently! Mobil1 all the way! I have yet to "hear" on the forums of anybody "coking" the Miata turbo.

[gabrielh]

It is my understanding that a good quality synthetic oil has substantially better very-high temperature properties. The old "coking" issue would be hard to reproduce with syn's. I've got a Mazdaspeed Miata. 50K+ on the ODO. I've not made any attempt to "baby" the turbo...and this car gets to stretch it legs rather frequently! Mobil1 all the way! I have yet to "hear" on the forums of anybody "coking" the Miata turbo.


Is the miata turbo oil cooled ??? That's odd.

[AWmustang]

yep...in other words:

Older turbo (oil cooled) = Idle 30sec -1 minutes before shutdown
New turbos (coolant cooled) = no need to idle...but I still do it as a habit (for 15-20sec)

The manual says to do it if you've been driving it hard. But in normal driving it's not neccessary.

[miatateer]

OK, I stand partly corrected...
The Miata turbo is oil AND water cooled. The manual encourages a cool down after hard running.

[CX7POS]

turbo timer IS a good thing. Like the previous poster stated, it can cause choking. which eventually will ruin the turbine wheel. I had a 91 RX7 turbo, even stock after running it hard you can see the turbo glow red hot, that's with stock 6psi boost.

Unfortunately this car is way too new and there isn't wire diagram floating around, but the turbo timer does require you to tap and intercept ignition switch. If someone is good at testing and tracing wires... go right ahead... let us know what you find ;)

Also some turbo timer will automatically adjust the idle time by tapping in to the trigger wire for your coils/ignition/spark plug wire... it uses a algorythm by how much and the frequency from those wire. Back in 91 I had one of the first ever self-timer straight from Japan. but now seems like they all come with that feature.. lmao... Turbo timer from what I have seen as of today are pretty much all the same.