Daily Drivern Turbo Car

[240_dude]

Hey guys i decided to turbo my sohc, and i was wondering if it would be safe to drive it as a daily. Im running 7-8 psi with a port and polished head. Upgrade hks gaskets all around. But im wondering how many other people out their run their car that turboed every day? also is it something that will put a lot of wear and tear on the engine?

[Chris28]

What kind of tune are you running? People daily boosted cars all the time. As long as the tune is good there isn't really anything to worry about.

[240zac]

i daily my boosted car.... no problems.... just let the car warm up.

all of my freinds here in OH daily their boosted cars too....

also, look how many cars come boosted from the factory that people daily all the time without thinking about it....

[240_dude]

Well i gave it to a local guy to tune and i told him to do a street tune but it wasn't a dyno one it was all on his laptop.

i daily my boosted car.... no problems.... just let the car warm up.

all of my freinds here in OH daily their boosted cars too....

also, look how many cars come boosted from the factory that people daily all the time without thinking about it....

Yea i let it warm up every day, and usaully cool down 2 minutes after im driving. I really need a turbo timer

[Tyler]

get a wideband, just make make sure your tune is okay. and if its not, spend the money for a dyno tune

[mRodiek]

Yea i let it warm up every day, and usaully cool down 2 minutes after im driving. I really need a turbo timer

Ive done some research on this & talked to alot of people, turbo timers are a WASTE OF MONEY. Unless you are at the track running the s*** out of your oil cooled turbo [no water cooling] then you dont need a turbo timer. And if you at the track I am sure you can let your car run for 60sec after a run. I drive my SR every day and IF I drive it hard then I MIGHT sit in the car for 15-30sec getting all my stuff together for work or w/e.

Spend your money elsewhere

[Lonismos14]

Ive done some research on this & talked to alot of people, turbo timers are a WASTE OF MONEY. Unless you are at the track running the s*** out of your oil cooled turbo [no water cooling] then you dont need a turbo timer. And if you at the track I am sure you can let your car run for 60sec after a run. I drive my SR every day and IF I drive it hard then I MIGHT sit in the car for 15-30sec getting all my stuff together for work or w/e.

Spend your money elsewhere

That is true up to an certain point, but if your like me rushing to get to work, then you will need that turbo timer because not everbody is going to wait a minute or two to wait for the oil to cool down and circulate through their system. Me personally i think it is cheap insurance, just like a koyo radiator and electic fans.

[240_dude]

I understand your guy's points but i think a turbo timer is really a waste of money because of one reason: i do not really run my car hard when i drive it around. I take it to time attacks on Tuesdays but that's about it. I'm thinking of getting a electric fan, but right now I'm rebuilding my block with 89.5 .5+ pistons. So after that is done i am gonna go ahead for the fan.

[S14toRPS13]

Ive done some research on this & talked to alot of people, turbo timers are a WASTE OF MONEY. Unless you are at the track running the s*** out of your oil cooled turbo [no water cooling] then you dont need a turbo timer. And if you at the track I am sure you can let your car run for 60sec after a run. I drive my SR every day and IF I drive it hard then I MIGHT sit in the car for 15-30sec getting all my stuff together for work or w/e.

Spend your money elsewhere

I disagree. Ask any real mechanic. The old guys who's been around engines for 30, 40 years +. They'll recommend that you let your turbo engine cool down after driving it around, especially if you've been driving it hard. You realize how small some of the oil restrictor are that feeds the turbo bearings. I guarantee you, you don't want anything getting clogged up in that restrictor let alone let oil get coked up in there. For those of us who don't have the time to sit 2 to 3 minutes in our cars in front of work. A turbo timer is a blessing.

[240_dude]

Yea true that but i keep it running for a couple of minutes then turn it off. I never run my cars hard.

[lrb_2000]

I've driven my car daily with a fully built ka-t, big injectors/turbo, welded diff and coilovers for over two years now. I drive the s*** out of the car, hitting full boost everyday and such.. Still get good gas milage (got 32mpg on a 800 mile trip). I haven't had any problems, or downtime.. I don't use a turbo timer, but i've thought about getting one.

[240_dude]

What kind of turbo are u running?

[24j0hn]

I understand your guy's points but i think a turbo timer is really a waste of money because of one reason: i do not really run my car hard when i drive it around. I take it to time attacks on Tuesdays but that's about it. I'm thinking of getting a electric fan, but right now I'm rebuilding my block with 89.5 .5+ pistons. So after that is done i am gonna go ahead for the fan.

Adams track in riverside right? they have drift night on thursdays too...

you should be fine with a dd daily driver... im in process of ka-t w/ t25 and me myself have the time to wait the 2 minutes after i stop at school...

[240_dude]

ya man adams lol. im not a real drifter but i tried it a couple times.

[mRodiek]

I disagree. Ask any real mechanic. The old guys who's been around engines for 30, 40 years +. They'll recommend that you let your turbo engine cool down after driving it around, especially if you've been driving it hard. You realize how small some of the oil restrictor are that feeds the turbo bearings. I guarantee you, you don't want anything getting clogged up in that restrictor let alone let oil get coked up in there. For those of us who don't have the time to sit 2 to 3 minutes in our cars in front of work. A turbo timer is a blessing.

Do you know what oil coking is? Its caused by heat, not build up. When you push your car and the turbo spools it gets got and so does the oil, the flow cools the turbo as well [if equipped] as the coolant. So when extremely hot turbo stops all of a sudden and the oil sits hot itbegins to coke, but the the coolant is keeping the turbo much cooler so it isnt as much of an issue.

I can think of many better ways to spend my money, maybe on an oil cooler? Turbo timers can be useful yes, but unless your in a race for your life to make it to the grocery store as fast as possible, its not necessary.

[lrb_2000]

What kind of turbo are u running?

It's a GT35 turbo.. .63a/r turbine, .60 a/r compressor... So it never really spools up unless you get on it. Injectors are 850cc.. Cruising at 70mph is only 3,000 rpms, so i'm still around 15-18 vac.. I also run a 15.5 - 16 afr. It's a little lean, but helps out the gas milage lol.
Modified by lrb_2000 at 11:58 PM 10/18/2009

[SunniSwagger]

Well you have to remember that lots of cars come oem turbo or twin turbo set at 7-8psi, and they are just fine soo if your setup is pretty basic then its no different.

[Klits562]

Well you have to remember that lots of cars come oem turbo or twin turbo set at 7-8psi, and they are just fine soo if your setup is pretty basic then its no different.

but remember those cars come from the factory tuned for the turbos on themIf you tune your daily driver for the turbo on it then you'll be fiiineeee

[OMSIN]

Turbo Timer = a longer time of not having to rebuild or replace a turbo.

Think of it as preventative maintenance.

[S14toRPS13]

Do you know what oil coking is? Its caused by heat, not build up. When you push your car and the turbo spools it gets got and so does the oil, the flow cools the turbo as well [if equipped] as the coolant.

I can think of many better ways to spend my money, maybe on an oil cooler? Turbo timers can be useful yes, but unless your in a race for your life to make it to the grocery store as fast as possible, its not necessary.

Thanks for the explanation(being sarcastic). Yes, coked up oil can cause further oil restriction.

A turbo timer is cheap, easy to install and can be had for well under $100. I got my HKS turbo timer for about $85 brand new. An oil cooler kit is hundreds more if not up in the thousands. Stop giving the OP bad advice. Yes, I've seen people boost their stock T25 to 16 psi without issues and with no support mods, but I wouldn't recommend it. I don't run coolant through my turbo either because I'm too lazy to drill my N/A block, but I'd recommend people to run coolant through their turbo because it's the more reliable way.

[mRodiek]

Thanks for the explanation(being sarcastic). Yes, coked up oil can cause further oil restriction.

Im not trying to talk down to anyone if thats how you took it, but the truth is that it isnt required unless your beating the crap out of it.

I've seen people boost their stock T25 to 16 psi without issues and with no support mods, but I wouldn't recommend it. I don't run coolant through my turbo either because I'm too lazy to drill my N/A block, but I'd recommend people to run coolant through their turbo because it's the more reliable way.

Were they smoking crack?! Or do they just not like the T25 and wanna treat it a lesson? And what does this have to do with running with a TT?So your too lazy to take a real preventitive measure but not lazy enough to spend $100 and by a turbo timer? hmm.
Modified by DriftBoy07 at 5:41 AM 10/19/2009

[S14toRPS13]

And what does this have to do with running with a TT?So your too lazy to take a real preventitive measure but not lazy enough to spend $100 and by a turbo timer? hmm.

The examples given were to point out that just because you could do something(or in this case not do something) doesn't make it the smartest route.

Yes, I admit being lazy, $100 is change in the car world and splicing a few wires for the turbo timer is too easy. Drilling in new coolant supply ports for an engine that's still sitting in the engine bay is a lot of work. I'd rather just go out and buy a turbo SR20 block. I'll be the first to admit that it'd be more reliable to run coolant through your turbo though.

[fender-startocaster]

I would purchase it just for the peace of mind.

Plus, what else can you buy for $100?

Just do it man.

[justclay]

My experience with a turbo timer sucked. I had installed it and everything was going great. Then I started leaking oil. I realized that the problem was my turbo timer was restricting the voltage to the fuel pump by almost a full volt, causing my car to run lean. What sucks about that is when it detonated, it melted the piston rings and now I have to rebuild (new refreshed bottom end). Just throwin this out there...my recommendation would be to NOT use a turbo timer. But if you want one I have one for sale

[breadbox]

First time I have heard of that, sucks.How was it messing with the voltage that bad?

I still like turbo timers but I wouldn't say its necessary.

[240_dude]

Yea guys seems like im gonna be getting a turbo timer. I checked out the hks one and it seemed really affordable. Only thing is i don't know how to install it.

[Bumnah]

Hey guys i decided to turbo my sohc, and i was wondering if it would be safe to drive it as a daily. Im running 7-8 psi with a port and polished head. Upgrade hks gaskets all around. But im wondering how many other people out their run their car that turboed every day? also is it something that will put a lot of wear and tear on the engine?

The biggest factor in your reliability will be your tune. If you're running a tune designed for your setup. It should be pretty reliable. It won't be as reliable as a stock sr20 tune. For one Nissan spent millions on tuning it, in various conditions. Two, unless you have a local knowledgeable tuner setting it up, it's a tune through the mail. They take into account your setup and through their knowledge make a tune that works quite well.

If you're simple FPU setup, it'll only be a matter of time until it blows up.

Most modern turbos run coolant through their system for cooling. Obviously oil is extremely important as well. A turbo timer isn't necessary but it is certainly nice. Notice no manufacturer runs a turbo timer on their cars? I run a turbo timer on my car, it's cheap, and easy to wire up.

[spolitte]

Turbo Timer = a longer time of not having to rebuild or replace a turbo.

Think of it as preventative maintenance.

+1 / Its just a good thing to have if you dont want wait in the car for a few minutes after driving if you really want to protect your daily car and especially the turbo for a longer period of time.

Remote Starter + Turbo Timer = The ultimate lazy man's tool to warming up and cooling down your boosted engine.