Turbo timer... a must have or a waste of time?

[boxerchip]

I have heard so much about turbo timers and the actual need to use a TT, the thing ive heard the most is that new cars dont need more than 30 seconds to cool down so a turbo timer is totally worthless.... is this true? and what are your oppinions on the HKS turbo timers? Also correct me if im wrong but does a turbo timer not make your car easy to steal?

Thanks
-Chip

[DannyDeez]

I was told by a tech at Audi that the S4 actually has some kind of pump that recirculates the oil for a little while once you shut the car off. This way u wont need a turbo timer. From what ive read on these forums though, that info seems to be wrong. Maybe someone with more knowledge could shed some light on the subject for us.

[boxerchip]

yeah, it seems like they would do that.... I mean anyone buying a sports car is going to drive it hard at least some times and not want to wait for it to cool down.... so what gives, turbo timer worth the risk of your car getting jacked?

[TXCOS4]

Just get the alarm system with remote start and turbo timer function. Way cool just got it installed last week.

[agravic 2.0]

great question! couple corrections i'd make:

1. No car currently made with a turbo has a pump that circulates oil. The S4 has a coolant pump that circulates coolant throughout the entire engine (including the turbo)

2. Its not anymore harder to steal, think about it: no key, steering column locks, and if the installer installed it right the timer shuts off with the ebrake down. That's how i install it and how all timers should be installed. and when the alarm is armed, timer running, someone breaking the windows to get into the car will be alerted by triggering the motion sensors in the b-pillars.

3. The critical part of a turbo is the spindle where oil lines meet to lubricate the shaft shared by the exhaust turbine and intake impeller.

4. unless you cool down your car after each hard run, you don't need a turbo timer. if you are often pressed for time or need to be away from the car the moment you get to your destination, a turbo timer is good insurance along with synthetic oil (which has a much higher coking temp/breakdown temp)

also i'd add that a stock car does not generate enough heat for the factory to warrant building in a oil/coolant system.

the S4 afterrun coolant pump was meant for environments where the car continues to heat up after the car has been shutdown. Its commonly received that the coolant pump very rarely runs even on the harshest of chip/engine mods.

[LI-S4]

FWIW...I installed a GReddy TT during the summer...I used it for a few weeks, religiously.

Once the novelty of walking away with it running wore off...the power button went to off.

I would think, unless you really beat the piss out of your car on a regular basis, AND need to park and run right after, you probably are fine. I live by the water, about a half mile from any road that would be safe to drive hard on..so I have a pretty cool-down when I go home.

That said...it might get more use in the summer when it is warmer and I am more likely to drive hard. Given a choice, I would install it again...

[rolledthatho]

and just to clarify your statement on only needing 30 seconds...

well it depends on 2 things how hard you run it before you cut it off

and

how big your turbos are...

i wouldnt have a turbo car w/o one...

[rolledthatho]

btw my opinion is the apexi pencil style, its small and non box like, its red like the interior colors at night and it works flawlessly with no problems at all


and by problems i mean like some TT's wont let you use your remote locking sys while the car is counting down

[agravic 2.0]

which ones don't? greddy, apexi, blitz, hks, generic ones all work on b5s. its how you install it.

Originally posted by rolledthatho
btw my opinion is the apexi pencil style, its small and non box like, its red like the interior colors at night and it works flawlessly with no problems at all


and by problems i mean like some TT's wont let you use your remote locking sys while the car is counting down

[cj-S4]

I have my TT running my coolant pump system. You can also change out the sensor that makes the afterrun coolant pump come on. ECS has them basicly it is a lower temp switch, so the car uses the pump, or you can run it off your TT, disconnecting the switch all together.

[s4ddriverr]

the after run pump thermo switch is on this page

http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/...tegory=Cooling

after i installed it I started leaking coolent from one of the hoses that go to it, I just needed a new clamp but it was not fun getting to it.

[rolledthatho]

which ones don't? greddy, apexi, blitz, hks, generic ones all work on b5s. its how you install it.

hey agra, actually the apexi was supposed to have some downfalls but to tell you exactly i dont know each one...

for instance some dont have a big enough sender in them and the instant you cut the car off the rpm drops (not noticable) low enough not to power the ABS causing 3 loub beeps

others havent been able to use their keyless entry, but, maybe it is how you stall it all these were on audiwolrd and people were using the same write ups, who knows...

but i like how small the apexi, not all boxy

[Devious27t]

i have an apexi one that i will sell if anyone wants it. i dont think i am going to use it afterall. it is brand new. pm me if interested.

[2.7Thai]

I love mine, it's nice just to get out of the car and walk away. I mean they aren't that much, you could get a used one for 50 bucks or so, and its peace of mind that you are getting that extra cooling time. its like having two locks on one door.

[duffS4]

its peace of mind that you are getting that extra cooling time.

That's exactly why I have it. My turbos are babied for warmup/cool down.

[biturbo hero]

the S4 actually has a reverse flow coolant pump function. if the coolant is hot enuf it will pump coolant after the engine is shut down. but it reverses the flow of coolant which eliminates any bubbles in the fluid.

knowing, is half the battle

[S-fear]

Gosh, I wish what you said below was true. Well, it probably is true if you DO NOT drive an S4. I have been disecting my car and finding out something different.

With the S4, the turbo (especially driver's side) does not have adequate ventilation. The engine is well insulated from the heat, but that just keeps the heat in the turbo. This car was not designed to have this engine shoe horned into it.

Stock turbos blow around 75,000 miles because off this heat problem. About the only thing you can do about this is to cool your car down very well, or install a turbo timer. There is just no way for the heat to exit the turbo effectively in this car (these comments do not apply to non S4 turbo cars).

Originally posted by agravic 2.0
great question! couple corrections i'd make:

4. unless you cool down your car after each hard run, you don't need a turbo timer. if you are often pressed for time or need to be away from the car the moment you get to your destination, a turbo timer is good insurance along with synthetic oil (which has a much higher coking temp/breakdown temp)

also i'd add that a stock car does not generate enough heat for the factory to warrant building in a oil/coolant system.

[agravic 2.0]

as opposed to a "chipped" car

Originally posted by S-fear
Gosh, I wish what you said below was true. Well, it probably is true if you DO NOT drive an S4. I have been disecting my car and finding out something different.

With the S4, the turbo (especially driver's side) does not have adequate ventilation. The engine is well insulated from the heat, but that just keeps the heat in the turbo. This car was not designed to have this engine shoe horned into it.

Stock turbos blow around 75,000 miles because off this heat problem. About the only thing you can do about this is to cool your car down very well, or install a turbo timer. There is just no way for the heat to exit the turbo effectively in this car (these comments do not apply to non S4 turbo cars).

[cj-S4]

Originally posted by biturbo hero
the S4 actually has a reverse flow coolant pump function. if the coolant is hot enuf it will pump coolant after the engine is shut down. but it reverses the flow of coolant which eliminates any bubbles in the fluid.

knowing, is half the battle

Thats the after run coolant pump. It comes on when the coolant is about 220 or something even higher. The only time mine ever came on was when my water pump went and the car was hot hot. So you replace the control switch with the one from ECS or you wire it into your TT, or a relay circuit controled by whatever you want. But if you read the whole thread you would have seen we already talked about this,, and theres a link to the part if you want one.

reading, is half the battle