Caring for a turbocharged car

[Doggiedog]

Hi All,

I've ordered a turbocharged car and have never owned one before. Is there any special care I should be aware of with it? I will own it so I would like to have it last as long as possible.

Thanks!

 

[Kirby]

What car?

 

[EightySix Four]

What car?

Newer turbo cars have about the same maintenance requirements.

Be a little more careful letting it warm up and cool down since the for a turbo warm=surface of the sun hot, so don't ride it's ass all the way to the parking spot then just turn it off.

 

[Arkaign]

Many turbo cars recommend warm-up/cool-down periods. My old VR-4 had a statement in the manual relating to that. There are even cool-down timers available for some configurations.

We really can't say without more info though.

 

[Possessed Freak]

If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
What car?

2009 BMW 335i

I should get it in 6 weeks.

 

[EightySix Four]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: nkgreen
What car?

2009 BMW 335i

I should get it in 6 weeks.

Let it cool a bit before you park it if you spool them up heavy. Otherwise there should be no difference.

Don't forget Dinan can bring that sucker up to 380hp/440lb.ft torque with a simple (warrantied) flash

 

[Arkaign]

From what I've heard, the 335i turbos are low-boost and well cooled, so special emphasis is probably not needed for a cooldown period.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: crazySOB297

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: nkgreen
What car?

2009 BMW 335i

I should get it in 6 weeks.

Let it cool a bit before you park it if you spool them up heavy. Otherwise there should be no difference.

Don't forget Dinan can bring that sucker up to 380hp/440lb.ft torque with a simple (warrantied) flash

I will need to investigate this.

 

[bananapeel42]

Awesome car!!

 

[CRXican]

lol it's a BMW

you think the average owners pay attention to cool down?

don't worry about it

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Five minutes? :Q
That seems excessive.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Umm no. Unless you've been bouncing off the redline for the last 10mins, you don't have to do that...

Just make sure you use synthetic oil and don't hit the boost hard until the car warms up a bit.

 

[exdeath]

Keep up with engine oil and filter maintenance religiously. It's the lifeblood of the turbo bearings, more so than the engine itself as is often the case.

 

[Gand1]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Five minutes? :Q
That seems excessive.

5 mins is waaay excessive... my TT has no turbo timer but depending on how hard I drive it I let it idle from 30 seconds to a few minutes tops.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Five minutes? :Q
That seems excessive.

5 mins is waaay excessive... my TT has no turbo timer but depending on how hard I drive it I let it idle from 30 seconds to a few minutes tops.

There is no need for a cool down period on modern turbocharged cars for street use. They are both oil and coolant cooled, and the system is setup in such a way that when you shut the car off, the coolant continues to circulate until the temperature of the turbo no longer heats up the fluid.

Turbo timers, or cool down periods are a waste of gas period.

*edit* to add a few other points. Make sure you use the best fuel available to you. If you ever have to run a lower grade fuel, be sure to stay out of boost! (does this car come equipped with a boost gauge?). As stated earlier, do not slide on the oil change frequency.

If you start adding power than you will also need to change the plugs every 3rd oil change or so - dont get fancy, go with coppers or whatever your manual recommends.

Do not make any modifications without looking into engine management requirements.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Five minutes? :Q
That seems excessive.

5 mins is waaay excessive... my TT has no turbo timer but depending on how hard I drive it I let it idle from 30 seconds to a few minutes tops.

There is no need for a cool down period on modern turbocharged cars for street use. They are both oil and coolant cooled, and the system is setup in such a way that when you shut the car off, the coolant continues to circulate until the temperature of the turbo no longer heats up the fluid.

Turbo timers, or cool down periods are a waste of gas period.

*edit* to add a few other points. Make sure you use the best fuel available to you. If you ever have to run a lower grade fuel, be sure to stay out of boost! (does this car come equipped with a boost gauge?). As stated earlier, do not slide on the oil change frequency.

If you start adding power than you will also need to change the plugs every 3rd oil change or so - dont get fancy, go with coppers or whatever your manual recommends.

Do not make any modifications without looking into engine management requirements.

Winner.

With the advent of water-cooled turbos, the requirement for a "cool down period" has essentially disappeared. On older cars that do not have water-cooled turbos, it is still a good idea to give the car a few minutes to cool down, but a 335 will certainly have water cooling for the turbos. Even with the engine off, coolant will continue to circulate through the turbos' bearing housings, either through passive convection (as with my S70's turbo) or via an auxiliary electric coolant pump (as with my 951's turbo).

The only caveat is to never turn the engine off while it is making boost. Always bring the engine back to idle for a couple of seconds (5-10) before shutting the car off. This ensures that the turbo is not still spinning when you turn off the engine. This is a concern because when the engine stops, oil pressure drops to zero and the turbo's bearings will lose some lubrication. In practice, the process of pulling the car into a parking spot or into your garage is long enough for the turbo to spin down so the only thing you really need to avoid is turning the key off when the engine is revving, which most people won't do anyway.

ZV

 

[iamwiz82]

did you get the sport package? The early 335i non-sports did not come with oil coolers, IIRC. I am not sur eif they changed that. Dinan does not warranty a car with no oil cooler unless you also buy the Dinan oil cooler along with the flash.

 

[Doggiedog]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
did you get the sport package? The early 335i non-sports did not come with oil coolers, IIRC. I am not sur eif they changed that. Dinan does not warranty a car with no oil cooler unless you also buy the Dinan oil cooler along with the flash.

Yes. I got the sport package in 6MT.

What about warming up the engine? It's going to be pretty cold this winter. Will I need to warm the car up any more than normal with a turbo or is the requisite 30 secs - 1 min ok?

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
did you get the sport package? The early 335i non-sports did not come with oil coolers, IIRC. I am not sur eif they changed that. Dinan does not warranty a car with no oil cooler unless you also buy the Dinan oil cooler along with the flash.

Yes. I got the sport package in 6MT.

What about warming up the engine? It's going to be pretty cold this winter. Will I need to warm the car up any more than normal with a turbo or is the requisite 30 secs - 1 min ok?

No, just stay off boost until you're at operating temperature.

 

[RGUN]

Originally posted by: Doggiedog

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
did you get the sport package? The early 335i non-sports did not come with oil coolers, IIRC. I am not sur eif they changed that. Dinan does not warranty a car with no oil cooler unless you also buy the Dinan oil cooler along with the flash.

Yes. I got the sport package in 6MT.

What about warming up the engine? It's going to be pretty cold this winter. Will I need to warm the car up any more than normal with a turbo or is the requisite 30 secs - 1 min ok?

Aside from letting the idle stabalize, I try not to let the car sit without moving. Just keep the revs down and out of boost.

 

[rh71]

did they discount the '09s much now that they're not keeping many in inventory in the states? I know 08s are being heavily discounted with the low finance rate.

grats on the 335i... I really wanted that twin turbo for mine but alas only in the X6 which is fugly... and I definitely didn't want to wait for the TT diesel.

EDIT>> I see it's 0.9% rate on the '09s too, but were you able to get them close to invoice? BTW, REALLY jealous of your new idrive.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: RGUN

Originally posted by: Gand1

Originally posted by: nakedfrog

Originally posted by: Possessed Freak
If you spool up the turbo, make sure you idle/run normal for 5+ minutes before turning it off.

Five minutes? :Q
That seems excessive.

5 mins is waaay excessive... my TT has no turbo timer but depending on how hard I drive it I let it idle from 30 seconds to a few minutes tops.

There is no need for a cool down period on modern turbocharged cars for street use. They are both oil and coolant cooled, and the system is setup in such a way that when you shut the car off, the coolant continues to circulate until the temperature of the turbo no longer heats up the fluid.

Turbo timers, or cool down periods are a waste of gas period.

*edit* to add a few other points. Make sure you use the best fuel available to you. If you ever have to run a lower grade fuel, be sure to stay out of boost! (does this car come equipped with a boost gauge?). As stated earlier, do not slide on the oil change frequency.

If you start adding power than you will also need to change the plugs every 3rd oil change or so - dont get fancy, go with coppers or whatever your manual recommends.

Do not make any modifications without looking into engine management requirements.

Hmm I don't think my Audi has coolant recirc pump, but the turbos are hooked up to both oil and coolant.

 

[bruceb]

You can install this: http://www.streetortrack.com/A...r-24-150-pr-17296.html
to take care of oiling the turbo during cooldown.

 

[EightySix Four]

Warrantied and all.