Whats the deal with turbo timers?

[The Dan]

The law in Queensland says that you are allowed to have them. I have never heard of anyone getting done for that. I'll find out exactly what the go is.

[blind_elk]

alex, but the thing is i thought it slowed the turbo's rpm down even more from idle causing the turbo to cool down even more otherwise you could put a turbo timer on any car (its probably already possible)

The turbo is being driven by exhaust gasses. How could an external device affect the speed of rotation of the shaft? It cools down by virtue of the fact that the exhaust gases are cooler, and absorb heat out of the turbo, as well as allowing the turbo to radiate some heat to the air in the engine bay.

Only when you take your car to the track regularly, it will be quite handy when you have to lock the car and walk away between lap sessions.

You don't even need one for track. In fact it may not be allowed because it could keep the engine running after a crash. The Shell Sierras years ago used to do a single cool-down lap at Sandown at the end of practice, and then pull into the pits and switch off the engine - no idling, no timer.

Its just a lazyness factor.

No, it's really an intelligence factor. If you slow down during the last few minutes of the drive, then it will be perfectly safe to stop the engine when you reach your destination. If you don't, then you wait half a minute when you get there.

[FATGTS-R]

As well as the fact of having the cooler oil pumping through it I also read in a magazine somewhere that if you are thrashing the car just before shut down and just switch it off the turbo is still spinning for a while and its still hot yet has no oil coming through to cool and lubricate the core.

[r33skylinegtst]

It won't keep the engine running in a crash if it isn't turned on when you're driving on the street. if you must have one (or in my case have one cause the previous owner installed it) and you actually use it then simply turn it off when you start your car and just before you stop turn it on.

If you have an accident between A and B at least you're engine won't be kept running.