Cool down for turbo?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Bradenton, FL
Cool down for turbo?
People say that its good to idle your truck at least a minute before shutting it off, theres aftermarket chips or whatever that keep the engine running for how ever long you set it too even if the key is out of the ignition, not saying that i want to install one, but does it really prolong the life of the turbo, and engine?
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
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try the search feature there is a ton of threads about this...
i have a turbo timer on my remote starter that is set up for three minutes and use that when i am in a hurry and can't wait for the EGT gauge to drop to 350deg. if you are towing heavy or driving hard makes cooling down the truck more important.
IMO if you run synthetics you don't need to cool down the turbo as much and if you coast around a parking lot by the time you find a spot to pull in you truck should be about ready to shut down.
i have a turbo timer on my remote starter that is set up for three minutes and use that when i am in a hurry and can't wait for the EGT gauge to drop to 350deg. if you are towing heavy or driving hard makes cooling down the truck more important.
IMO if you run synthetics you don't need to cool down the turbo as much and if you coast around a parking lot by the time you find a spot to pull in you truck should be about ready to shut down.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: newark,de
ditto on the turbo timer, I usually set it for 2-3 minutes after pulling my RV off the highway. We hit the rest areas while the turbo cools off. Most times if you have been driving slower you don't need the extra time, a minute or so driving down the campground road is enough to bring the EGT's down, and an extra minute and the temps are down to 350.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Bradenton, FL
ok, thats what i usually do, just wanted to see if its really worth it, normal driving i give it at least a minute, pulling a heavy trailer or tractor i give it at least 3 or 4 minutes, one more thing it seems that if i dont give it enough time and shut it off quick, it sqweaks, more time i let it idle, the quieter the sqweak gets
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
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When I drive on the highway (towing or not), I let my truck idle as I wait for the fuel pumps or for 2 - 3 minutes when I park (I stretch my legs or throw my trash out). I may even let it idle for 1/2 the time it takes to fill up (on the highway) and then turn it off.
On a daily basis, I drive slow (as one should) when driving into parking lots and by the time I park, put my cell-phone in my pocket, undo my seatbelt... I feel comfortable that it has cooled down.
I also use synthetic oil which has better high heat protection capabilities and will protect the turbo bearings.
There is no perfect answer... so just do what you are comfortable with. Personally, I would not desire a "turbo timer" as I will just save my money and let my "baby" cool down... and I can slow down and "smell the roses" in life while the turbo cools down.
On a daily basis, I drive slow (as one should) when driving into parking lots and by the time I park, put my cell-phone in my pocket, undo my seatbelt... I feel comfortable that it has cooled down.
I also use synthetic oil which has better high heat protection capabilities and will protect the turbo bearings.
There is no perfect answer... so just do what you are comfortable with. Personally, I would not desire a "turbo timer" as I will just save my money and let my "baby" cool down... and I can slow down and "smell the roses" in life while the turbo cools down.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2002
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We've had this discussion about 20 times 
but worth revisiting...
Heck - this discussion is really only relevant during the global warming summers anyway
I'm on the other side of the coin
With OLD oil technology and OLD turbos, turbo timer cooling off was a good thing,
had an 80's probe gt turbo rocketship that had it from the fatory...
but new turbos and new oils will not 'coke' the turbo up...
besides, 99 times out of a hundred, even when towing heavy, there is enough slow down and idling to cool down anyway - I mean do u ever turn your truck off while @ 80 mph on the interstate ? no, u pull into side street, you go into a parking lot, and you stop, then u turn it off slow drivign with air going thru the radiator is the quickest cool down....
and how does the 'never let your truck idle' argument factor into the equation...
to each his own,
but I've NEVER used the turbo timer cool off built into my remote starter
good luck...
YRMV and IMHO and teehee
but worth revisiting...Heck - this discussion is really only relevant during the global warming summers anyway
I'm on the other side of the coin
With OLD oil technology and OLD turbos, turbo timer cooling off was a good thing,
had an 80's probe gt turbo rocketship that had it from the fatory...
but new turbos and new oils will not 'coke' the turbo up...
besides, 99 times out of a hundred, even when towing heavy, there is enough slow down and idling to cool down anyway - I mean do u ever turn your truck off while @ 80 mph on the interstate ? no, u pull into side street, you go into a parking lot, and you stop, then u turn it off
slow drivign with air going thru the radiator is the quickest cool down....and how does the 'never let your truck idle' argument factor into the equation...
to each his own,
but I've NEVER used the turbo timer cool off built into my remote starter
good luck...
YRMV and IMHO and teehee
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 3,271
Likes: 229
From: Gulf Coast, FL
Get an EGT gauge and watch how fast the temps drop. I don't think a turbo timer is really worth the cost compared to a gauge.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Idling, to me anyway, denotes a prolong period of time atleast 5 min., but usually longer. I have yet to have a cooldown that took 5 min and I'm running hotter tunes then 90% of the tuned truck owning population out there, most I've seen is 2 min and that was only one time. I've sat at a light idling longer then that. It all depends on what "your" definition of idling is and how long it takes to qualify as idling versus a cool down period.
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