Turbo timers

What are members views on the necessity for turbo timers on factory standard motors?

I was discussing this elsewhere, & felt that if they were necessary that Nissan would have fitted them.
I also read a report of their potential danger. Apparently it was a turbo timer, & vehicle knocked into gear which resulted in the crushing death of Malcolm Douglas.

Does Nissan make any explicit recommendation for 'idling down' of their turboed motors prior to switching them off. I often forget & nothing nasty has happened, although I would hopefully be more mindful if I had been pushing it hard.

Cuppa

Would never fit one , I idle down till exhaust temps drop then turn off. Doesn't take long.
Sure if you have a turbo drift /hoonmobile where temps are sky high fit one.
Not sure you can get a patrol to temps like that even on the HWY M2cW
Something else to go wrong

Just idle for 30 seconds when you pull up and all will be sweet?

If you're happy and you know it tap a post!

Yeah think the reason they are not fitted from the factory is a legal reason to prevent accidents as stated above.
Vehicles fitted with remote start have to have a host of safety features to comply with the law.
Maybe it's not cost effective to have all these extra features just to have a factory turbo timer??

FanTapstic!

Mazda fitted factory turbo timers to the series 8 rx7 and Nissan fitted them to the 180sx, they are good if you wire them correctly! The earth wire needs to be connected to the handbrake wire so when its down the timer won't work (no earth/ground)

If you have ever seen how a turbo and exhaust glow it takes longer then 30 seconds to cool it down, even if your engine combustion temps reduce doesn't mean that the turbo has cooled. No turbo timer can size bearings and make seals hard and also potentially crack housing, i cracked 2 turbos on one my first cars (1984 Nissan EXA Coupe) even tho i left it count down from a minute. On my toy i have an auto counting timer that starts off from 1 min but increases the longer i drive over 3,000rpm.

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Originally Posted by taslucas

Yeah think the reason they are not fitted from the factory is a legal reason to prevent accidents as stated above.
Vehicles fitted with remote start have to have a host of safety features to comply with the law.
Maybe it's not cost effective to have all these extra features just to have a factory turbo timer??

FanTapstic!

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I have remote start on my toy, i turned off all the safety neutral switches off coz it was a pain when you where getting into the car and bumped the brake pedal it would shut the blooming motor and defeated the purpose of using it in the first place !!

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Originally Posted by Cuppa

What are members views on the necessity for turbo timers on factory standard motors?

I was discussing this elsewhere, & felt that if they were necessary that Nissan would have fitted them.
I also read a report of their potential danger. Apparently it was a turbo timer, & vehicle knocked into gear which resulted in the crushing death of Malcolm Douglas.

Does Nissan make any explicit recommendation for 'idling down' of their turboed motors prior to switching them off. I often forget & nothing nasty has happened, although I would hopefully be more mindful if I had been pushing it hard.

Cuppa

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Hiya Cuppa,

At least 95% (prob close to 100%) of after market Turbo timers are illegal under ADR's. Legal to sell them, legal to fit them to Boats, Trains, Planes, Gensets etc etc but not Automobiles. They contravene the engineering ADR regarding vehicle systems and engine operation etc with the key in the off or acc position/removed.

Factory Turbo Timers on the very rare marques/models that have them have additional safety's etc that satisfy ADR's.

Yes, I have one on mine (fitted by prev owner).
Yes, it gets used in the context that I am not the only driver (on it's shortest setting) however I monitor water and EGT temp and switch off accordingly.
Yes, they have been a major contributory cause to some accidents over the years.
No I wouldn't fit one specifically but seeing as it is on there it can stay.
and No I don't feel they are a necessity or all that helpful on a daily driver.

They all say not to leave the car until it has stopped running... Yeah right lol.

If you're happy and you know it tap a post!

Very interesting topic. Damned if you do, potentially damned if you don't.

NCOT/COT

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Originally Posted by Winnie

They all say not to leave the car until it has stopped running... Yeah right lol.

If you're happy and you know it tap a post!

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Last time i checked it was within 5m