Do you let your turbos cool down? - BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)

oner · 07-20-2009, 12:51 PM

Just wondering if anyone still does this. Run the car for a few minutes before turning it off for the turbos to cool down. Good or Bad idea?

turbobmw · 07-20-2009, 12:53 PM

If I have been recently hammering on it yes. But normal driving I don't.
The water pump runs for a while after you turn off the car to keep circulating coolant to cool off the turbos.

Stratos · 07-20-2009, 12:53 PM

+1

JasonCSU · 07-20-2009, 01:05 PM

I guess it is not as big a deal with modern turbo cars, but I still do it with both my 135 and WRX. It has become a force of habit.

larryn · 07-20-2009, 01:34 PM

After an autocross run or DE session, yes.. otherwise no.

mad chemist · 07-20-2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oner

Just wondering if anyone still does this. Run the car for a few minutes before turning it off for the turbos to cool down. Good or Bad idea?

Shouldn't need to on the the N54 as the water pump keeps circulating through the turbos for a while after shut-down. Hotter the car, longer the process lasts. I think you can check this with the BT cable - it's one of the parameters still showning a voltage after shut-down.

shodanusmc · 07-20-2009, 01:58 PM

No, usually I am only going 25 MPH sown the street I live on, then wait for the garage door to go up, then pull the car in...so it is not running hard for at least 2 minutes before I shut it off. Now if I just pulled off the highway after goi9ng 75, then I would let it idle for 30 seconds or so. These are not your fathers Turbo's!

Excitmnt94 · 07-20-2009, 02:38 PM

i let the turbos on previous cars cool for a bit. i have not let my car's turbos cool at all...then again i haven't pushed it as i am in break-in with about 500 miles on the odo. now if i am pushing the car, i will give it an extra minute or so to cool off...but the coolant circulation has me satisfied with daily driving.

deamon32 · 07-20-2009, 05:49 PM

I will take it easy on the throttle for the last mile or two, other than that modern turbo cars should all keep the oil/water running after the vehicle has been shut off until everything is good to go

C4747Z · 07-20-2009, 05:52 PM

+1

HondaGoneRogue · 07-20-2009, 05:58 PM

I still let them cool. I've had so many turbo cars, I can't bring myself to just shut it down.

JHZR2 · 07-20-2009, 08:13 PM

Always good to drive extra gentle for the first and last 5 miles or so. I like to let the turbos in my cars idle for 10-15 seconds even after gentle use. After a long highway drive, or whatnot (e.g. pulling into a rest stop), a minute is necessary.

Cuz5150 · 07-20-2009, 09:05 PM

The Answer is: Hell YES!!!, turbo cool down is a must. After all you're talking to an Audi owner here! and change the oil every 3K. Sludge is the anti-crist!!

Yearofthe1 · 07-20-2009, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuz5150

The Answer is: Hell YES!!!, turbo cool down is a must. After all you're talking to an Audi owner here! and change the oil every 3K. Sludge is the anti-crist!!

The car will cool the turbos all by itself, hence the whirring pump noise you will often hear after ignition shut-off. Stop worrying so much, sure it won't hurt to let the car run a bit, but you're likely not helping much either.

imported_mega · 07-21-2009, 07:20 AM

I drive easy the last mile, the issue is the oil that sits in the turbo and bakes, if our motors also circulated oil, I would not bother with a cooldown

cagekicker · 07-21-2009, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mad chemist

Shouldn't need to on the the N54 as the water pump keeps circulating through the turbos for a while after shut-down. Hotter the car, longer the process lasts. I think you can check this with the BT cable - it's one of the parameters still showning a voltage after shut-down.

says it all!

DarthColin · 07-21-2009, 10:47 AM

Don't know exactly how the oil system is designed, but on one of the airplanes I used to drive, some people would let the engines idle for a couple of minutes after landing. While the turbos were spooling down, there was oil being supplied to the bearing between the compressor and turbine. I believe on the N54, the wastegate is closed while the engine is idling, therefore the turbos will always be spinning a bit when you shut down.

Formel1 · 07-21-2009, 01:57 PM

Former old school Lotus owner...and that would be an affirmative...at least with spirited driving.

jeremyc74 · 07-21-2009, 02:39 PM

If I've been running the car hard, I take it easy the last few minutes of my drive, to let the temps come back to normal, but I don't just sit and idle once I'm parked. The after run pump is preventing the oil from being cooked, which is the real danger with shutting it down hot, so I don't worry about it.

Lucky1 · 07-21-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

If I've been running the car hard, I take it easy the last few minutes of my drive, to let the temps come back to normal, but I don't just sit and idle once I'm parked. The after run pump is preventing the oil from being cooked, which is the real danger with shutting it down hot, so I don't worry about it.

If you make frequent short trips what will that do to the life of the turbo then? I drive 5 miles every day to the train station, twice a day. Hope the oil gets up to temperature and protects those turbos.

jeremyc74 · 07-21-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky1

If you make frequent short trips what will that do to the life of the turbo then? I drive 5 miles every day to the train station, twice a day. Hope the oil gets up to temperature and protects those turbos.

That's not something I'm qualified to say with any certainty. I do the same thing (short trips). With the synthetic oil we're running, I'm guessing it's probably not a big deal, but I do avoid running the car hard until it's warmed up.

The Cthulhu · 07-21-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oner

Just wondering if anyone still does this. Run the car for a few minutes before turning it off for the turbos to cool down. Good or Bad idea?

I don't have turbos until tomorrow. Shut up.

If I was driving my car hard I would tend to do the equivalent of cool-down laps. Drive the last 5 minutes of my trip at low RPM, low throttle, but ample speed. While the water pumps run, the oil doesn't circulate, and it's better to baby your car and feel good about it than to worry.

07-20-2009, 12:51 PM	#1
oner Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Earth Posts: 213 iTrader: (0)	Do you let your turbos cool down? Just wondering if anyone still does this. Run the car for a few minutes before turning it off for the turbos to cool down. Good or Bad idea?
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07-20-2009, 01:05 PM	#4
JasonCSU Lieutenant Colonel Drives: '08 135i, '03 WRX Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,990 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Subaru WRX [0.00] 1988 BMW 325is [0.00] 2008 BMW 135i [0.00]	I guess it is not as big a deal with modern turbo cars, but I still do it with both my 135 and WRX. It has become a force of habit. __________________ Delivered in Munich, broken in on the Nurburgring.

07-20-2009, 02:38 PM	#8
Excitmnt94 Detailer & Fitness Freak Drives: '09 135i ///M Sport Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 515 iTrader: (0)	i let the turbos on previous cars cool for a bit. i have not let my car's turbos cool at all...then again i haven't pushed it as i am in break-in with about 500 miles on the odo. now if i am pushing the car, i will give it an extra minute or so to cool off...but the coolant circulation has me satisfied with daily driving. __________________ 135i coupe...Alpine White // Glacier Silver Aluminum Trim // Heated Coral Red Leather Seats // M-Sport Package // I-pod // PDC // 6-Speed Manual

07-20-2009, 05:49 PM	#9
deamon32 First Lieutenant Drives: 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Costa Mesa Posts: 388 iTrader: (1)	I will take it easy on the throttle for the last mile or two, other than that modern turbo cars should all keep the oil/water running after the vehicle has been shut off until everything is good to go __________________ LeMans 135i ///M-sport 6MT JB3 1.4 - 3" MS DP's - RR S3 Intake - RR OCC - BMW SSK - CDV - Golf Tee 18" CSL Rep's - 215/245 Dunlop Runcraps

07-20-2009, 05:58 PM	#11
HondaGoneRogue They like my Swag... Drives: 08 AW 135i Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 3,471 iTrader: (4) Garage List 2008 135i [4.33]	I still let them cool. I've had so many turbo cars, I can't bring myself to just shut it down. __________________ 2008 AW 135i, Whats a mod?

07-20-2009, 12:53 PM	#2
turbobmw Private Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Thousand Oaks, CA Posts: 52 iTrader: (1)	If I have been recently hammering on it yes. But normal driving I don't. The water pump runs for a while after you turn off the car to keep circulating coolant to cool off the turbos.

07-20-2009, 12:53 PM	#3
Stratos Private First Class Drives: E82 120d Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oslo, Norway Posts: 145 iTrader: (0)	+1

07-20-2009, 01:34 PM	#5
larryn Major General Drives: '97 332ti, '10 E92 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 8,287 iTrader: (2)	After an autocross run or DE session, yes.. otherwise no.

07-20-2009, 01:58 PM	#7
shodanusmc Captain Drives: 09 135 Vert Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago burb Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	No, usually I am only going 25 MPH sown the street I live on, then wait for the garage door to go up, then pull the car in...so it is not running hard for at least 2 minutes before I shut it off. Now if I just pulled off the highway after goi9ng 75, then I would let it idle for 30 seconds or so. These are not your fathers Turbo's!

07-20-2009, 05:52 PM	#10
C4747Z Second Lieutenant Drives: VO 1M Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 210 iTrader: (0)	+1

07-20-2009, 08:13 PM	#12
JHZR2 Captain Drives: 91 E30, 11 135i cv Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 834 iTrader: (0)	Always good to drive extra gentle for the first and last 5 miles or so. I like to let the turbos in my cars idle for 10-15 seconds even after gentle use. After a long highway drive, or whatnot (e.g. pulling into a rest stop), a minute is necessary.

07-20-2009, 09:05 PM	#13
Cuz5150 Major Drives: 06-M3ZHP/04-M3 Vert/02Duc998 Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 1,019 iTrader: (0)	The Answer is: Hell YES!!!, turbo cool down is a must. After all you're talking to an Audi owner here! and change the oil every 3K. Sludge is the anti-crist!! __________________ -Diplomacy is saying, "nice doggie while trying to find a rock"- 04-M3 vert-Black/Imolla/6MT/Cold/Xenon/HK/ 06-M3 Cp-Mystic/Black/6MT/Comp/Xenon/HK/ 09-135i- AW/Bk-Lette/6MT/M-pac/Nav/Hi-Fi/Usb-Ipod/SOLD

07-21-2009, 07:20 AM	#15
imported_mega Lieutenant Colonel Drives: various bmw's Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: neverland Posts: 1,983 iTrader: (0)	I drive easy the last mile, the issue is the oil that sits in the turbo and bakes, if our motors also circulated oil, I would not bother with a cooldown __________________ You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape. Gone but not forgotten.. 1974 2002, 1987 325ic, 1987 325is 1995 M3, 2001 X5, 2007 MCS R56

07-21-2009, 10:47 AM	#17
DarthColin Private First Class Drives: 2011 1 Series M Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grenfell, SK Posts: 175 iTrader: (0)	Don't know exactly how the oil system is designed, but on one of the airplanes I used to drive, some people would let the engines idle for a couple of minutes after landing. While the turbos were spooling down, there was oil being supplied to the bearing between the compressor and turbine. I believe on the N54, the wastegate is closed while the engine is idling, therefore the turbos will always be spinning a bit when you shut down.

07-21-2009, 01:57 PM	#18
Formel1 Second Lieutenant Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 257 iTrader: (1)	Former old school Lotus owner...and that would be an affirmative...at least with spirited driving.

07-21-2009, 02:39 PM	#19
jeremyc74 Banned Drives: '08 135i Montego/Terra Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 5,982 iTrader: (0)	If I've been running the car hard, I take it easy the last few minutes of my drive, to let the temps come back to normal, but I don't just sit and idle once I'm parked. The after run pump is preventing the oil from being cooked, which is the real danger with shutting it down hot, so I don't worry about it.

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