Question about turbos -- warm starts

jkp1187 · 01-03-2009, 02:32 PM

I've never owned a turbocharged car before, so forgive this question if the answer is obvious.

Is there a rule about not starting a turbocharged engine when it's warm? Like shutting off the engine for a minute or two then starting it up again? I seem to recall someone saying this to me several years back.

HondaGoneRogue · 01-03-2009, 03:47 PM

I've never heard that. I think you may have it a little backwards. The rule is, since the turbo is oil cooled, anytime you have been driving hard, you should let the engine idle for a minute before shutting the car off. This allows the oil and the turbo to cool so the oil wont just be sitting there inside the turbo cooking while the oil isn't circulating anymore. Since our turbos are water and oil cooled, the water pump stays on after you shut the car off to help with cool-down. I still let mine idle though just out of habit. As far as starting goes, just make sure that the oil is normal operating temp before you do any hard driving. Hope that helps.

jkp1187 · 01-03-2009, 03:58 PM

I probably just got it garbled.

Thanks for the help.

PrimoM3 · 01-03-2009, 07:56 PM

Yep, cold starts are much harder on engines than warm starts.

01-03-2009, 02:32 PM	#1
jkp1187 Unindicted co-conspirator 66 Rep 1,734 Posts Drives: to work, mostly. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / Detroit, Michigan iTrader: (0)	Question about turbos -- warm starts I've never owned a turbocharged car before, so forgive this question if the answer is obvious. Is there a rule about not starting a turbocharged engine when it's warm? Like shutting off the engine for a minute or two then starting it up again? I seem to recall someone saying this to me several years back.
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01-03-2009, 03:47 PM	#2
HondaGoneRogue They like my Swag... 433 Rep 3,762 Posts Drives: 15 GSM 435i GC Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: South Dakota iTrader: (4) Garage List 2015 435i Gran Coupe [0.00]	I've never heard that. I think you may have it a little backwards. The rule is, since the turbo is oil cooled, anytime you have been driving hard, you should let the engine idle for a minute before shutting the car off. This allows the oil and the turbo to cool so the oil wont just be sitting there inside the turbo cooking while the oil isn't circulating anymore. Since our turbos are water and oil cooled, the water pump stays on after you shut the car off to help with cool-down. I still let mine idle though just out of habit. As far as starting goes, just make sure that the oil is normal operating temp before you do any hard driving. Hope that helps. __________________ 2015 435i Gran Coupe - Current 2008 AW 135i - Sold
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01-03-2009, 03:58 PM	#3
jkp1187 Unindicted co-conspirator 66 Rep 1,734 Posts Drives: to work, mostly. Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania / Detroit, Michigan iTrader: (0)	I probably just got it garbled. Thanks for the help.
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01-03-2009, 07:56 PM	#4
PrimoM3 Chemofski 54 Rep 1,295 Posts Drives: '13 X5M Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Coast, U.S. iTrader: (0)	Yep, cold starts are much harder on engines than warm starts. __________________ '13 Individual Frozen Brilliant White ///M3 Coupe Ordered 2/15/12 \| Euro Delivery on 9/21/12 \| U.S. Redelivery on 12/6/12 \| Motor Dead on 7/15/13 '13 Space Gray/Mugello Red X5///M Pavement Punisher \| Snow Muncher \| Family and Board Hauler \| Roadtripper
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