Turbo Timer

[Grover-98]

hey iv had a mate trying to convince me to get a turbo timer for the 300Tdi, but iv thought seeing im not pulling big loads and commonly using the disco for normal road driving that i shouldn't bother.
Are any of you guys running a Turbo Timer?

[Xavie]

I have better things to spend the money on atm but usually I'd have one. Although everyone has different ideas about letting it wind down I just sit in the car and wait for it for as long as I decide it needs dependant on what driving I was just doing.

It is illegal anyway to have the vehicle turned on whilst your out of the vehicle. HAs never actually stopped me doing it but just as a side note it should be said.

[bblaze]

No I dont. I do all sort of driving, some working hard and some just cruising. Just be mindful of what you have been doing for the last 5 minutes of a drive, if its towing 2.5 tonne up the road at 90km and you pull up to check load etc, let it idle down for a couple of minutes. If you have just went up to the corner store and back, just shut it off.
cheers
blaze

[vnx205]

Have a look at this thread.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/58840-turbo-timers-2.html#post770061

The table that Disco Owner posted seems to have disappeared from the thread, but the data used for the graph starts as he leaves the Freeway and you can see from the boost how hard he is driving. The red line is exhaust gas temperature and the blue line is turbo boost.

Once he gets off the accelerator the EGT drops pretty quickly.

One conclusion you might draw from the graph is that unless your driveway adjoins the freeway, things will normally have cooled enough by the time you drive into your carport, pull on the hand brake and undo your seatbelt. In which case a turbo timer is a complete waste of time and money.

Maybe they were a good idea when turbos were enormous, but the modern smaller ones seem to cool pretty quickly.

[rangieman]

I have a turbo timer on my Tdi , The one i have is a jaycar job about $30 in kit form ,
Mine is set at 40 seconds and also has a over ride kill button ;)

[drivesafe]

Hi Grover, I started manufacturing Turbo timers back in 1980 and in those days, most went into trucks.

By the early 90s we were also supplying them for 4x4s and hot cars.

By 2002 we had dropped the line altogether as there really isn’t a need for them anymore.

Most turbos tolerate much higher temps and cool much quicker than the older ones, plus modern oils also tolerate high temps.

Unless you are gunning your motor all the way to your front door, save your money.

[Grover-98]

Hi Grover, I started manufacturing Turbo timers back in 1980 and in those days, most went into trucks.

By the early 90s we were also supplying them for 4x4s and hot cars.

By 2002 we had dropped the line altogether as there really isn’t a need for them anymore.

Most turbos tolerate much higher temps and cool much quicker than the older ones, plus modern oils also tolerate high temps.

Unless you are gunning your motor all the way to your front door, save your money.


Cheers mate!

Ill leave it as is then and spend that money on something more important then aye :)

[justinc]

Grover98,

I would suggest you spend any money you may have had aside for the turbo timer, which I agree is a waste of $$, and instal a Pyrometer. This is a FAR more useful tool for a Tdi,( even un- tweaked,) they are a good indication of what is ACTUALLY going on in this engine. You can also use them in a 'turbo timer ' type of mode, watching the exhaust temps drop to a sensible level BEFORE switching off the engine.
PM Leo109, he sells them in kit form and are designed specifically to fit the 300Tdi Disco.:)

JC

[Blknight.aus]

if you drive sensibly the pyro gauge is more important....

if your vehicle winds up in the hands of someone whose got as much vehicle sympathy as a monkey on acid yeilding a sledge hammer its not a bad idea..

normally tho if you drive the last 100m up to the driveway in second at idleish then get out open the gate drive it in and park it up by the time you pull up the parkbrake again and do the nuetral wiggle prior to lifting off the clutch its ready to shutdown.

Remember tho its not just the turbo your cooling in some cases, if youve been working the gear box hard your also giving it a chance to cool off

[Zute]

Our disco came with one. The only times I use it now is when off roading. If I have to stop to sus out the track ahead , Ill set it for 2 minutes. If it takes me longer to check something than the motor turns off, saving me fuel. So now its more a starter motor saver.:angel:

[waynep]

Grover98,

I would suggest you spend any money you may have had aside for the turbo timer, which I agree is a waste of $$, and instal a Pyrometer.
JC

or a low coolant alarm

[goldey]

Grover98

I'd suggest getting both the pyrometer and the low coolant alarm. The low coolant alarm is like having insurance for coolant loss, nice piece of mind :). The pyrometer will allow you to fine tune the diesel pump to unlock the most of the 300tdi (BUT adhere to the tuning notes that are available somewhere on this site, go too far and you could be up for a new motor :().