TIPS AND TRICKS ABOUT TURBOS
At Turbo3 we are specialists in the sector that is why we tell you simple tips and tricks about turbochargers that can be very useful for maintaining it and for it to last as long as possible.
How does your turbo work?
The combustion that powers your engine requires three elements: fuel, ignition, and oxygen. Your turbo works like a hair dryer, shooting extra air at the pistons to ensure fuel energy is maximized in a short amount of time.
The system does this by using a turbine, which is driven by the exhaust gases, drawing in air from outside the car to feed the required oxygen. With all this heat, pressure, and movement in the system, it can be prone to breakdown and failure.
How can you preserve the life of your Turbo?
What are the general guidelines for minimizing turbo wear and how can you help limit the amount of emissions produced by the system?
REGULAR OIL CHANGES
Keeping your turbo lubricated is essential to ensure its proper functioning. Older turbos used to be completely oil-cooled, and even with modern turbos that rely more on refrigerants, there can still be a high demand for system oil.
Therefore, it is recommended that you perform regular oil changes every 5,000 miles to keep the system well lubricated. If you don’t get out on the open road as much, you may be able to get away with less frequent oil changes, but we always recommend that you deviate from the side of caution.
CHECK OIL QUALITY
Using a good quality oil will help extend the life of your turbo. You can find the best type of oil for the job in your owner’s manual. Generally, turbos work best with synthetic oil and there is nothing to stop you from doing a little research on the web to see what the general opinion is on the best oil for your car. In short, cheap, low-quality oil will not adequately protect your turbo.
USE THE RIGHT FUEL
Lower octane fuels can create knocks within the engine that could create a series of sequential problems, causing premature wear on your vehicle’s turbocharger system. Always check with the pump that you are using the correct fuel and avoid opting for lower priced alternatives.
WORK THE GEARS, NOT THE TURBO
When you have that extra boost in your engine, it can be very tempting to rely too much on the turbo to lift your head. Yes, pushing for that overtaking power can come in handy on some occasions, but remember that the transmission and gear system is the ideal way to get some extra grunt from your engine. Always try to use the gears for extra speed when needed, rather than always pushing the turbo, as this can cause premature part wear.
HEAT THE VEHICLE
The oil in your car must be properly heated before it can run to the level required to keep the turbo lubricated. We always recommend that you run the car for about 5-10 minutes, to get everything to the proper temperature levels, before you start using the turbo at higher speeds. Allow the engine to warm up to its proper potential to take less risk of damaging the turbo.
NAVIGATE CORRECTLY
It goes without saying that when you push the turbo, this wears out the part. While it’s great to use the turbo to accelerate on the freeway or highway, once you’ve reached a good cruising speed, stay off the gas, using the minimum number of periodic pulses to maintain your speed. In short, use less turbo for more system life.
LET THE TURBO COOL
If you’ve been out and about doing considerable speeds and stopped suddenly, then your turbo might still be red hot. If you turn the engine off quickly, this can leave the heat with nowhere to safely dissipate. This heat can cook the oil in the turbo, turning it into a thick, useless and viscous sludge that can clog the system and leave it damaged and, in the worst case, impractical. All you have to do is leave the engine running for a couple of minutes at the end of its idle ride, letting the turbo cool down safely rather than hitting it with a sudden loss of heat, before finally shutting it down.
DO NOT TIGHTEN THE THROTTLE
Hitting the gas pedal is the process of increasing the revs to match the speed of the road when downshifting. When you apply force to the throttle in such a situation, if your vehicle has a turbo, then it makes the system work a little harder, which in turn causes the part to wear out prematurely. Finally if you buy a vehicle with a modified engine, or in fact decide to implement a small customization yourself, this can affect the performance of your turbo and the manufacturer’s guidelines will no longer apply. In such situations, we always recommend that a professional review your new system, who can test the stress tolerance limits and temperature restrictions of the system.
These inspections let you know how hard the turbo can push, what type of oil is best to use, and even where heat dissipates inside your vehicle, all helping you create a clear picture of how to best preserve and use this high performance. system.
For more information you can contact us, we will be happy to assist you and give you the solutions you need.
