Maintaining Turbo?

Question

So my car is a 1995 Eclipse GST. No one I've known has ever owned a turbo. I've been readin and it says I shouldn't shut it off right away. Well damn, I've been doing since I got it in March. The radiator fan is right in front of the Turbo. So does it really matter. I'm saving up for a turbo timer right now. Or should I not worry. Also, what else do I need to do. I've been puttin premium after my dad accidentyl put regular 87. Thanks

Answer 1

A couple of turbo -related rules of thumb.
1-If you've been driving it hard and really working the turbo-YES-let it idle a minute or two to let cooler oil circulate through it before shutting it down. If the turbo is hot when you shut it down, it can really cook the oil in it, nd lessen the life of the bearings due to excessive wear the next start-up
2-When you have the oil changed, request that the person performing the il change disable the spark or fuel pump, and spin it over until the oil light goes out. New oil filters have drain-back valves to keep the oil system primed for the next start-up, but with no ,oil in them , staring the car without priming the filter first can be very hard on the bearings.
And along that same note-always let the car do its own idle-rpm-thing for a half minute or so on every start up to ensure the turbo is getting a healthy supply of oil before "gunning" the engine. And also along that same note-DO NOT gun the engine to the point where he turbo starts to spin just before shutting it down.-the turbo bearings will oil-starve.

Answer 2

The reason everyone is suggesting three or four minutes of idol time is so that your crankcase pressurized oil system has a chance to cool and lubricate the small turbo bearings. These small bearings are very subject to a weird word called oil coking. Oil coking happens when the turbo housing transfers a tremendous amount of exhaust heat throughout the turbocharger as soon as you turn the ignition off. While it cools there's no pressurized lubrication. The little bearing simply sets still, gets hot and what oil film is left evaporates causing oil coking on the bearing. Coking looks like a piece of hard coal inside the impeller shaft bearing. Sooner or later a turbo rebuild will be in order because the main shaft can no longer turn the cooked fried out bearings.
This is a prime example why it's good practice to use a full synthetic motor oil and the highest octane fuel you can find to protect the valves, pistons and rings.

Answer 3

Hey buddy, welcome to the DSM world. Ive got a 97 spyder gst. To answer your question: turbo timeing is done to alow your turbo to cool down and let oil seep in to it so it spools up better when you start the engine again. This leads to a turbo that will last a LOT longer. the radiator dosent do to much to cool it by just being there but instead it donates a lil coolant to the turbo. and as for gas. 87 wont hurt ur engine at all if it was just put in once. the octane level refers to the flash poin of the fuel. meaning when the fuel will combust. if it combusts to early this will lead to engine knock. and after long exposure could damage the tops of ur pistons.