Maintaining a Turbo Engine
Road cars equipped with turbo engines started in the mid-1990s and became mainstream in the early 2000s especially with the diesel engines. Lately, this has become the norm of the modern internal combustion engine as turbos are known to make big power on small engines.
A modern turbocharged system is a complex piece of machinery and they require special treatment to keep these machines performing at their best. Regular maintenance and changes to your driving style are needed to get the most from a turbo engine, and to avoid costly repairs. Here are things that you need to do to maximize the performance of your turbo engine and minimizing “wear and tear”.
1. Regular, Correct Oil Maintenance
Turbo systems are made up of moving parts which spin at incredibly high speeds, and work under intense heat and pressure. These parts need a constant flow of the “correct spec” engine oil to lubricate the turbo parts, to reduce wear and help them perform at their best. Using the correct engine oil is so important that some high-end turbo systems makers specify even the brand of oil, next to the oil viscosity.
For the best performance from a turbocharger, change the oil at least every 5,000 kilometers, replacing it with the manufacturer specified fully-synthetic oil, noting the right viscosity and API for your car. It’s best to refer to the vehicles handbook.
2. Take it easy when the engine is cold.
Engine oil thickens when it’s cold, meaning, it doesn’t circulate as freely in the engine compared to when it’s hot. Until the oil has warmed and thinned, moving parts are at an increased risk of wear and tear – and this is especially true of turbo components.
This does not mean though that you can’t proceed. Modern engines have idle control valves that increase revs when the engine is cold, therefore hastening the process of reaching operating temperatures. But it’s good to note that being too aggressive with your right foot in this stage will put a massive amount of strain on the oil circulation system.
Watch the engine temperature gauge, going easy for the first 5 minutes of driving, until it’s reaches the optimum operating temperature.
3. Don’t stress the system
Having a turbo in your car might sound exciting, like a racer boy. But often it is only installed to make up the power lost from having a low-capacity, low displacement engine, particularly in modern eco-friendly hatchbacks and Asian Utility Vehicles. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of the limits of your car’s turbo system, and avoid overdoing it by being too aggressive with the accelerator. Overstressed turbos create so much heat, you can easily stress it and cook the engine oil and damage parts in the system.
Use the accelerator sparing while maintaining speed. Regular bouts of aggressive driving could take their toll, and cause costly issues.
4. Use the proper gears
While a turbo system gives even the smallest engines plenty of power and torque, you have to keep in mind that all those power comes when the engine is boosting (turbo is activated). When the engine is running without boost, it loses its accelerative performance and stresses the engine.
Whether you’re overtaking or driving up a long hill, downshifting into a lower gear is a safer long-term option, giving the engine the proper revs to boost the turbocharger and aiding the climbing or overtaking performance of the car. This will help to limit the wear and tear suffered when the small engine is stressed without boost.
5. Cool down the engine before turning it OFF.
Turbos produce a lot of heat while operating, and if you turn off the engine straight away, this residual heat will boil the oil in the turbo system, leading to a build-up of carbon particles that can cause corrosion, blockage and premature engine and turbo system wear.
After driving, get the habit of leaving the engine running for a couple of minutes at idle, which will cool the turbo enough to switch off the engine without cooking the engine oil
When you’re parking, don’t rev right before turning the ignition OFF. Pressing the accelerator causes the rotating turbines in the turbo to spin; when the engine is switched off. The flow of oil lubricating these moving parts will stop, but the turbines won’t stop spinning. This puts strain on the bearings, causing friction and a build-up of heat which can lead to a failure in the turbo system.
Installing a turbo-timer is a good option for those who want it spontaneous. Turbo-timer delays the ignition switch by a minute to cool down the turbo system. These timers can also be programmed to activate longer.
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