I have got into this habit of starting the car and NEVER driving it till it's ticked over for a few minutes, and i ALWAYS let it run for a few minutes after driving even if i haven't used the turbo.

This is all in my head and i can't go or stop without a few minutes running and have convinced myself this helps keep my old engine good

Does anyone else do this or am i over-reacting?

 

On start up i do wait about a min b4 driving off.

On shut down depends if ive been giving it beans on the way home.even if i have just wait a few mins b4 cutting it


This is taken off the Turbo technics website...

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Should I leave my engine ticking over before it is turned off ?

Not for normal every day driving, but still worthwhile if the engine has been under load or raced before being turned off. e.g. Towing a caravan or after climbing a long incline.

 

It is definately a good idea: more-so on turbo cars anyway.

Don't forget that oil is used to keep the turbo cool...so you don't want to go thrashing it from start-up as the oil wil be 'thick' and not circulated properly having been stood for a while.

Same on shut-down. If you get back & switch off, the oil will stop being pumped around ..but the turbo will be red-hot(ter than normal) and need the oil to cool it.

Good practice to get into.

Could think of it as a sprinter. They warm up so that they don't do any damage when they 'race'...but also have a warm down period afterwards.

 

I do it all the time, even on the XR2.

Not only is it just good for the engine because you give the pistons time to expand and fit properly when they are warm so you keep initial wear down to a min.

But also it allows the oil time to go from sump to head and properly get round the engine.

Go kaining it off with out a 2-3min warm up your just grinding un-lubracated parts.

 

i always warm up , and i have shit oil in right now, needs to be changed

 

it can be a problem in a car with an ali block,like say a punto,they tell you in the manual not to leave it idalling and drive as soon as poss,coz the head can warp.my wifes already had this with her punto,fixed under warrenty of course!

 

I thought leaving it to idle for a few mins wasnt recomended

I never give mine any boost for at least 10 to 15 minutes so the oil is upto correct temps and always leave it to idle before turning off,depends on how its been driven on how long its left to idle though.

 

Always give mine 3 mins to cool the turbo down, or you could just get a turbo timer.

 

I tend to drive off more or less straight away, as mine is a little grumpy when cold so I like to get her to temp briskly without abusing her - If you drive off normally straight away without too many revs or labouring the old girl, the oil pressure will be higher than at idle and consequently better for the engine.

When returning i've usually been giving her a jolly good thrashing so tend to take the long way home or go round the block a bit, off boost and with the heater on full to dissipate some heat and get the turbo slowed down before I put her to bed.

The thought of switching the engine off immediately after a hard run and leaving my lovely turbo spinning wildly with no lubrication makes me shudder, as would the idea of letting her gently cook herself and her oil by just stopping and turning off without a cooling down period.

To summarise, keep up the good work, but don't worry about letting her idle at cold for too long - you could be doing more harm than good - 30 seconds or so should do it.

 

if every one done this there be more rs on the road

 

a turbo timer is the answer

 

Cool down period is vital if you've been caning it, cos the oil left inside the red hot turbo turns to sludge and bungs up the turbo bearings