5 replies to this topic

[98Esprit]

I recently purchased a 98 TT V8 Esprit and a mechanic friend of mine suggested that when I arrive at my destination that I should let the car sit and idle for 30 - 60 seconds to allow the turbos "drain". I have never heard of this and when I purchased the car it did not have any manuals included so I don't know if this is something that is recommended. Any help would be appreciated.

[mike_sekinger]

Hi Nick,

It is good advice and you can even buy a ´turbo timer´ to perform this function for you. Google Turbo Timer and take a look at the products on offer.

The idea of allowing the car to idle is not so much to let the turbos drain, but to allow the turbos cores to cool, while there is still a flow of oil through them. It is a precautionary measure to the effects of coking on the bearings which can occur if the flow stops which the core is still very hot.

Cheers,
Mike S

[redshift]

The principle is correct but not the reason.

Letting the car idle for a short while allows the turbos to cool down. Otherwise they could be still hot enough to carbonise the oil that will stop circulating through the turbo bearing once the engine is stopped.

I think the manual recommends that you do this "after a period of spirited driving"

[lotus4s]

"after a period of spirited driving" is the key phrase. It really doesn't matter if you idle the car for a minute after stopping or just take it easy and stay off the boost for the last couple of miles before you arrive at your destination. The result is the same in letting the turbo cool down with oil/coolant flow to them...a turbo timer would be better in that you can increase the cool down time if so desired.

[M3S2k]

side question, not to get off topic, but do the turbo's on Esprits have oil and coolant running through them? Never thought coolant ran through a turbo until I was working on a friends Isuzu engine and noticed that it's turbo had both fluids running through it.

[mike_sekinger]

Yep - it´s are a water cooled housing. The coolant feed is coming directly from the engine block water jacket and returns to the header tank.