996 turbo start-up and cool-down ritual?

[benzito]

Afternoon everyone,

just a basic question really as per title to make sure I don't knacker the engine/turbo's!. This is my first turbo'ed performance car and I've consulted the manual but am still unclear because it says that after switching the car on you shouldn't wait to long before engaging the engine

So - in the morning how long should the car be left to idle/warm-up? should I wait until the engine temp reaches a certain point? Does lightly revving the car help?

And when I finish driving, obviously I'll wait for the turbo's to spool down but should I leave the car to idle for a bit before switching off? Thanks

[christer]

Keep it simple. Start car and drive it gently until the temps are up. At the end of a hard drive just drive the car off boost for the last 2-3 minutes of the journey and then switch off when you get to your destination.

[smj996c]

christer said:

Keep it simple. Start car and drive it gently until the temps are up. At the end of a hard drive just drive the car off boost for the last 2-3 minutes of the journey and then switch off when you get to your destination.

+1

[nev748]

I was at a motorbike trackday the otherday which whilst the 20 min safety briefing was going on had an newish (8000 mile) 997 turbo blasting round the track and maxing out along the runway. Out of sight we could hear he lost it and came back to the pits very quickly.

Whereupon he jumped straight out having turned the engine off with no cooling down at all! Lots of" I'm glad that's not my car" being mentioned as the oils cooked away in the turbos....

[benzito]

yep that's what I've been doing pretty much so I guess I'll continue.

If I leave the car idling for too long is that bad for the engine or have I misunderstood the manual (e.g. if I was waiting outside a shop somewhere and left the car idling for 5-10min).

[davek_964]

This was a £100k-ish car when new. If it couldn't idle for 5 mins without damage, I'm not sure it would be fit for purpose....

They really aren't that fragile. Use a bit of common sense (i.e. don't turn the engine off 30s after red lining it in every gear) and you have nothing to worry about.

[Sunnysidebb]

christer said:

Keep it simple. Start car and drive it gently until the temps are up. At the end of a hard drive just drive the car off boost for the last 2-3 minutes of the journey and then switch off when you get to your destination.

What Christer says nothing more , nothing less. I have done this since my first turbo car at 19 years old and have always done it with every Turbo car I have had.
No need to go ott and wait 5 to 10 minutes. Just give the turbo cores time to flush through with relatively cooler oil compared to the cores them selves. If you use the recommended oil it wont boil and gum up your turbo bearings.

Allowing the car to idle warm up is another no no. Just drive It sensibly until the engine is at normal operating temperature.

[benzito]

Sunnysidebb said:

christer said:

Keep it simple. Start car and drive it gently until the temps are up. At the end of a hard drive just drive the car off boost for the last 2-3 minutes of the journey and then switch off when you get to your destination.

Allowing the car to idle warm up is another no no. Just drive It sensibly until the engine is at normal operating temperature.

yes this was the part I mainly wanted to clarify. I'll just drive gently then until the engine warms up before rinsing it! This way I also won't be late for work, in my old e46 m3 I used to have to wait a bit before for driving off

[graemel]

Gradual build up and cool down process I have always done. Someone technical will be along to confirm but I think you'll find that after switching off there's a pump that continues to circulate the oil through the turbo's for a period of time to prevent damage.

[stubbsy996]

My routine (and concesus of opinion on various other forums) is start it up and drive off, without letting it stand idling. Easy on the throttle nothing higher than 3000rpm or 0.2 boost for first 10 or so miles, or 10-15 minutes, till it's warmed up. Can then gradually start giving it the beans
After some spirited driving, when returning home etc, stay off boost for last 2 or 3 miles, or last 5 minutes, then switch off without leaving it to idle. (If I had been on boost shortly before parking up then I might let it idle for a minute or so.
Can't remember what the manual says but don't think it recommends any idling period before switching off (no doubt someone will correct me if I'm wrong)!