Just wondering.. Also, consider the same questions most of us new to Subaru performance are thinking.. ..What to do for first car upgrade? Wheels are important, but so is getting a little more turbo whine and HP into your car as well.

I also just moved down here to Olympia Wa., for a job from Seattle,...so any of you southern sound ralliers want to get together let me know. I would also like to get hooked up with any of the North Sound Subie owners. I know Glenn and Jamie are involved a lot up there in the north. I was also to Vancouver, BC last weekend and saw a few boosted imprezas.

Let me know when the rallies on the Olympic Peninsula are you guys and girls

No turbo timer for me... I'll just make sure I take it easy before I shut the car off. That way, I can also leave the car in gear so it doesn't go anywhere when I'm not driving it! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

I just notied the WRX has a water cooled bearing housing, I don't think it will require a turbo timer, just some common sense if you drive it real hard.

Glenn

I am getting a Defi Boost Gauge/Turbo Timer combo. I really don't think the TT is an absolute necessity but it could come in handy with subsequent turbo upgrades. Plus, it's such a cool toy! VSD

Just ordered my Blitz Dual turbo timer a few days ago.

My performence guy is making me get one. He won't get any thing for me if I don't

When I get a WRX that will be one of my first mods. I don't think any turbocharged car should be without one! http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

Steve

just looked at defi's sight. That one that uses the window is damn cool. I am getting that one. Very cool looking and will impress many people.

I won't be getting on right away. It will be fine without one with the stock horsepower.

I'm not even touching the engine right away, as these things are going to be pretty damn quick out of the box.

Besides, it has 100hp more than my current car, so it will feel more than quick enough for my taste. Eventually after some turbo upgrades I will add a timer.

Suspension and running gear are a first when I get mine.

Pardon my ignorance please, but what exactly does a turbo timer do?

its a gimick people use to keep their car running after they lock it and leave it to 'cool' the turbo down by still circulating oil through the turbo houseing over the bearing..

i wont be getting one because i wont be 'boosting' my car into the parking lot and then killing the engine dead.. i dont plan to be 'boosting' all the way to work or everywhere i go either..

as far as i can see if the WRC car doesnt need one.. why does mine?.. i certainly wont be driving my car as hard as that car gets driven.. and even if i do give it a particulay hard time after a bad day at work.. leaving it running while i check my mail.. or while i drive into my apartment complex.. i dont cherish the thought of hitting small children cos i am boosting to a stop..

now.. your right.. i'm prolly over simplify things.. and generalising.. and a whole lot of other sins.. but i just dont think a turbo timer does anything that any normal drive cant do.. all it takes is a little patience to drive sensibly for a couple of minutes.. or to leave the car running while you get stuff out.. gather your groceries..

if i was racing my car.. i might get one.. but then again.. after a race too your not about ot just turn the car off..

so mmy MY opinion (not nasty flames please.. nice flames.. or disagreements are welcome) you dont need a TT.. just some patience and common sense..

Xeno, I tend to agree with you on some things, but you did write.

>> if the WRC car doesnt need one.. why does mine?..

then follow it up with the answer

>> but then again.. after a race too your not about ot just turn the car off..

And the key point you made was

>> you dont need a TT.. just some patience and common sense

I don't think you NEED it, or else Subaru would have put one in. But I'm a gadget guy and I like my toys!

Yes Blitz dual timer, I like the boost read out, and the timer is a must.

Ken

I've got a Blitz MSTT sitting on my night stand waiting for the WRX...It came off of my Turbo Mr2...

I dont think anyone "NEEDS" one, its just another small electronic gadget that makes things easier for Turbo'd cars.

I mean sure waiting a full minute is not bad at all, but sometimes there is no time for even that precious minute.

I would rather not risk it, plus its not like it costs $300 dollars, you can get them as cheap as $80 or so ( i dont know maybe cheaper).

I know i wont be driving my car as hard as the WRC car, but i will definently drive it hard and use every hp possible at certain times.

I even had a Turbo Timer on my All Motor car setup. I really drove that thing hard!!! (it wasnt rally abuse, but it was pavement torture!!).

My opinion,

EJ20WRX

I dont think anyone "NEEDS" one, its just another small electronic gadget that makes things easier for Turbo'd cars.

I mean sure waiting a full minute is not bad at all, but sometimes there is no time for even that precious minute.

I would rather not risk it, plus its not like it costs $300 dollars, you can get them as cheap as $80 or so ( i dont know maybe cheaper).

I know i wont be driving my car as hard as the WRC car, but i will definently drive it hard and use every hp possible at certain times.

I even had a Turbo Timer on my All Motor car setup. I really drove that thing hard!!! (it wasnt rally abuse, but it was pavement torture!!).

My opinion,

EJ20WRX

I have a Blitz Dual TT off my Celica so I may as well install it. The peak hold boost gauge is nice anyway since I don't think the WRX has a gauge standard.

Where can I get a Blitz MSTT?

Well.. firstly I didn't need a WRX, but I wanted one. So I bought one. Do I need a turbo timer? Probably not.. but I wanted one..so I bought one.. a Blitz FATT. I've bought a lot of things that I didn't need..but wanted. Who cares if you don't need it..if you want it..buy it. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

<center>Two Questions!</center>

Since the WRX is designed as a modern road car, as opposed to a race car, it was likely engineered to last many tens of thousands of miles, and many years. I'm assuming that Subaru has designed a margin of safety into the WRX turbo perhaps by keeping it relatively small, as well as water-cooled. How much margin is there? Would the answer be in the WRX manual?

1) Do you all think it is likely that Subaru will officially advise us in the WRX manual to take some seconds to let the turbo spool down and cool off before killing the ignition, if the motor has just been on boost?

2) Have the other car manufacturers of turbo cars advised in their manuals a cool down period off of the boost before killing the ignition?

The don't need one on a rally car because they replace the engine when it brakes. And they don't have to worry about it. They will most likely replace the engine after every race.

I didn't have one on my previous two turbo cars and I seriously doubt I'll get one for the WRX. And believe me, few people are more anal about their cars than I am, but I don't feel a turbo timer will do anything for you that a little common sense will not do. For me, money will be better spent elsewhere. If after driving hard, you can't remember to drive a few blocks at a relaxed pace or to idle for a minute or two before shutting down then I guess you should get one. And remember, a turbo timer is not going to eliminate the necessity to warm your engine up thoroughly before getting on it hard or eliminate the necessity for using a high quality (preferably synthetic) oil and changing it regularly.

TT are widely used on oil-cooled turbos since the engine and the turbo heat the oil to high levels .... if you don't let it cool slightly after a hard run then oil can actually "coke" in the turbo. Not a problem for the WRX with its water cooled turbo though.

HKS Type 0 Timer is basically the same as the Blitz FATT but it costs less ($95). The Type 1 adds a lot of features for another $50. You can check them out at www.alamomotorsports.com (http://www.alamomotorsports.com)

TT' are a huge secuirty problem if they are not integrated into the alarm.

Most alarm systems cannot arm while the car is running so there is a real risk while it is still going.

I got in the habit of always letting the car idle down while I got my stuff together no matter what driving I had been doing - longer/harder driving just got a longer time.

In fact it is such a habit that 2 years after I sold my Oz WRX and moved to the US, I still pull up and idle down in my na car

The Blitz FATT is connected to the handbrake. If someone releases the handbrake while the engine is running, the timer shuts it off immedialtely. Just FYI. http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/smile.gif

is a turbo timer a neccesity? or can i hold of on buying until i upgrade the turbo?

My concern is if you place the TT in a location where you can easily read/adjust it, there will be vehicle starting leads within easy access to potential thieves. And if you wire it up so that the alarm can still be activated, I assume that it would be wired in so that ignition cut-offs in your alarm would be easily bypassed with these leads. Do those with current TT have them easily accessible? Are these concerns of mine unfounded? How easy would it be to hot-wire the car with the wires coming out of the TT?

On a side note... Does anyone know if there are harnesses available for the WRX yet? or does anyone have the wiring color codes for WRX?

Thanks.

OnTheGas, as for whether or not Subaru will advise owners to let the car idle a bit, most likely. At least the did so for their previous turbocharged cars. It was in the manual and I believe the older Loyale turbos had a sticker on the door that advised the cool-down as well.

From 1991 Legacy Turbo Owner's Manual:

For Turbo Vehichles, after heavy highway driving, it is highly recommended that you let the engine idle for 1 minute before shutting it off. This procedure helps to assure maximum performance of the turbocharger. The 1-minute idling period allows the turbocharger to stop spinning and cool down as oil is circulated through it by the idling engine. This procedures is common practice for high perfomance turbocharged engines.

So, as most people said, if you are driving it hard and plan on shutting it off soon after, it is worth it to let it sit, and is advised by the manufacturer. Whether or not you need a turbo timer to do so is up to you. I've been driving turbo Subes for years and have yet to get bored waiting a few moments for the turbo to cool down.

I especially like it when guys list turbo timers as a "mod". What's it a modification to, your center console? http://www.i-club.com/ubb-files/smilies/wink.gif j/k

And as far as why Subaru doesn't put one on themselves, as a Service Rep for the SOA Penn-Jersey Region explained: The Last thing a Car Manufacturer will promote is the owner leaving the car run while it is unattended" Subaru would rather replace a few turbos, if needed, under warranty, then deal with a lawsuite from a family whose kid was ran over by an automatic WRX that happened to pop into gear while it was "cooling down". Would it ever happen, probably never. But as a car company, these are the things they must think about.

It is in fact technically illegal in some places to leave a car running and unattended which makes having a TT in a car a defectable item

Both my WRX's had that statement in the manual and in fact the MY94 had a clear sticker on the drivers door trim just below the window that repeated the same text

Coking is still a potential problem, water cooled turbo or not.
Yes, most owner's manuals will recommend that you run the engine for 30 seconds or more before shutdown if you've just driven hard.

Does anyone know if it is possible to just have an apparatus that would water keep flowing through the turbo after the engine is shut off, instead of keeping the car on?

If I am driving my prelude hard, and turn it off, it turns on a fan of some sort to cool down the engine.

It is oil running through your turbo, not water. And no, no one makes such a device. The fan in your Prelude is just your radiatior fan!!

Actually, I do recall seeing an aftermarket pump that would circulate the oil through the turbo & motor after you shut the car down, but I can't remember what it's called.

There is oil AND water cooling your turbo. Audi turbos have an auxiliary electric pump that continues to circulate water through the turbo after shutdown but I know of nothing available aftermarket.