Warm Up - Cool Down

[Cupra Ross]

The point of leaving the engine idling or in the case of a petrol driving with less throttle for the last part of your journey is not to cool the actual body of the turbo. The turbo is designed to run at extreme temperatures. The problem is that the oil we use in our cars is not.

When you turn your engine off, you stop the oil from circulating and the residual oil that is left in the oil pathways slowly runs back into the sump. A very hot turbo will bake and carbonise its residual oil in short order. These carbon particles are baked on to the internals of the turbo and can severely reduce oil circulation on subsequent runs. That is why its important to give the turbo as much help as possible in cooling down. A bit of 100 deg C oil circulating around a 700 deg C turbo for a couple of minutes makes a world of difference.

 

[andycupra]

The point of leaving the engine idling or in the case of a petrol driving with less throttle for the last part of your journey is not to cool the actual body of the turbo. The turbo is designed to run at extreme temperatures. The problem is that the oil we use in our cars is not.

When you turn your engine off, you stop the oil from circulating and the residual oil that is left in the oil pathways slowly runs back into the sump. A very hot turbo will bake and carbonise its residual oil in short order. These carbon particles are baked on to the internals of the turbo and can severely reduce oil circulation on subsequent runs. That is why its important to give the turbo as much help as possible in cooling down. A bit of 100 deg C oil circulating around a 700 deg C turbo for a couple of minutes makes a world of difference.

well said.

 

[storeyd]

Yes this is correct.

But the LCR has a post ignition water pump which continues to cool the turbo for several minutes after you switch off.
Even still I alway go easy on the home approach and if I ever have been ragging it I wait at least a minute. Guess this is a habit from my last car....200SX where it was gospel.

 

[oldman]

i have a tdi and always idle for about 1min and only go above 3k when warm, takes about 7miles on my roads and do same when finish
if i start then drive, i find she tends to like stalling a lot and isn't as nice to drive especially pulling away as seems a dead weight

 

[beezasport]

does the LC have a water pump that continues after shut off as i cant hear a buzzing when i turn off
cheers

 

[nugget]

does the LC have a water pump that continues after shut off as i cant hear a buzzing when i turn off
cheers

Yep I believe so, on all 20VTs across the VAG range.

 

[RobM]

It does indeed

 

[andycupra]

i dont think it does.

my understanding is the Leon cupra does not have a water pump that continues to circulate after switch off.
but the LCR does...
also note while curculating the water may add cooling the oil doesnt get pumped around during this. so a cool down on the move has advantage that it does both.

 

[beezasport]

i drive easy n the way home anyway so not a problem just wondering..cheers

 

[m.r.davies]

I dont know enough about LCR turbo, but the car cost me a lot of cash so i look after it

I wont take in over 2k until the water temp is up to 90,
then i wont take it over 3k until i've done about 10 mins of driving, then if i'm up for it the fun can begin!

as for cool down, i stay off the turbo for the last few miles.
For oil, i use that really expensive stuff that comes in gold cartons, cant remember what its called but its supposed to be the nads

I'm probably being over cautious,
if i'm doing anything wrong then please tell me.

 

[RobM]

Sounds like you're being very careful, which can only be a good thing

 

[skullmunki]

outbound, i try not to go over 3k before it gets to 90. I only work 5 miles away, so its generally only just got to temp by the time i get to work!

The way home, especially the last half a mile is riddled with roundabouts and traffic lights, so it gets a chance to warm down nicely!

 

[Fastbaz]

dont take mine past 2000/2200 rpm for the first 10 minutes or so from cold then the temp usually has been at 90 for a cople of mins and can open it up gradually and always run below 2200 rpm for the last mile or so before sitting in the car for about 30 secs pior to turnng of and mine is a fr tdi ....

 

[Skorchio]

Afterwards I generally write and send a text to the girlfriend - sufficient time for a "cool down".

This is Soooo true

 

[Skorchio]

For oil, i use that really expensive stuff that comes in gold cartons, cant remember what its called but its supposed to be the nads.

That reminds me of when u ask a girl what car she has and she gurls her hair and says.... Its Blue!!

 

[cupra r rob]

For oil, i use that really expensive stuff that comes in gold cartons, cant remember what its called but its supposed to be the nads

Do you mean this

 

[Skorchio]

 

[Welshnel]

lol well with the cold weather the car is running idle for a bit while I scrape the ice off the windows

But otherwise I drive off straight away but I don't tool it about much. Will always take it easy though to let the temp go up. also when I get close to my house I tend to take it easy whether I had been tooling it or not and then once iv parked I will let it tick over while I take the face off my head unit.

That’s about it really.

 

[JamJay]

Sit on driveway for 5-10mins and let coolant temp at least pick up off the bottom of the gauge, choke to go off & revs to idle normally --> Drive sensibly for 5-10mins after that then I'll do what the hell I like --> Calm it down again 2-3miles before I arrive at my destination --> Leave engine running for 2mins while parked up & unloading things.

 

[MrJohnnyB]

I live like half a mile from work, so no time to cool up cool down, just drive to work, get out and then drive home again. Is nice when i actually have to go somewhere for work though and can plant my foot a bit!