Alexandra Ramirez
Turbocharging your car is a way to truly enjoy the full potential of your car. Thanks to the turbo, you get an additional boost of power and fuel efficiency. Pushing your foot on the accelerator makes the turbo-charged engine suck in more air and mix it with more fuel to produce instant thrust and more torque for the car. While this experience can be filled with adrenaline, this amazing feeling does come with a price – the price of maintenance on the turbo engine.
Regularly pushing the turbo engine to its limit can damage its longevity. Maintenance on the engine is a necessary step if you want your turbos to last a good long time. Turbo engines require attention and intensive care.
Here are six ways you can help extend the life of the turbo in your car and significantly increase the engine’s performance.
1. Frequent, Timely Oil Changes
Regularly changing the oil is crucial for an engine’s longevity. A high-quality, fully synthetic oil is crucial for achieving this.
The very first engines ever built used oil as their only cooling component. Even though water can be used as a coolant in today’s engines, it is only a short-term remedy. Fully-synthetic oil is the safest option to protect your vehicle from the high temperatures of a turbo engine. 5000 miles is the ideal maximum number of miles to change the oil of your car 3000 is even better.
2. Warm the Car Before Going Full Fledge on The Turbo
Regularly feeding your car with oil is a start, but once the engine starts running, you need to use it properly and with precautions.
Getting both your coolant and your oil to warm up to the optimum temperature results in smooth functioning of the engine. 375 degrees Celsius to 425 degrees Celsius is considered the optimum temperature range. At these temperatures, the oil is not thick which prevents the engine from taking too much load.
3. Don’t Forget to Cool It Down
After an intense session of working out your turbocharged car, it is critical to cool down the engine before shutting it off. A minute or two of idling helps your oil cool the turbo and the engine itself.
If the engine is not given appropriate time to cool down and circulate the oil, the oil will clog and block the oil channels of the turbo.
4. Using Turbo Blow-Off Valves
A blow-off valve (BOV) is a pressure release system which is present inside most turbocharged engines. The main purpose of the valve is to take the strain and pressure off the turbo when the throttle is suddenly released.
Not all turbo engines have BOV, but it is recommended because it can lengthen the life of your turbo. BOVs create a powerful sound and are also responsible for protecting the engine and ensuring that the engine is performing at its best.
Here is what the best turbo blow-off valves do:
- Create a powerful sound
Although it might be annoying for some, what’s the use of having a turbo-charged car when it won’t make a loud, powerful roar. For this purpose, a blow-off valve would be the best fit.
- Prolong the life of the turbo
A BOV prevents clogging of oil. It can extend the life of the engine and the turbocharger.
- Improve performance
Turning and shifting performance can greatly increase with the help of a BOV.
5. Regular Cleaning
Ignoring the regular cleaning and services of the car is a sure way to reduce the lifespan of your turbo. To extend the lifespan, make sure to clean the engine regularly and by a professional mechanic who knows what he’s doing.
6. Proper Driving
The way you drive your car has a huge impact on your turbo and keeping a few rules in mind will extend its lifespan. For example, a common mistake is to start the car without waiting for a few seconds immediately. This can drastically damage your turbo life. Also, extensive acceleration all the time can reduce your engine’s life, not to mention it will increase your maintenance costs too.
