Any problem idling a gas turbo engine?

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No problems reported from the folks who idle 1.4T Cruze Eco's for similar times on their courier routes during the winter and summer for running the heat or A/C. The turbo is barely turning and the engine is nice and hot for a long time.

I'm guessing the idle times are waiting at dragstrips or staging for HDPE's.
 
The one thing I'd consider is the PCV system when it gets older. Turbo cars have additional complex plumbing like check valves etc to deal with boost. You don't yet know if there'll be sludge issues, like volvo used to have to deal with on their flame traps (N/A) or related doohickeys on their turbos.

Speaking from experience from a 91 940 turbo, with the PCV system a mess in its old age.
 
Originally Posted By: whip
The cat needs heat to properly work. At idle, it might not get enough heat, and clogging could be an issue.

That's not how it works.

A cat needs heat to achieve maximum conversion efficiency; It will be perfectly happy receiving and passing cooler exhaust, but it then won't be able to completely convert/reduce the incoming gases to the desired outgoing gases.

Clogging
is primarily due to problems, such as excessive oil in the exhaust, or high misfire-count.
 
I own a vehicle based on the same architecture as your focus with a very similar engine.

The only issue you could run into with extended idle is running the car out of fuel or the engine bay getting too hot. Since you're not moving - the hot air is trapped in the engine bay. Excessive heat is bad for everything, including your turbo.

Running a direct injected engine out of gas will also be a real pain in the [censored]. You have to re-prime the entire fuel system before it will crank again.

If you're really worried about how your car is running - and you have an android phone - pick up the app called Torque and a cheap $15 OBD-II BlueTooth adapter for your car. It will act as a datalogger and allow you to watch you cat temps and other motor vitals so you don't have to worry as much.
 
MY god.....

Turbo's do not turn on past a certain RPM range. They are always spinning, always on. The wasegate or VNT guides are open at idle & off boost so no pressure is building at least on a gasoline engine. Now because DI they might command the wastegate close build minimal boost at idle to promote cleaner running/intake valve cleaning/ etc...

Diesels purposely boost at idle after an extended idle time because if they don't oil will leak past the seals & start pooling. I hear it on the TDI all the time. Oil does leak past the seals on gasoline engines too but not as much from my experience.

Whatever your reasoning is for idling it please make sure to give it the beans once you are out on the highway. Carbon can certainly build up and a good ol Italian tune up will get it out of there as well as any oil in the intake tract.

Also please use synthetic oil make sure the cooling system is looked after. That much idle time is the definition of severe service.
 
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Thanks for the advice about engine temps. I do have a Scangauge hooked up to the car to monitor coolant temperature.

I'm running Mobil 1 5w30 on 5k miles intervals and am very diligent when it comes to maintenance. It's easy to get the revs up too, this car just begs for it!
 
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223

Diesels purposely boost at idle after an extended idle time because if they don't oil will leak past the seals & start pooling. I hear it on the TDI all the time. Oil does leak past the seals on gasoline engines too but not as much from my experience.


Are you referring to the turbo seals? Why would oil leak past on a diesel but not a gasoline engine?
 
Originally Posted By: rationull
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223

Diesels purposely boost at idle after an extended idle time because if they don't oil will leak past the seals & start pooling. I hear it on the TDI all the time. Oil does leak past the seals on gasoline engines too but not as much from my experience.


Are you referring to the turbo seals? Why would oil leak past on a diesel but not a gasoline engine?


I've honestly pondered that before and the only thing I thought it could be from was lack of intake vacuum and just the fact diesel's run higher compression resulting in more blowby era more PCV fumes/vapor.

Every diesel I've come into contact with had a significant amount of oil in the intake tract.

The few turbo gasoline engines I've had over the years barely had any, maybe a light coating which is somewhat expected.
 
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223
Originally Posted By: rationull
Originally Posted By: Thermo1223

Diesels purposely boost at idle after an extended idle time because if they don't oil will leak past the seals & start pooling. I hear it on the TDI all the time. Oil does leak past the seals on gasoline engines too but not as much from my experience.


Are you referring to the turbo seals? Why would oil leak past on a diesel but not a gasoline engine?


I've honestly pondered that before and the only thing I thought it could be from was lack of intake vacuum and just the fact diesel's run higher compression resulting in more blowby era more PCV fumes/vapor.

Every diesel I've come into contact with had a significant amount of oil in the intake tract.

The few turbo gasoline engines I've had over the years barely had any, maybe a light coating which is somewhat expected.


That seems plausible but seems to me vacuum or PCV gasses/blowby would have nothing to do w/ oil leaking past the turbo seals. At least I couldn't imagine intake vacuum being powerful enough to impact the turbo seals.
 
No bearings are perfect and seals degrade over time. Many cars have design issues as well that cause problems. High blow by from large boost pressures can cause lots of oil mist to be pushed through the pcv valves. Take a look at first generation Direct Injection motors like those found in Mazdaspeed3's and 6's and in some BMW's and Porsche's. They all had major issues with oil contamination in the intake tract.

Overspeeding a turbo (running it outside of it's boost curve regions) can also force oil out of the seals. Not to mention it can ruin the bearings and shaft.
 
Originally Posted By: camelCase

Overspeeding a turbo (running it outside of it's boost curve regions) can also force oil out of the seals. Not to mention it can ruin the bearings and shaft.

That is true, thankfully with modern engine management, that all can be prevented.

However, there is always the temptation to make a turbo car faster with mods, and at that point, overspeeding might happen if things are not done correctly.
 
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