Does prolonged turbo boost = damage?

[Palut]

How well does a turbo engine stand up to prolonged boost?

I've got a Focus ST with the 2.0 Ecoboost. Ford says that its top speed is a drag limited 154 mph. Let's say that I shipped it to Germany and drove at 140-150 mph on the autobahn for an hour. That would have me in top gear, at high revs, and at or close to full boost for a full hour. How would the turbo hold up? Can a turbo be kept from overheating over a long period like that?

 

[donnyj08]

the turbo in ecoboost engines is water cooled so i would say it will stay fairly cool. while the engine will be screaming the radiator will be gobbling up tons and tons of cool air at those speeds. as long as oil temps do not get to hot im sure it would hold up pretty well.

 

[79sunrunner]

A large amount of help is from the coolent cooled tubes running through the turbo, as well as pressured oil. On a factory set up, wouldn't the blow off valve be set to relief pressure earlier than normal to prolong life. I'm a turbo newbie, and I'm sure I'm wrong. Why do you ask? Are you planning on a German road trip, or doing something interesting, or curious. I've wondering the same thing too.

 

[GutsyGecko]

It would be fine. Just watch those temps.

 

[KenO]

The turbo would be uneffected.

 

[The motor guy]

if it's a vgt turbo which it probably is, it would do it some good by baking off any of the carbon that gets built up around the veins.

 

[michaelluscher]

It's water and oil cooled, Plus New turbo's are pretty good.
Just keep the occasional glance at the temp gauge.

Nice choice of car...
Rock on

 

[JHZR2]

Time at temperature is the determinant for degradation rates and life. The hour on the autobahn is only a tiny sliver of time.

 

[earlyre]

@ michaelluscher:
Really? hearing your car go Choo-choo makes you Jizz in your pants?

if you didn't know, that Samberg screen grab is from this Lonely Island Video: (@ 1:51)

 

[michaelluscher]

Originally Posted By: earlyre
@ michaelluscher:
Really? hearing your car go Choo-choo makes you Jizz in your pants?

if you didn't know, that Samberg screen grab is from this Lonely Island Video:


No, Not really , It was just a turbo relevant joke. I was wondering where it came from?
But, Turbo's in general

 

[rationull]

Just think about all the BMWs, VWs, Audis, etc with 2 liter turbos (or smaller) that have been screaming down the autobahn like that regularly. Presumably it's working out for them. I wouldn't think the ST would be much worse off.

 

[raytseng]

At that speed, you'd probably be out of gas before you hit the hour mark.
So it's just all hypothetical. Something to think about

 

[y_p_w]

Turbos are remarkably durable. I understand most turbo failures are due to inadequate lubrication, although the turbo bearings themselves aren't terribly hard on the oil. They still need to be lubricated, and if they get starved for lubrication or debris is run through the bearings, they're toast.

What you need to worry about is how tough the boost is on the rest of the engine. It's forcing the cylinder to withstand more.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: raytseng
At that speed, you'd probably be out of gas before you hit the hour mark.
So it's just all hypothetical. Something to think about


Some mag beat on an ecoboost F150 and it ran so rich to protect itself it got around 9 MPG. So this is plausible.

 

[DriveHard]

No worries at all...just spent 2 hours with the pedal on the floor on the Autobahn and the turbo diesel rental we had didn't flinch a bit. Its totally the "norm" over here...and in talking with colleagues, their drivetrains last just as long as ours do in the states.

 

[Cujet]

Having operated turbocharged race cars, and turbocharged aircraft for better than 30 years, the boost is the least of your concerns. Turbo's are robust, and extended high speed, high temperature operation often still falls short of the loads and temps on gas turbine engines. And the turbines are made from the same materials.

Modern turbo engines are also robust, with oil squirters aimed at the high quality pistons underside, sufficient crankshaft strength, adequate cooling, oil temperature management, chrome faced rings, higher quality exhaust valves and so on.

I've never seen any reason to believe that high performance turbocharged operation is a detriment to engine life or to turbo life.

Certainly, the Ford Ecoboost is proving this remarkably well. As people are towing with those trucks, and they produce MUCH more HP at altitude than the normally aspirated variants. And, they are not wearing out. (Disclaimer) : The F150 EB is known for engine failure due to slugs of water in the intercooler, from condensation, suddenly going into the engine. This has nothing to do with robustness, and everything to do with poor design that does not have a pathway for the condensed water to escape.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Palut
How well does a turbo engine stand up to prolonged boost?

I've got a Focus ST with the 2.0 Ecoboost. Ford says that its top speed is a drag limited 154 mph. Let's say that I shipped it to Germany and drove at 140-150 mph on the autobahn for an hour. That would have me in top gear, at high revs, and at or close to full boost for a full hour. How would the turbo hold up? Can a turbo be kept from overheating over a long period like that?

Doesn't the ST have a limited amount of time at full boost? So Ford is protecting some part of the engine from over heating. First time I've heard of this in a production car, but I'm sure that the lower level boost is fine for long periods of time.

 

[glock19]

I'm not sure I would feel comfortable driving a Focus 150mph.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: glock19
I'm not sure I would feel comfortable driving a Focus 150mph.



That just shows you've never driven a Focus ST. This comment contributes nothing. >:|

 

[glock19]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Originally Posted By: glock19
I'm not sure I would feel comfortable driving a Focus 150mph.



That just shows you've never driven a Focus ST. This comment contributes nothing. >:|


You're correct, I haven't. I just can't see myself driving any $23K car 150mph. I'm sure the turbo would hold up just fine, I'm more concerned about the handling at that speed.