As per a discussion that came up in mitsu tech I would like everyones opinions and real world facts about the use or need of water lines on turbos.

Is it true you can run a turbo that has the ability to use water lines for cooling purpose without the water lines and in fact have no damage to the turbo itself or the life(IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM)? IE: Use of a turbo timer to cool the turbo after running it for xxxx amount of time.

In your response if you could prove the information that you give with some kind of real world facts or proof. Not just "well they came with water lines so if you don't run them they will blowd up that there turbo on you"

 

For once I am reading a post like this from you and know that for once you are not talking about me.

I would just like some more real world proof. And I was also hoping that someone would hop onto the discussion about the coolent lines for ball-bearing turbo's and how *i think* that the water lines are needed to be run on those unlike thrust bearings. This post was made for more real world facts, more proof to show them and also hopefully some more insite for myself.

But sometimes when dealing with people like that, i think there is no hope. Then again there was hope for me so who knows, right?

 

A dual ball bearing turbo would necessitate water cooling MORE SO than a thrust bearing turbo simply for the fact that it will get hotter, and do so faster, not because there is less friction (which untuitively you would think would casue less heat) but because of increased response time with the shaft and capability of spinning at a higher rpm. I have had many thrust bearing turbos, never water cooled, ran fine, i currently have a ball bearing turbo also which i have not water cooled, there are no provisions for it though, even if there were, i would be reluctant to do so, as it is not DBB, but i take it as a given the life of a thrust bearing turbo will greatly exceed the life of a ball bearing turbo, DBB and SBB turbos are usually recommended for rebuild every 10k miles or so, at least thats the rule of thumb I have come across, i know none of this is technical, but just my insight

 

As far as my knowledge on the matter, watercooling is generally to keep the oil in the turbo from passing into the higher temps that cause coking. Coked up oil inside the turbo will inevitably lead to improper oil flow and eventual starvation, causing failure. Of course you could argue that oils have come a long way and thus this might not be necessary. I imagine this sort of extra safety net is for people who don't change their oil on time, which we all know is very important for turbocharger longevity. As far as hard evidence? I don't have any.

 

and regardless of whether you can or not run a turbo without water cooling when its built fo it only a moron would do it that way.[/QUOTE]


Many things are built to be used in certain ways and used completely different.

 

It's also great when the cheap electronics fail after a few years and cause mysterious ignition issues! What a worthwhile way to spend 100 bucks.