Topic: Does a new tune decrease like of turbo?

[DragonSolGXP]

Hi,
I installed the latest update of a tune I received two years ago, and I am very much impressed. The first ride gave me a consistent 24 pounds of pressure. Never had that before.

I've had lower numbers lately but it could be due to the weather and I'm not too concerned.

Question is, I've notice that the turbo now kicks in even when I won't expect it.   Even for 1 or 2 pounds of pressure.  So it would seem to me that the turbo is now working harder. Will this decrease the life expectancy of the turbo itself?

Thanks

[shabby]

Possibly, but by how much? No one knows since a turbo doesn't really have an expiration date.

[DragonSolGXP]

Possibly, but by how much? No one knows since a turbo doesn't really have an expiration date.

I suppose that was my next question. I have a turbine helicopter and the bearings need to be replaced every 75 hours of operation. I was wondering if it was the same with a turbo.

[Gentleman Jack]

Hi,
I installed the latest update of a tune I received two years ago, and I am very much impressed. The first ride gave me a consistent 24 pounds of pressure. Never had that before.

I've had lower numbers lately but it could be due to the weather and I'm not too concerned.

Question is, I've notice that the turbo now kicks in even when I won't expect it.   Even for 1 or 2 pounds of pressure.  So it would seem to me that the turbo is now working harder. Will this decrease the life expectancy of the turbo itself?

Thanks

Dragonsol,
The turbo has always "kicked in" for one or two pounds of pressure.  The turbo is the reason for the pressure.  This statement confuses me, perhaps you could clarify?  The turbo may now be kicking in earlier in your RPM range, could that be what you mean?

Hoping to help,

GJ

[miller11386]

Choppers replace rotor/turbine bearings because there is a huge risk/cost if one fails mid flight. Turbo Bearings will last a long time. I put 60k on my first turbo and it was still looking great when it was pulled. No shaft play in either direction.

I have only ran my 2871 for 20k miles, and no issues there either. If you want to see how your bearings are in your turbo, the easiest check is to pull the intake tube and see if there is any play in the shaft. (forward and back as well as side to side)

Also during shut down, if your bearings are bad, you will here them start to make noise as the compressor spins down.

And you may not think about it, but all air that goes to your intake must go though the compressor. So it is technically spinning all the time. You build boost because your waste gate opens and puts force on the manifold side of the turbo, causing the "spool up" noise everyone is accustomed to hearing in a turbo car.

The bottom line is if you want to keep your turbo happy, change the oil regularly with synthetic, and let it cool down after a hard pull (either driving easily or letting the car idle for a few minutes) I was not nice to my stock turbo and I expected all kinds of play, but it was still in great shape.

Hope that helps

[elff]

Lots of Shaft jokes

must resist temptation.....................

[Sol Asylum]

I suppose that was my next question. I have a turbine helicopter and the bearings need to be replaced every 75 hours of operation. I was wondering if it was the same with a turbo.

I assume you are taking about an RC helicopter because most real aircraft helicopters go a lot longer then 75 hours before bearings are changed.  Does an RC copter have an oil pump lubing the bearings?  My guess is no which will make a world of difference in the life of a bearing.

An automotive turbo is a pretty simple machine there are a few bearings, some seals, turbine and compressor wheels.  The bearings and seals tend to be the parts that wear out but sometimes the t-wheel will start to break down because of the heat that it gets exposed to.  I don't think that what you are talking about amounts to much added wear and tear on the turbo.

[DragonSolGXP]

Dragonsol,
The turbo has always "kicked in" for one or two pounds of pressure.  The turbo is the reason for the pressure.  This statement confuses me, perhaps you could clarify?  The turbo may now be kicking in earlier in your RPM range, could that be what you mean?

Hoping to help,

GJ

Hi GJ
Sorry for the confusion. Yes, that's right it seems to be kicking in earlier than it used to. Mind you this is from memory.... It's a Wester's tune btw

[DragonSolGXP]

Choppers replace rotor/turbine bearings because there is a huge risk/cost if one fails mid flight. Turbo Bearings will last a long time. I put 60k on my first turbo and it was still looking great when it was pulled. No shaft play in either direction.

I have only ran my 2871 for 20k miles, and no issues there either. If you want to see how your bearings are in your turbo, the easiest check is to pull the intake tube and see if there is any play in the shaft. (forward and back as well as side to side)

Also during shut down, if your bearings are bad, you will here them start to make noise as the compressor spins down.

And you may not think about it, but all air that goes to your intake must go though the compressor. So it is technically spinning all the time. You build boost because your waste gate opens and puts force on the manifold side of the turbo, causing the "spool up" noise everyone is accustomed to hearing in a turbo car.

The bottom line is if you want to keep your turbo happy, change the oil regularly with synthetic, and let it cool down after a hard pull (either driving easily or letting the car idle for a few minutes) I was not nice to my stock turbo and I expected all kinds of play, but it was still in great shape.

Hope that helps

Ah, thanks for the explanation. Actually I didn't know it was spinning all the time. So yes, you're right.

Cheers

[DragonSolGXP]

I assume you are taking about an RC helicopter because most real aircraft helicopters go a lot longer then 75 hours before bearings are changed.  Does an RC copter have an oil pump lubing the bearings?  My guess is no which will make a world of difference in the life of a bearing.

An automotive turbo is a pretty simple machine there are a few bearings, some seals, turbine and compressor wheels.  The bearings and seals tend to be the parts that wear out but sometimes the t-wheel will start to break down because of the heat that it gets exposed to.  I don't think that what you are talking about amounts to much added wear and tear on the turbo.

Hi, yes.  You are correct. I own a couple of turbine rc copters. No the bearings in the turbine aren't lubed... We have to mix oil with the fuel to keep them lubed. So yes, you are right... That would explain the frequent replacement.

Thanks!

I feel better now everyone!

[GXPinKC]

Really it depends on the quality of tune that you have!  I can only speak to our tune, but the tune we recieved performs the same as it did right after the tune and I do not notice and difference in it at all now.  But to answer your question I guess if you were to abuse it and by that to race it all the time in events, you might indeed have some heat related problems down the road, but this is one little tough engine indeed!  I have never had a problem with my tune in any way, but there again I really don't compete in track events!  Ours feels the same as it did right after the tune and our early build 2007 GXP now has just 19,177 miles on the odometer as of today.  I will never sell it and plan to be driving it when I reach the age of 90!  Most of our mileage has been on the road to Meets and vacations, very little city stop and go traffic.  This is one tough little engine and even those who race have had very few problems.

This engine was tested extensively prior to introduction, believe me it is one tough 2.0 liter engine!

[miller11386]

I want to qualify that a tune will have a very large impact on your turbo life. If you run the turbo too lean, and overheat it, it will melt down in a hurry and be trashed. However Westers, DDM, werks, trifecta, etc all have great reputations with tuning and im sure they would not set you up with a lean tune.

Happy Boosting

[tazz]

I'm not sure I agree with that statement.
The turbo in stock form See's temps in and about the 1700* mark and not measured via PID which doesnt mean anything since there is not a CAT Temp sensor.  In addition have you seen how lean the stock tune runs?  The pistons would melt from going too lean before anything else.  I highly doubt any of the tuners out there run the tune as lean as the stock tune does.  Any where from .92 in the low boost to .88-.87 in higher boost(25psi) is perfect for the LNF's DI engine as long as your not trying to boost and hold 30psi with the stock turbo.  If your Trying to do that on your stock turbo your asking for trouble and your turbo is the least of your problems at that point.

[Kelu]

DragonSol: on stock turbo I was tuned by Lyndon too, 2 years, 20 000miles, over 200-300 drag races most of them in the high heat (100-1007 F) boosting from 25-28psi in low rpms and not a single problem.

So relax and enjoy if it will break it will, just make sure you have some spare money to fix it and enjoy it again.

I agree with miller, even if sounds weird, any of the mentioned tuners are better than stock tune.

[GXPinKC]

I agree completely Kelu with your post above.  Our Tune will boost to a maximum of 25 psi and I have heard it was a stolen toon from Westers.  I and Carol have never had a problem and it behaves today the same as when the toon was applied.  I have driven Bobs Kappa accross town and it seems to have more power than our Eagle in just the short drive that I took with it.  But our tune has a great low end kick that beats the hec out of the stock tune! 

There can be hidden problems with any toon indeed, and a person has to acknowledge that when a tune is added over the stock tune there may be problems down the line!  So, with that in mind enjoy the fun and drive safe!  I remember what the Eagle felt like prior and after and like the after better!!!