Life expectancy of turbo engine
Question:
I am looking to buy a new car and have narrowed it down to 3. The Mazda3s Grand Touring, the GTI 2.0t, and the Honda Civic si. My last two car’s were tried and true Corolla’s. Both lasted longer than I would have expected (about 300,000) – but I want a change.
I’ve always steered clear of Turbo’d engines thinking that they either burn out over time, or burn the engine up just by their nature. But in all honesty all I know is the concept, and not the actual detail. With the high miles that I intend to put on a car in a short amount of time, should I discount the GTI due to the inevitable failure, or extra maintenance that may be involved in keeping it going?
–Jordan
Answer:
I think you have a valid concern about turbo charged engines, especially if you are looking to put on 300,000 miles. I would discount the GTI unless the extra performance outweighs the additional maintenance, that would be a personal decision.
If you do decide to go with the GTI, here are a few things to help it last longer… The bearings of the turbo charger are typically cooled with engine oil, so changing your oil at recommended intervals is very important, also letting the engine cool down before shutting it off, will allow the oil to cool some and not break down in the turbo and turn to sludge. I would also use synthetic oil in any engine, but especially in a turbo charged one.
There are turbo timers on the market which will keep the engine running for a set interval after you remove the key. I used one on my twin turbo Stealth with good luck, you just have to be careful where you park and use the emergency brake. Since you have to leave the car in neutral (if it’s a manual transmission) you are only relying on the emergency brake. If I had to park on a big hill, I would not leave the turbo timer on and rely on just the emergency brake to hold the car.
If you are looking to get 300,000 miles, I would also resist the urge to modify the engine in anyway to get more performance. A high flow filter or exhaust would be ok, but turning up the boost with a chip would not help the life of the turbo.
Also your driving style will dictate to some extent how long your turbo engine lasts. If you are putting on a lot of highway miles with a steady foot, you won’t be using the turbo that much and the life will be extended. If you are racing stoplight to stoplight, then I would be a little more concerned.
Good Luck in your decision,
Kevin
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Posted: 9th June 2006 | Author: Kevin Schappell | Category: Engine
