Why a turbo timer helps
After a hard drive, the turbo's center section is extremely hot. Shut the engine off straight away and the oil pump stops, leaving oil sitting in a very hot bearing housing. Letting the engine idle for a little while first keeps oil and coolant moving while the turbo temperature drops. That's all a turbo timer does: it automates the cool-down idle so you can take the key out and walk away.
How it works on a Nexus
With the turbo timer function enabled, the ECU keeps the engine running for a set time after the key is switched off, then shuts it down. The run time is configured in the turbo timer time configuration.
Because the engine keeps running after the key is off, the ECU has to be able to keep itself and the engine powered. That's the job of the engine control relay, so make sure it's set up and wired before you rely on the turbo timer.
Never leave a car idling on the turbo timer unattended in a closed garage, and check local laws about leaving a running vehicle. Use a short time that actually matches how hard the car was driven.
On an Elite ECU, see our Elite turbo timer article. Questions about your setup? Contact us.
