Not water cooling a stock turbo

MikeRenz

not stock
Does anyone know just how detrimental using a stock turbo w/o running water through it would be? Anyone ever done it?
 

pinellas50

New Guy
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

I drove mine for a short time when the IC pump was dead. I didn't really get into the turbo when it was like that. It was OK. But I wouldn't want to have a permanent set up without an intercooler.
 

Black Knight

I Glow Therefore I am
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

pinellas50 said:
I drove mine for a short time when the IC pump was dead. I didn't really get into the turbo when it was like that. It was OK. But I wouldn't want to have a permanent set up without an intercooler.

I think Mike is talking about the coolant from your radiator, that cools the turbo not your intercooler.

With so many turbo's set up without water cooling I can't imagine it being a big deal, but I've never done it.
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

the newer turbos without being water cooled are using new technology. Not sure how the stocks will stand up to not being cooled.
 

gkrcr882

SyTyless......for now!
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

I would imagine that it wouldn't be as bad as not having oil going through it. It might cause uneven expansion of parts when they heat up, vs everything being at a relatively constant temperature. Even with the oil cooling and lubricating the turbo, I would think that EGTs might come into play with turbo life if it were run without coolant for a long period
2cents.gif
 

Black Knight

I Glow Therefore I am
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

gjp said:
the newer turbos without being water cooled are using new technology. Not sure how the stocks will stand up to not being cooled.

What newer technology, the oil flows through them and then it.....

Yeah you have BB turbo's, but like yours it's not BB and it doesn't have water cooling it, what makes it so special :lol:
 

gjp

another post whore
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

Black Knight said:
What newer technology, the oil flows through them and then it.....

Yeah you have BB turbo's, but like yours it's not BB and it doesn't have water cooling it, what makes it so special :lol:
Thats what I was told.
 

Don W.

Stab it and steer it
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

:2cents: Big diesel turbo's haven't used water cooling in 30 years. Oil cooled, close tolerance bushings. Run forever as long as nothing goes through them. I've seen EGT's at and just above 1200* on hoped up older diesels.

Often wondered why ours have water going through them. I would speculate that it's to keep oil temps down by putting some of the heat into the coolant. We have 5 qts, big diesels have 10 gallons AND bigger oil coolers. Although relatively speaking prolly not much bigger.:2cents:
 

MikeRenz

not stock
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

my only concern is that the where the water passages are wouldn't get appropriate cooling since no oil would be running through it. I guess we'd really need to see a center section cross-sectioned to see ihow the water passage is set up.

Hey myclone...why not take a stock turbo to your band saw like you did the cylinder heads. :tup:
 

myclone

Donating Member
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

MikeRenz said:
my only concern is that the where the water passages are wouldn't get appropriate cooling since no oil would be running through it. I guess we'd really need to see a center section cross-sectioned to see ihow the water passage is set up.

Thats kinda what I think.... Ive looked over/taken apart water cooled and oil cooled turbos and the passages are totally different in that the oil cooled turbos passages were configured in such a way that oil circulates through the majority of the center section. On the water cooled turbo the oil passage(s) were pretty small and IMO were only big enough to keep the bearings lubricated but no where near big enough to pull much heat out since the passages for the water took up the rest of the available room. With that being said Id say you would be fine running just oil in a water cooled turbo only on a race only vehicle but I highly doubt it would last too awfully long on a daily driver that sees stop and go traffic and/or extended freeway driving. Just my opinion though.

FWIW Ive seen drag race only set ups plumbed using oil only with the garrett GT series turbos that are oil and water but the piece of paper that was in the box that my GT came in told me in bold letters that if the turbo wasnt plumbed with water as well as oil that garrett would send out a mob of angry cannibals to not only carve me up but to do it slowly. I got the hint...

Hey myclone...why not take a stock turbo to your band saw like you did the cylinder heads. :tup:

I got rid of all my stock turbo stuff but if someone would hook me up with a stock center section consider it sawed in half (or 1/4s if so requested) :tup:
 

berzerker

wookie
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

Gm Water Cooled Our Turbo's To Keep The Turbo Failure Ratio's Down From Coking The Oil Around The Turbo Shaft . Hence They Knew People Would'nt Run At Idle Long Enough To Let The Turbo's Spool Down After Driving Hard . Coking Is A Term When The Oil Cooks Onto Metal Like Bbq Sauce Does On Grills . Just I Case Your Wondering
 

Six-is-Enough

Use to do a little Boost
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

myclone said:
Thats kinda what I think.... Ive looked over/taken apart water cooled and oil cooled turbos and the passages are totally different in that the oil cooled turbos passages were configured in such a way that oil circulates through the majority of the center section. On the water cooled turbo the oil passage(s) were pretty small and IMO were only big enough to keep the bearings lubricated but no where near big enough to pull much heat out since the passages for the water took up the rest of the available room. With that being said Id say you would be fine running just oil in a water cooled turbo only on a race only vehicle but I highly doubt it would last too awfully long on a daily driver that sees stop and go traffic and/or extended freeway driving. Just my opinion though.

FWIW Ive seen drag race only set ups plumbed using oil only with the garrett GT series turbos that are oil and water but the piece of paper that was in the box that my GT came in told me in bold letters that if the turbo wasnt plumbed with water as well as oil that garrett would send out a mob of angry cannibals to not only carve me up but to do it slowly. I got the hint...



I got rid of all my stock turbo stuff but if someone would hook me up with a stock center section consider it sawed in half (or 1/4s if so requested) :tup:

I have a stock center section that lost a bearing and burnt up that I am willing to scarfice to the saw blade. PM me your address and I'll send it out.:lol:
 

myclone

Donating Member
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

Six-is-Enough said:
I have a stock center section that lost a bearing and burnt up that I am willing to scarfice to the saw blade. PM me your address and I'll send it out.:lol:

PM on its way. :tup:
 

canadian

sy in progress
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

I've seen it done on a stree/race car that was driven for miles without issue. As long as you let the turbo cool down for a minute or two after driving you should be fine.
 

jwaller

Evil Genius/SyTy Guru
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

I dont believe it's an issue. I've run stockers without water and my new DBB innovative 76 I dont run water in it either. but then again I dont drive it around town either.
 

20psiGMC

Member
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

MikeRenz said:
sweet! at least we get to see some surgery out of this! :tup:

X2 :thumbsup:

I say any thread that ends with myclone taking the bandsaw to something is vault material....
 

Flyin Ryan

hated cuz he drives fords
Re: Not water cooling a stock turbo

We'll be running my stock turbo on my brother little svo motor which is daily driven without any water lines hooked up so we'll see how she holds up.
 
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