Water cooled?

[JL LGT]

I've read that it's wiser to water cool a turbo as opposed to using oil lines leading to the oil pan.

I'm buying a turbo kit in a week, and seeing as how I'm still learning as I go, I'd like to know which one will help my turbo live longer with less hassle.

If it's wiser to run with water, how is it accomplished?

[stu]

You are a bit confused. There is no such thing as a turbo that is not oil cooled and lubricated, but there are turbos that aren't water-cooled. It is generally thought better to have a turbo that is both oil and water-cooled (this is why most if not all modern factory turbos are both). If you buy a new turbo, the water-cooled center cartridge is about $70 more, which should be worth it, but you can get away just fine with just a simple oil-cooled center housing.

[ryanman]

:werd:

I'd spend the extra couple bucks if I were you and get a water cooled version of whatever your getting. Nothing wrong with oil cooled versions, I'm just partial to having 2 coolers instead of one.

[saabracr]

I assume you plan to drive the shit out of it since you are installing a turbo. Water cooling will allow you brief cooldown periods instead of long ones in order to prevent coking. A water cooled turbo will have a longer lifespan too since it will see lower temperatures overall. H2O is definately worth the extra money and trouble.

[myshtern]

Yeah, anything to get that small bit of heat out will help.

But I think I read somewhere that the water coolers need to be replaced something like every 40k miles.

Is that right?

Its because the pumps eventually fail and they want you do replace it without risking losing all cooling

But I dont remember

[saabracr]

There is no dedicated water pump for your turbo. You install a water line from a higher pressure area of your cooling system to the inlet, and route one from the outlet to a lower pressure area. Motor runs- water flows through turbo. Replacement intervals are much longer on H2O cooled turbos.

[myshtern]

Damn, I remember reading something bad about H20 cooling

What is the con of h20 cooling?

[stu]

None that I can think of.

[SC-MECHAM-WS6]

Damn, I remember reading something bad about H20 cooling

What is the con of h20 cooling?

not a con..but...

since the coolant is cooling the turbo and engine...u might have a higher coolant temp. nothing a bigger radiator wont deal with.

[Pang]

if your car isn't factory turboed. I'd shoot for dry turbo setup. That way you dont have coolants lines to deal with and worry about water temp going up.

[doctorstupid]

i vote for water cooled, it will keep everything from your oil to the intake charge cooler. for the small amount work it takes to hook up 2 water lines (when doing a turbo conversion, you should consider yourself lucky if water lines are the hardest part) it's more than worth it in my book.

[john]

None.

Damn, I remember reading something bad about H20 cooling

What is the con of h20 cooling?

[john]

Yes you do. A water cooled cartridge is going to have a longer service life than a non-water cooled. Spend the extra time and $$ to do it right.

if your car isn't factory turboed. I'd shoot for dry turbo setup. That way you dont have coolants lines to deal with and worry about water temp going up.

[JL LGT]

The turbo I'm getting with this setup is the Garrett T3. I don't know yet if it's water cooled as well, but I sent an email for verification.

It also comes with a FMIC from Spearco. With the FMIC in front of the radiator, and lines running to the turbo to help keep it cool, how much should I expect the water temp to go up?

Is there anything I can do to keep the water temp from escalating too drastically without spilling a paycheck on a larger radiator? (if it will even fit)

[chrisbarnett01]

Do a search on Yahoo for watercooled turbo study. I think Saab or Volvo did it back in the 80's.

They more or less found that turbo life is 150-200% greater when watercooled. They also found that water cooling makes more power during continued driving, and helps with lag after idling for several minutes.

Only downside in my experience? Coolant life is shortened a little, maybe 2000-3000 miles less than normal. But that is more or less, nothing.

The only reason not to go with watercooling is if the turbo you want isn't available with it. And for those of you who are not OEM turbocharged, go to Autozone, by some heater hose tees, and tap into your heater hoses for the water supply to the turbocharger. Works very well. A few fittings, some HIGH temp hose(aeroquip push lock works great), some hose clamps, and two tees, and you're done.

[JL LGT]

I got the email back, and they said if I want it water cooled, to just tell whomever installs the kit to make it happen.

I guess I'll have it done!

[john]

The cartridge must be water jacketed before anyone can 'make it happen'. Verify that your vendor is supplying a water cooled cartridge.