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Hey guys ive recently bought a R33 GTS-T and i am looking for care tip's to keep it in good condition like when i start it up should i wait longer than a N/A car before i start boosting and when i turn it off what should i do? wait for a bit or just switch it straight off i and what does a turbo timer do? i know the car stay's running while you get out but what is that for? and many other thing's that i may not know about when driving it because i want it to be reliable and well oil'd machine =)

Any info or general care tip's or maintenance are welcome

Cheers guys

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I personally wait until the engine has reached normal operating temperature (anywhere from 10-20 minutes) before I do any boosting. This should ensure oil temperature is optimal and well circulated, with most metal parts being properly warmed up to minimalise damage.

You can turn it off as normal, just like any other car...but if you've been doing some hard driving/boosting prior to stopping then it might be good to let the engine run for a minute or two. That said, I'd do this with any car I drive anyway, turbo or non-turbo. Turbo timers are handy for this but 95% of the time they are used for wank factor.

Other than that just service it like you would any other car. Stick to regular intervals and don't skimp on parts. The only difference with a turbocharged vehicle is that faulty equipment (worn spark plugs etc.) tend to be more noticeable in their effects compared to N/A (e.g. misfires when boosting).

I used to have the same car mate,

and as long as you get them regularly serviced ie every 6mths or 5,000km with quality oils and fluids from a reputable mechanic they will never skip a beat! As far as cold starts go, id set off right away but until the oil gauge reached normal operating temperature would stay off boost and change gears no higher than 3,000RPM.

My car had a turbo timer, always had it set to keep the car running for 1.5mins once id parked but since they are illegal id just wait in the car for a minute or so before turning off the ignition. Another tip would be to hold off the "spirited" driving when you know you're at least a few mins away from your destination.

I always find it funny the amount of people who jump straight into their cars then redline it as they leave to show off. One of my mates does this all the time despite the fact I keep telling him off about it.

Ok cool guys but why wait till a few mins away from my destination?

My understanding (and I'm not expert) is that when you give your car a hard time the turbo gets incredibly hot and if you turn your car of straight away the oil boil within the lines causing it to eventually block them. By using a turbo timer, or just letting your car cool down by driving normally for a few minutes before turning it off you're allowing the white hot turbo to cool down enough that it won't boil the oil.

I'll rephrase:

"Don't boost around when you are a few minutes from home or you'll sit there idling for way longer."

Sometimes coming home from night shift I get spirited. However when I'm about 5km's away I start cruising at 60 or less, mostly downhill to home. This in itself almost counts for the time you'd need to idle the car, so when I get home I turbo time it for about 30 seconds and no probs.

If I boost on the way home it needs a good 3-4 mins to idle. Turn your car off on a quiet night and listen carefully to what's happening under the bonnet, you shouldn't hear boiling. Mine does, but it's the water, rather peculiar because it didn't do it with the old turbos, but that's my own problem there.

Correctamundo Kez^

It's all about using common sense. It's like you going for a run...you don't start off full pelt, you work it up with a slow jog...and you don't come to a sudden stop from a full pelt run, you jog/walk it off for a bit to prevent your muscles cramping.

yeah as been said above, take it easy when the car is still cold and don't boost it hard then just pull up and get out. personally i don't think you should even boost it hard then pull up and let it sit on the turbo timer as this doesn't cool it as well as driving sensibly for 30 seconds or so. you get more airflow through the radiator when moving than when idling, as well as it lets things like the brakes cool down a bit too if you have been hard on them as well.

Ok cheers guys i dont really drive it that hard anyways just a little bit here and there so i should just cruise around the block before parking it got it =) i just didnt know anything about driving a turbo'd car because im the first of my mates to get one so i didn't really have anyone to guide me on how to take care of it

Thanx guys heaps :huh:

mate my advice is just use common sense. you have to remember that although we are all skyline enthusiasts, they are still a 15-20 year old jap sports car, not a nasa rocket. just dont be a wanker, warm it up before you drive, always service it when due, dont drive it like you stole it, and let it cool down a bit before you turn it off. ive owned skylines for the last 9 years and although they are a good car, youy dont need to baby them too much. just treat it with respect, like you would any car.

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