2021 Full size Ford Bronco - Idle question

[B2Bronco]

I wait for my kids in the school carline everyday and we live in a hot area. I’m talking 85-94 degrees with a soft top, so I sit with the vehicle and ac on for about 20-30 mins. My husband keeps telling me that turbos don’t like to be idle and I may have a problem with the Vehicle down the road. Can anyone verify this information? Thanks

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[amazingjason]

You can idle as long as you like.

Jason

 

[B2Bronco]

Thanks Jason!!

 

[JakeC]

The turbos will only really spin up at non-idle speeds. I’d say around 2200 RPM and above..

 

[ChrisB351]

Turbos are only driven under exhaust pressure. Sitting at idle would have no different affect on them than driving steady 60mph with cruise on (without acceleration).

 

[Bmadda]

The old wives tale he heard was actually the opposite of what he's telling you. In the early days of turbos they blamed alot of problems on the fact that they were cooled by oil only. Hot shutoff after hard driving would cause the oil left in the turbo to cook off and become coke, destroying the oil seals and preventing the bearing from getting lube on the next startup. They used to sell a device called a "turbo timer", that would idle the engine after you shut the key off for however long they thought would help (ya it was a gimmick). AFAIK manufacturers have solved those problems for the most part, and turbos are both oil and water cooled now, but to answer the question...idling should not hurt it at all!

 

[B2Bronco]

Hi Jake,
This info really helped a lot. Appreciate you taking out the time.

The turbos will only really spin up at non-idle speeds. I’d say around 2200 RPM and above..

The old wives tale he heard was actually the opposite of what he's telling you. In the early days of turbos they blamed alot of problems on the fact that they were cooled by oil only. Hot shutoff after hard driving would cause the oil left in the turbo to cook off and become coke, destroying the oil seals and preventing the bearing from getting lube on the next startup. They used to sell a device called a "turbo timer", that would idle the engine after you shut the key off for however long they thought would help (ya it was a gimmick). AFAIK manufacturers have solved those problems for the most part, and turbos are both oil and water cooled now, but to answer the question...idling should not hurt it at all!

 

[B2Bronco]

Hi Bmadda,

Thank you so much for clarifying this!! This must be what he was referring to.

The old wives tale he heard was actually the opposite of what he's telling you. In the early days of turbos they blamed alot of problems on the fact that they were cooled by oil only. Hot shutoff after hard driving would cause the oil left in the turbo to cook off and become coke, destroying the oil seals and preventing the bearing from getting lube on the next startup. They used to sell a device called a "turbo timer", that would idle the engine after you shut the key off for however long they thought would help (ya it was a gimmick). AFAIK manufacturers have solved those problems for the most part, and turbos are both oil and water cooled now, but to answer the question...idling should not hurt it at all!

 

[B2Bronco]

Hi Chris! That really makes sense. Thanks

Turbos are only driven under exhaust pressure. Sitting at idle would have no different affect on them than driving steady 60mph with cruise on (without acceleration).

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