Care And Feeding Of Modern Turbo Cars

I now own a 2007 SAAB 9-3. With the 2.0 turbo motor. 

I just realized I have not owned a car with a turbo since 1986 when I had my 951.  I am sure a lot has changed since the both with the engineering in the car and the turbo and with the care and feeding of these things.  

So i figured that I would start this thread as a place for people to empart their wisdom about the modern Turbo and the does and don’ts of modern turbo car ownership. 

And yes if you have specifics to my car that is appreciated. 

For starters my car said to use Mobil one. There is a sticker in there recommending it.  So top quality synthetic oil will be a must as will be using good oil filters.  

Anyway I would love to here from you all about this. 

Thanks!!!!!

I am learning this too. My abarth is turbo, but I love the fact that it has a dedicated coolant pump that comes on after you shut down. Other than not getting on it until warmed up and being kind on cool down.. that is about all I know beyond your quality oil statement

My FiST manual doesn't say much or anything special.

Just maintain it. 

What he said.  Modern turbo motors are standard equipment in trucks.  (That FiST engine, for example, is the main thing powering Escapes)  Use good oil, use good fuel, and you will be doing better than 90% of the populace, and they are generally doing ok.

Saab recommended 0w-40 and 16K km or 1 year intervals.  You could do it more often.

I would worry more about the trans.

Use good oil, don't beat on it before it's warmed up, don't come howling in from hooning around and shut it off immediately.  

I guess those are pretty good rules for any engine, really.

My Saab is going to serve as a dd for now. We will see about turning up the wick down the road. So far I really like the power delivery as is in stock form but I am sure that may change down the road. 

We just bought a 2016 forester xt and I'm all worried about coking the turbo. I let it warm up and let it cool down after driving. Should I invest in a turbo timer? or is that a thing of the past? After the next oil change, I am going into my own OCI of 3k miles regardless. But we do tend to keep our vehicles for 250k miles, so I am looking for longevity here.

Both of our daily drivers have the 3.5 Ecoboost twin turbo. They get major-brand full synthetic oil every 5k miles with Wix XP filters. I figure I'm good.

Hey Dean,

Saab/GM engines of that era would only require top quality good synthetic oil. I tend to stick with OEM filters. Turbo timers are not needed. Let the car warm for a minute before full load launches. 

So nothing special. 

For used cars I would double check oil cooler and coolant radiator are in good condition. 

Experience from powertrain engineering job and 04 Evolution ownership. 

gunner said:

We just bought a 2016 forester xt and I'm all worried about coking the turbo. I let it warm up and let it cool down after driving. Should I invest in a turbo timer? or is that a thing of the past? After the next oil change, I am going into my own OCI of 3k miles regardless. But we do tend to keep our vehicles for 250k miles, so I am looking for longevity here.

Oil coking stopped being a problem when everyone switched to water cooled turbos.

Before water cooling, the center housing would spike up past 700 degrees after engine shutoff.  With water cooling, it never goes up past 200 or so.

This is why turbos on modern engines are basically "forever" items, instead of 50k maintenance items.

Modern is relative.  Asking about a 2007 Saab and replying using a Ford Ecoboost as an example is not a good comparison.  IMHO, the Saab engine was made obsolete by the Ecotec motor, and most of the advice matches the Ecotec rules.  

The Saab is more in like with a Mazda BP turbo.  Which is why Saab suggest using really good oil.

In this discussion, engine generations matter, and in one update, a LOT of improvements focused on Turbocharging came in.

In reply to Knurled. :

TIL. Thanks!

In reply to alfadriver :

According to our friends over at Wikipedia, the 2nd gen 9-3 used Ecotec engines. So it does apply to OP.
It seems that engine also used the venerable TD04 turbo, which is water cooled.

In reply to morello159 :

Thanks for the correction.  

gunner said:

We just bought a 2016 forester xt and I'm all worried about coking the turbo. I let it warm up and let it cool down after driving. Should I invest in a turbo timer? or is that a thing of the past? After the next oil change, I am going into my own OCI of 3k miles regardless. But we do tend to keep our vehicles for 250k miles, so I am looking for longevity here.

Unless the car only sees short drive times and never really gets up to temperature, 3k OCI on modern engines with good oil is a HUGE waste of money. 

z31maniac said:

Unless the car only sees short drive times and never really gets up to temperature, 3k OCI on modern engines with good oil is a HUGE waste of money. 

That's my fear with DW's S60 2.0T.  Her commute is 3 miles each way.  I make sure we always take it for errands on the weekends to try and get some longer run times.  But I plan on keeping OCIs <5,000 miles.

Here is what I do with my SAAB turbo cars, have had three with over 230K miles on original turbos so far.  Change the oil @ 5K miles and let it warm up before mashing the throttle.  On my 9-5's, without the Ecotec, I always check the plugs when changing the oil.  It seemed to save the coil pack and keeping the gap in spec mde it feel "faster".  Those motors were also picky about what plugs you used.  My Dad just gave my 15 year old a 2005 9-3 vert so I am just learning about the newer motor so I am not sure about the whole plug thing.  I will probably keep checking the gap and such at oil change time just because though.

alfadriver said:

Modern is relative.  Asking about a 2007 Saab and replying using a Ford Ecoboost as an example is not a good comparison.  IMHO, the Saab engine was made obsolete by the Ecotec motor, and most of the advice matches the Ecotec rules.  

The Saab is more in like with a Mazda BP turbo.  Which is why Saab suggest using really good oil.

In this discussion, engine generations matter, and in one update, a LOT of improvements focused on Turbocharging came in.

Very true.  I will shade the SAAB engine in with modern because of their remarkably thoroughly engineered control system (real time combustion monitoring in the ignition system!), which is light years ahead of the 951's fairly crude engine controls.