Can Turbo Blankets Be Proven To Increase Performance?

How Turbo Blankets Work, With Proof Of Faster Spooling & Less Lag
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Do turbo blankets actually work? What is the purpose of a turbo blanket? What are the advantages of using a turbo blanket?
This video involves two tests, one completed by myself and Humble Mechanic, the other as a thesis for a masters at UT Austin. For our tests, we seek to see if there are any major temperature differences between using a turbo blanket, versus not. This can mean different cabin temperatures, lower hood temperatures, lower engine bay temperatures, and even lower intake air temperatures.
The idea of a turbo blanket is that it keeps all the exhaust heat contained within the turbocharger, rather than radiating out from it. This means more heat is contained as useful pressure, and that pressure spins the turbochargers. With more pressure, you create more power. Does it actually work? Let's watch and find out!
Turbo Blanket Thesis Source:
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[@HumbleMechanic]

You have to wrap your turbo up in a nice blanky so it stays happy! Aways fun working with ya Jason :)

[@Welcometofacsistube]

HumbleMechanic you know the old adage: always keep it wrapped!!!!

[@HumbleMechanic]

Kristopher Klassen ;)

[@4drturbo85]

Yeah I don't have a blanket on mine. I think about installing one. But my compressor, exhaust housing, 02 housing and log manifold is all ceramic coated. Good idea to still get a blanket?

[@HumbleMechanic]

I don't know. I wonder what gain/loss you may see with it being coated already

[@Nipplator99999999999]

HumbleMechanic Finally found the exact same study source and consumed it, before an introduction was made by either one of you two, or EricTheCarGuy, from a released video's content. I will have to make an extraordinary effort to spend more time reconnecting with a shade tree so it won't happen again. I enjoy the anonymity afforded by the snap judgments to avoid my kind made by strangers. It was hard to not have my soul saved 10+ times a day while out in public.

[@kevintibbetts5249]

There is nothing like a good collaboration between two auto enthusiasts

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you

[@Welcometofacsistube]

HumbleMechanic just subscribed

[@squidwardshouse67]

I'm gonna put a blanket on my Hyundai Accent's alternator to pretend I have a turbo blanket

[@EngineeringExplained]

Everyone knows the hotter your alternator, the better! Electronics just want the heat.

[@madduck692002]

Yeah, yeah, brake it BREAK IT!

[@Shibu11229]

Squidward's House lmao!

[@ryanshannon7703]

@@EngineeringExplained I think the intent is to convert it to a fusion type power generator, REALLY fusing those hydrogen atoms in the air together! The wires and copper are engineered to handle these temps/pressures, derp.

[@scotthenrie5674]

Who says you have to have something inside of it? Just use a wire hanger to keep a turbo blanket looking like it's full and in place.

[@coced]

I was sold at the temperature data Then you talked about improved torque curve now im stoked

[@praddzzz]

Cédric Coulombe This is for petrol(Gasoline) engines. If it’s a Diesel then they run cooler. As diesel exhaust run much cooler.

[@matthewmillar3804]

I suggested this to a friend of mine once (before I knew turbo blankets were a thing) and he laughed at me. TOTALLY VINDICATED! 😃

[@anthonypeltier4039]

Validated would be the better word for youre not to blame for anything but instead have given your friend good advice

[@blago6]

Who's laughing now.

[@kevinschultz7040]

You guys are a good combo. More vids like this!!!!!

[@dangleason9023]

I'm glad you guys talked about the oil temperature. That's the one thing I was thinking in my head that might end up damaging the turbo or degrading its life. I'm gonna consider a blanket or some of that heat wrap. Sounds like a fun project.

[@TheBTRGarage]

The FLIR camera is baller.

[@EngineeringExplained]

It’s pretty sick!

[@348frank348]

the baller FLIR is camera

[@testy462]

Justin's Pit Lane you can get a less capable one for like 500 dollars. Do 99 percent of what you would ever want to do

[@harryhenderson792]

FLIR is mostly military contracts, so its has to be high end

[@EverydayLayman]

Please keep collaborating guys. This was awesome!

[@EngineeringExplained]

Try to at least once a year!

[@jimmyguy428]

I second this! Great stuff!

[@filipprucnal]

One of my favourite duos on KZbin! Keep up the good work

[@HumbleMechanic]

:)

[@freerkderuiter8822]

Very informative. Surprised to see the oil temperature in the turbo barely changed. No worries for added wear and tear then as the temperatures around the turbo are cooler also with the blanket.

[@tbas8741]

The oil out temps were from the lab experiment done on the cummins diesel where the conditions were lab controlled and precise.

[@Little.R]

I wrapped my stock wrx's TD04 in an ebay blanket yesterday because the old heat shield was missing. Came here in search of answers as to why it's spooling much sooner and doesn't lag. Most unintended power mod ever, I'm surprised.

[@Linken200]

Great video! Really interesting to actually see a thing I've been thinking about for years be tested and proven like this

[@muasboy]

Please do this test with exhaust manifold (header) heat wrap. I always wondered if wrapping header(s) made a difference

[@HumbleMechanic]

This header is not really built for a wrap. I think a wrap would just be super awkward on the header. It would however be great for a ceramic coat. But that introduces a lot of variables as the coating takes more time to do than the blanket.

[@TheArchetypeGamer]

Why not take off the manifold and get it ceramic coated and retest after that part has been coated to see performance gains.

[@rogerpearson9081]

Wrapping the whole exhaust is theoretically good but then you have to contend with the metal degrading quickly because of the super high temps There are exotic metals like they use in F1 ( Inconel...$$$$) but the cost vs gain is probably better spent in a bigger intercooler etc. A coating is probably better as it still restricts the heat and protects the surfaces but allows a bit more cooling

[@samcoote9653]

@@HumbleMechanic Could you instead have a manifold blanket made? wrapping manifolds is a pain, but custom manifold blankets are not so bad to install. jsut clips on like a turbo blanket

[@123marijn321]

Wow, this was such a nice video! The way you guys are able to translate all the scientific data to real world results and explaining everything in depth without it getting too complicatied is just fascinating! Nice work!

[@MatthewTaylor3]

It is always good to see these two working together

[@ExhaustedOfficial]

I didn’t think that they would be as useful as they are, very interesting and great colab guys!💪🏻💪🏻

[@EngineeringExplained]

Haha, please keep low expectations coming into my videos, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised each time (hopefully). Thanks for watching!

[@ExhaustedOfficial]

Engineering Explained Haha, the videos are great man keep up the hard work! Always learn something new on your channel

[@agentsmith3608]

Nice collaboration and research. I was skeptical about the pros and cons of a turbo blanket but now i'm glad i bought one.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Happy to hear it, it was great to have the thesis data from UT Austin!

[@agentsmith3608]

The next thing i'm curious about is the performance/general benefits of a vented or raised hood!

[@mad-meh2719]

How's that turbo doing now 🤔

[@agentsmith3608]

Its doing great. lasted for years with no issue. It died recently when i tuned by car with ignition cut instead of fuel cut to get the pops and bangs LOL :)@@mad-meh2719

[@z34jay]

$50,000 FOR THAT CAMERA ?!?!?! With 50k I can buy the car i want twice :(

[@EngineeringExplained]

Hence just loaning it haha, yeah it's insane!

[@godbornplus]

Are you going to do a Linex tech tips type thing?

[@burakoshimazaki]

Engineering Explained Does it get cable and scratch your buttocks with a laser beam from space for that price or did they diamond and gold encrust all components inside? Lol.

[@counterfit5]

Definitely don't look at RED prices then lol

[@volvo245]

Price fixing cartel or monopoly. Don't you just love endless corporate greed?

[@TheMick26]

Chin blanket > turbo blanket.👍😆 Great video, Jason! It's always very entertaining when you and Charles are in the same room. After seeing you two on your Instagram clip yesterday, I hope you decide to post a blooper reel.😂 Have a great day.

[@EngineeringExplained]

Haha, there's always a mess of clips when we're together. Here's a blooper real that I have posted: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmjOc5V6bpiAfMk

[@TheMick26]

Engineering Explained That's what I'm talkin' about. Funny stuff! I missed that one the first time around. Thanks for the link, sir.🙌

[@mr.cangieter8758]

As always amazing video. You should do a video on engine decarbonization with water next. Also why coolant leaves your engine clean when your head gasket fails.

[@valthe1st890]

Came for the Turbo stayed for the beard. GLORIOUS

[@HumbleMechanic]

:)

[@BPEKSupraInteractive]

"stay fun, have safe, be dirty" -- Jason 2018

[@EngineeringExplained]

Snooze ya looze Eric. ;)

[@ninjad09]

I see what you did there. ;)

[@samcoote9653]

I make these at work, although our designs are a little more heavy duty, 2 layers of mesh, then a basalt mat, then ceramic wool insulation 25mm thick, and the outer cold face is a stainless steel woven silicone matting. Good stuff I really liked this vid :)

[@AndyTN64]

Which brand you working for

[@chrisbishop3716]

This is fascinating, particularly the oil temp tests done at UT. I would be worried about wearing out the turbo prematurely, but it seems that if the oil is OK then as long as you let the oil do its job things will be OK.

[@alfo4c489]

Love the Oil Line directly over the hot Turbo :D

[@CycloneCyd]

Yeah I spotted that. Mod 1: reroute that line!!!

[@rogerpearson9081]

Thanks guys, very informative from a practical view. Having seen a 350 C.I V8 ( 6.0 liter here in OZ) twin turbo fitted with blankets, I think it is a no brainer for the waste heat in the compartment alone. On popping the bonnet, I did not get face scorched and all the wiring and hoses etc would not be scorched and brittle. Then you have the performance/reliability benefits of not heating intakes, coolant and oil lines etc. To be thermodynamically pure, you should wrap or coat the whole exhaust system pre turbo but then you have metallurgical problems with the metal burning because of the high temps unless you go exotic. It looks like a blanket might even be useful on more humble cars like my TDi Sportage although I have no complaints about response but it would aid response and help the heat issue in summer ( 45 deg.C ambients) as long as there weren't bad effects on the DPF because of the extra heat passed along.

[@TurbineResearch]

Great video , one of the coolest experiments I have seen in a while

[@MrThatnativeguy]

Does the large beard ever pose a problem with belts/gears

[@l2azor07]

this has to be the best comment on this video...

[@Tsias100]

Car doesn’t make enough horsepower for it to matter 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@daviddroescher]

Defiantly if your near sighted

[@SpaceMissile]

ya just tuck it into your shirt for work like that. lol

[@ImJustMe555]

It was great to see the how the blanket helps. I wonder what the comparison of no insulation Vs ceramic coating Vs a turbo blanket Vs the combination of a ceramic coating and a turbo blanket would look like. I would actually like to see how they compare after being tuned for each setup.

[@GeorgiGeorgiev-ne9ps]

Thats a great team you guys have and 2 of the best channels on youtube talking together...very cool and helpful. No dobt

[@thecollieman8306]

What an awesome video, thank you for doing this! I read that study years ago and was looking it up again when I stumbled on this video always happy to see Charles teaching me stuff about VW’s!!

[@InternetDude]

I’m glad that you use Celsius like a good engineer. Fahrenheit is wonky illogical and I don’t understand it 😉

[@microbuilder]

I've got the Seek Thermal Camera for my iphone, super grainy image, but the price cant be beat (around $200). Pretty useful little tool to have around.

[@JakeVoorhees]

Thanks for another great video :) love your channel, thank you!

[@es6694]

Thank you for finally testing this. I’ve always believed keeping the heat in the hot side and cooling the cold side on the turbos were beneficial.

[@lipozor]

Excellent,guys-keep up good work!

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you

[@shadleybam3140]

This is a very good video

[@EngineeringExplained]

Thank you!!

[@tedbear631]

excellent vod! love seeing you guys colab and TIL blankets for turbos are worth. I always wondered what the wrappings on modded cars were for and I thought they were heat shields but I thought they kept heat out not in lol. Very cool

[@comonerleon]

Badass video I wrapped my exhaust intake and added a turbo blanket definite difference in heat resistance and throttle/spool response on a Mk7 gti

[@TheDBall73]

GREAT Video! All the questions I have asked and pondered answered. And so, the answer to the 3 year old question I have had is yes. Yes I will get a turbo blanket. Thank You. Some of the most informative vids on all of You tube. Now I have to ask... what if we continued to wrap the down pipe till it was out/fully under the engine compartment. Press that heat farther down the line and away from everything else.... hmm. I think I may wrap my down pipe also. Something for me to read on.

[@HumbleMechanic]

PTP recommends wrapping the DP. I emailed them and asked before I bought the blanket. There should be gains to be had too. Maybe a job for next time

[@123marijn321]

I've heard some bad things about wrapping the exhaust (cracking, water getting trapped), wouldn't a blanket/shield be a better option? Might not be as effective though.

[@fieldsofomagh]

Great turbo exploration with supporting data and informative comments.

[@marc-antoinecouillard5014]

High quality content and video editing. Good job guys

[@jmessier90]

Great video. I've been running a PTP turbo blanket on my car ever since I started modding it. Easily one of the best investments I've ever made. Heat = energy. You want as much of that energy to remain in the hot side of the turbo as possible. If you really wanna see a huge difference in engine bay temps, wrap your exhaust components too. Heat management is your friend.

[@adamhayden5152]

Wraps can make metal brittle. I picked up a ptp turbo blanket for my Cadillac ATS 2.0t but I didn’t wrap my high flow aftermarket carted DP. I instead used DEI silicon heat sealant spray (white) it actually looks pretty cool and works very well.

[@luisbrandolb]

Awesome, can you do a series about racing physics? Trail braking, racing line, weight transfer, grip

[@EngineeringExplained]

Have done a good number of related videos, have a search on my channel if you're interested in specific topics! :) Weight Transfer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnnFqGmahMqpaKs Racing Line: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ap6cZZ2metVmfdE FWD Weight Transfer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mn6YkKWFgNWheNk RWD Weight Transfer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipu0enuVgpqFadk

[@jumperkenijn]

Very cool topic! But a turbo that wasn't designed to have a blanket on there wouldn't it be more prone to cracking and leaking oil via the turbine shaft or seals through to the higher temperature differences? Keep up the vids! You guys working together is always fun and interesting to watch!

[@ALEX.THE.RUSSIAN]

No it won't have an issue, if it was true then over couple months without the turbo blanker just the way "they designed it" then turbos will go to sht quick lol. But it's not true. It shooed to be very hot there.

[@JesseArt]

I love when you guys do videos together. You both offer such awesome knowledge, experience, and unique skillsets that it really makes these videos top notch and enjoyable.

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thanks. It's so much fun working with EE!

[@EngineeringExplained]

Thanks for the kind words, Charles is a rad dude and I try to film with him any opportunity we get! (We live 2,500 miles apart, unfortunately).

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

@@EngineeringExplained doing a good job practicing social distancing at least 👍

[@mattbrennan8088]

two great channels together on here, love it

[@derfernerf]

50-60 degrees F° on both the coolant and oil lines seems pretty huge to me. On something like a racecar/driftcar, this seems like it could help quite a bit with oil temps and overheating issues. On top of the added spool shown in the second tests, every turbski needs a blanky!

[@ttiff97]

Hey Jason, does that heat kept in from the turbo blanket affect the turbo negatively, like wear and longevity etc? Also, can you make a video about the gold heat reflective tape? I’ve seen a couple videos but they used direct heat to test it not radiant heat. I’m kind of skeptical but no good experiment has been done to prove it reflect radiant heat. Keep up the content!!

[@EngineeringExplained]

I just learned about this stuff, I'd be curious to test it as well.

[@krinkedsurface]

@@EngineeringExplained please Jason? Go further on this! There’s so much to learn and discover on turbo heat management

[@charleenguyen3845]

Great video! Thanks for the condensed lesson!

[@kenth151]

I like when these two guys get together. Great team.

[@pappyman179]

Wow, nice camera (the one filming, not sitting on the bench). Is it new? Also, I love it when you two collaborate. Great stuff guys.

[@EngineeringExplained]

That's Charles camera. You're noticing 60 fps vs what I shoot in (4k 30 FPS).

[@pappyman179]

Interesting. I usually watch in 720p60, but I wonder if the 60 fps just survives the YT compression better. I was 'seeing' better detail and pixel clarity as opposed to thinking it was an fps thing. With two talking heads, one would question how the fps would change anything. It's not like you're moving much. Hmmm. Anyway, thanks for the reply. Charles adds a lot to your vids, you two work really well together. And as stated earlier, the vid quality was excellent for whatever the reason. Those FLIR shots owned.

[@dustinjames1268]

I think it has more to do with Charles using a lower resolution camera (to achieve higher framerates) and the downscaling isnt as significant, so you keep that quality Compression also does have a lot to do with it though, so thats definitely a factor

[@GabrielBoehm]

So now I am ordering two turbo blankets...thanks for the real info on this. (Going to be using on a '97 Nissan 240SX w/KA24DET (T3/T4) and a Dodge Dart with the 1.4 turbo engine)

[@HumbleMechanic]

The turbo I am running is a t3/t4, it fit really nice. And as it got hot and cooled, it fit even better.

[@RealDarkFilm]

Great if you dont mind a shorter turbo lifespan

[@ericviger4984]

Great video guys, very informative. Love the content, on both of you guys channels!!

[@stuartjohnson3513]

I've been thinking if buying a turbo car. I had never heard of a turbo blanket so this was very informative! Great video!

[@iplaysdrums]

Hey, did you warm down once you finished the video? Also loved the permutation of ETCG's signoff!

[@FearOfDeath1332]

ian connell I like how he didn't answer your question

[@iplaysdrums]

There was the Blown Heads thing for just a few videos, and there's always the possibility they'll bring that back.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

All positives and no negatives. Makes you wonder why manufacturers don’t do this in production

[@HumbleMechanic]

my guess is cost.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

HumbleMechanic na. It would be a fraction of a penny to include this on a car. Hell, Porsche charges like 9 g’s for red seatbelts!!!

[@CycloneCyd]

As an Engineer at a worldwide OE I can tell you why - - COST

[@thetuber705]

It increases vehicle weight raises the center of gravity up and moves it forwards. lol

[@123456bmx]

Kristopher Klassen why would a manufacturer put something on a car that would make it run longer or better?

[@thoriso1000]

Loving the collaboration 🤗

[@revengefullobster4524]

Good to know! I just had my STI rebuilt and don't have a turbo blanket on it yet. I think that will have to be the next purchase! Great vid guys!

[@muasboy]

Awesome video...”where they used lab coats and glasses” lmao

[@rogerdalton1549]

Very cool, well done video. I'm curious, besides oil temp concerns possibly effecting wear, might there by any other downsides with respect to turbo wear, by keeping it hotter than designed from the factory? I understand turbos are intended to run hot by design, but I'm curious if raising the turbo temp (by 149.4 *C in this case) could wear anything out faster? I know the bearings are located around the middle of the impeller/compressor assembly, further away from the turbo top, but I'm guessing they would be getting hotter as well. Over time, the turbo will be experiencing greater temperature swings between cold/hot/cold cycles, and maybe that could accelerate fatigue of the turbo housing, compared to stock? Then again, the difference could be negligible. Thanks again for another great video, science be praised!

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

I guess portions of the turbo are hotter than they would have been, but as they mentioned in the video, the exhaust gases entering the turbo are the exact same. If anything this is making the turbo temperature more uniform throughout...which is elevated in some spots and roughly unchanged in other spots. It's interested to think about though, since certain portions of the turbo are seeing a heavier thermal cycling load.

[@krinkedsurface]

Yeah, I just think the same. They could have gone further and talked about heat transfer through contact of those parts you mentioned. It is said OEM housings wear out and and can crack for such temp increase...

[@cruzlopez4449]

Awesome video. I just put my DEI turbo blanket on my tC yesterday.

[@PacificCoastAuto]

A lot of people are asking why OEMs don't put these on their cars. Some said cost, which seems reasonable at first, but falls off when thinking of the enormous costs that manufacturers spend on small increments in other areas. My best guess would be that a turbo blanket would require proper cooling systems for the turbo after the engine is off, and that these systems don't overcome the perceived benefits. What the turbo blanket would do is keep the heat in the turbo. This is fine while the car is running because the turbo is cooled by circulating oil. But when the engine is turned off, that oil sits in the turbo and and has no way to cool down. There is a device called a turbo timer that alleviates this problem, but it also means leaving the engine running for a short time after the car is shut off. With a turbo blanket, that 15 seconds might become 2-3 minutes. That is fine for the aftermarket, but would be weird for an OEM car that needs to meet regulations in several countries and meet delicate branding in order to be sold.

[@CycloneCyd]

Even though I understand the thermodynamics here, I've nevertheless been umming and ahing about a blanket. Thanks for the brilliant explanation. Q: would insulating the compressor side (even without a turbine blanket) help the IAT?

[@MichaelBrown-wx6zq]

You'd be better off putting exhaust wrap on the headers

[@EntropicRemnants]

Any thoughts on how the increase in temperature of the turbo housing might affect the metallurgy long term? You're getting to high enough temperatures with the increase to potentially have an effect and I wonder if that's a legitimate concern or not?

[@Frank-ed7hj]

I also wonder how it affects the oil >

[@ZesarMad]

Wow, I have never click the like button so fast! I see Charles (HM) with Jason (EE) and you know this is going to be good. Keep up the good work guys!

[@RickSoaring]

Yes, you have to cool down your turbo. We have a tow airplane for towing our gliders into the air. We had a blown turbo due to improper cooling. Definitely cooldown afterwards for a minute (especially for aircraft since they run at a significantly higher average power setting).

[@saltie.7783]

This is awesome

[@TheFranpito]

guys... just use a standarized measuring system. thank god you use celcius for the "engine measurements", but dont have much sense if you use fareheit for the ambient temperature. Use celcius for all!!

[@EngineeringExplained]

I grew up with Fahrenheit. When you talk about the weather in the US, you do so in Fahrenheit. For my viewers, all measurements were in Celsius. If it doesn't make sense, conversions are super simple. :)

[@TheFranpito]

yeah, it´s simple to convert, but it would be nice for consistency to say it on celcius (and include it on fahreheit on screen for all your american viewers). So you dont have to pause the video, go to google and convery fahrenheit to celcius. Thats the only thing i critics i have of the video. The rest is very good. Sry for my english btw, greetings from Argentina!

[@OhighOSkater]

Awesome video man! You definitely changed my opinion on turbo blankets!

[@fas2gsx]

The turbo blankets do make a difference. I used one when I had a 99 Eclipse GSX running a HTA3076 being only 3” away from the radiator. I was having a lot of heating issues...even with the larger mishimoto radiator. I used the lava turbo blanket from PTP and it made a very noticeable difference.

[@rusilver01]

Great video and technical details, thanks! So since oil temp is about the same, any negative effects on turbo reliability / longevity?

[@EngineeringExplained]

I suppose the exhaust turbine will be exposed to more energy, but I'm not sure if it wouldn't be able to handle this or not. As demonstrated, exhaust temps going in are relatively the same, outlet is slightly warmer with the blanket.

[@jessstuart7495]

Your nearby rubber parts (hoses) will probably last longer because they are being shielded from the IR radiation coming off the turbo.

[@raiden000]

225 C isnt a small number, that is enough to scare me out of using one. i dont know how strong the outside of a turbo needs to be, maybe the metal being softened a little is fine but im not risking it.

[@admkbldwn]

yeah, I would think thermal expansion of parts would start becoming a factor at 225 C above "normal" operating temperature. I'd love to see follow-up studies examining how turbos designed without blankets in mind hold up under the significantly higher operating temps.

[@Djhg2000]

+raiden derp Especially if it's 225 C on the outside, who knows what the internal temperature is going to be like. For all we know it could be increasing the blade lengths to the point of catastrophic failure down the line. The increase in turbo rpm doesn't help either, especially when the peak rpm wasn't measured above 2500 rpm on the engine.

[@alwoodd]

I wonder why auto manufacturers don’t install turbo blankets at the factory. It feels like there is more to the story, like possibly decreased service life.

[@syahrulzahrin2545]

Dan Alwood stock turbo car have smaller turbo.. it has more space for air ventilation..

[@12onin_Gypsy]

Cheap, thats it

[@iu2]

I also wonder if a turbo blanket would reduce reliability of the turbo...possibly temps are too high?

[@SupraSav]

@@iu2 Turbos experience some of the hottest temps a vehicle sees, and they are engineered to withstand that.. as long as you didn't buy it off ebay

[@ryanshannon7703]

@@SupraSav Yes, I don't think temps are an issue with turbos (as far as blankets are concerned). I'd probably say it's most likely due to cost since that would almost certainly require a manual labor component to what is probably the usual automation aspect of manufacturing a car. Also, a service mechanic having to wrestle with it would be another cost consideration (although it would be a customer focused cost) for something that is essentially a performance luxury value added item versus the requirements for a stable operation component being added.

[@LMacNeill]

That was an excellent explanation - not *more* power, per se, but the same power earlier in the rev-range. So it might *feel* like more power, because you’re accelerating harder at the lower-end of the rev-range.

[@hoffa2586]

Well done video guys thank you. I've debated adding a blanket for my 84 GTI Callaway turbo. I like the idea of using one but I am concerned that my manifold and down pipe will bear the brunt of the extra exhaust temps. I understand they are already prone to cracking without a blanket and did not want to accelerate that as they are NLA and nearly impossible to find. In addition my turbo is an old design and may not be built to handle the additional heat. I would very much like to reduce the under hood temps for the sake of longevity of the other nearby components. Despite a turbo timer that will run the motor for a few minutes to warm down, my disintegrated shifter bushings and melted O2 wires showed me that nearby items do get hot so I added more wire, firewall and trans tunnel shielding. If I was designing a new build with fresh components I would add a high quality blanket.

[@wheelheroes7902]

Jason, very interesting video, thanks for investigating! So I assume a ceramic coating on the turbo would have the same effect? But that wouldn't be such a bargain 😅 Also, great chemistry between the two of you!

[@4drturbo85]

Yeah I don't have a blanket on mine. I think about installing one. But my compressor, exhaust housing, 02 housing and log manifold is all ceramic coated.

[@madfiat8932]

Maybe I'm wrong but having a "ceramic coated" turbo myself, I think the effects of ceramic coating are way exaggerated. It's not a magical material.

[@admkbldwn]

Ceramic coating isn't exactly insulating... I would think the advantage would just be protection from oxidation at the high temps a turbo operates at

[@tomhiggins4816]

The blanket mostly protects against radiative heat transfer, the blanket essentials catches this radiating heat. Once the ceramic coating is up to the same temperature as the turbo it will still radiate heat in the same way as if there was no blanket or coating. maybe slightly less but nowhere near the same amount a turbo blanket would.

[@wheelheroes7902]

Tom Higgins well, that does sound logical indeed. Thanks for answering. Have a nice day, guys!

[@ProfessionalFixologist]

But what does this do to the longevity of the turbo? Could be a quick road to needing a new turbo!

[@c.a.t.s.7993]

Yes, definitely true. Overheat of a turbo and overheat of oil inside the turbo.

[@archer4999]

C.A.T.S. have you atleast watched the vid? The oil temp remains the same

[@ProfessionalFixologist]

Oil temp, though important, is obviously not the only thing that affects how durable a turbo is.

[@c.a.t.s.7993]

Watched, but no one mentioned how was the oil temp measure.

[@NoelAWinslow]

I would imagine the exhaust housing would suffer increased wear from the higher temperature cycling. Probably would lead to a crack down the line.

[@UnfocusedRacing]

Great info. Most manufacturers have a factory heat shield instead of a turbo blanket. I'd be interested in seeing a difference between a factory heat shield and aftermarket turbo blanket.

[@danielpowers4787]

Super informative. Love this

[@nelayo4894]

does a turbo blanket reduce reliability/increase wear on the exhaust side of the turbo?

[@Welcometofacsistube]

Nelayo Isso Good question

[@stevenp3176]

Nelayo Isso Yes because of physics. No one seems to know to what degree.

[@EngineeringExplained]

That's a good question, and it would be dependent on if the turbo manufacturer was somehow depending on cooling of the turbo through radiation, which is covered up by a blanket, and whether or not the turbo can withstand the higher temperatures. Ultimately, the exhaust gases going in are the same temperature, but you're just keeping that heat in the turbo, creating useful work from it, rather than letting it escape.

[@nelayo4894]

but it could still increase wear on the exhaust side, if its not clear wether the turbo needs tha area to actually cool itseld right?

[@madpistol]

Definitely wondering about this. There has to be a negative to trapping that heat right next to the turbo.

[@stephan97]

Do 1/4 tests with this

[@nateberlant6320]

Definitely investing in two blankets for my nsx after this video. Interested to learn more about the turbo oil sheild you were discussing.

[@DavidCheung]

Excellent testing methodology! Wish there was a dyno involved, but the study at the end helps prove the hypothesis.

[@alf2633]

Jason, the turbo surface temperature increase of 150 C concerns me a little. Would this decrease the longevity of the turbo considering the temperatures are drastically higher?

[@Big1_]

Concerns me too, i don´t use blanket in my turbo, i have installed an air conduct direct to the turbo which gets all the cold air.

[@gwick358]

When I was in school, I was taught that turbos work from heat. More heat in the turbo= more better !

[@103798]

Try again, it's all wasted heat and compressing takes way more energy if you keep the heat in. It's the hole concept of an intercooler, or multistage compression.

[@nhoff7703]

He's correct. The turbo works from heat. This blanket keeps the heat in on the hot side of the turbo. Also the cool side from being impacted from this heat. It's a win, win. That said. Yes, you want cool dense air on the cool/intake side.

[@load7097]

Frank. Turbo intake side vs Turbo exhaust side... We're talking the exhaust side. Watch the video.

[@2450logan]

Guy Curwick Damn right! More heat in the exhaust side means more expansion of gases, more gases means more choochoo

[@liamcooper5202]

Turbos work on pressure differential. Heat is proportional to pressure in this case. The higher the pressure difference the faster the velocity, the hotter the gas the more it will want to expand through the turbine.

[@ChiggyChiggyChiggy]

Hey EE. Great video, as always. Could you make a video on blocking off your blow-off/bypass valve and how ruining your turbo just to make a pretty sound is bad for your car?

[@thecollieman8306]

😂

[@CalculatedRiskAK]

This is the video that made me decide for putting a turbo blanket on my BWS K03 turbo.

[@Russxm]

I feel like I should apologize for following you for years and not subbing to the channel.. very inconsiderate lol

[@EngineeringExplained]

Haha it’s all good, I appreciate you watching!

[@Warkid1993]

Do modern cars with after shutoff cooling pumps for the turbo require idle engine cool down? Fiat 500 abarth has a pump that runs if the turbo is still hot after shutoff

[@HumbleMechanic]

My GTI has that pump from the factory. This car was also not turbocharged from the factory. I still let it run for a minute or so before shutting it down, then let the coolant pump run until it shuts down.

[@Iceberg4k1]

Great video. Love seeing Charles over here.

[@worldrallynut]

Thanks for the videos! What you didn't report was whether the turbo bearings were much hotter or closer to the oil temp. If the oil was not capable of extracting the heat due to a short time in the turbo before moving out and getting cooled again before returning the results do support that though they don't monitor it. Since the housing is much hotter and the oil isn't cooling it fast enough, the bearings are probably at a temperature beyond what they would normally operate. It is plausible that in hotter ambient temps, you might exceed the designed bearing temperature and prematurely wear them out.

[@Gians123]

How long does it take to cool off with the turbo blanket and without the turbo blanket and can the turbo melt with the turbo blanket because it keeps the heat in and if the heat stayes in same will happen with cold air it will stay out can you answer this please? like if you want to hear the answer 🙂🙂🙂

[@meifert2]

I used to work in a truck shop and in 2 years only saw one melted turbo....the reason for that was a clogged and bent exhaust system and it was dumping oil into the turbo

[@jutjub22]

This is a good question, how much materials suffer from added heat to turbo, exhaust pipes. Downsides need to be well tested before putting this on.

[@mukundthorat5672]

Oil needs to be tested as well for breakdown around the turbo

[@m43_felix]

But may this blanket increase turbo wear ?

[@chininiyang]

great video very detail.. love it

[@s4060]

Very interesting. Keep up the good work.

[@stevenp3176]

Other than quicker spool wouldn’t the waste gate keep the boost the same?

[@EngineeringExplained]

The wastegate can control peak boost, yes. But how fast you get up to peak boost is not controlled.

[@stevenp3176]

Right that's what I figured. When you guys were talking about peak boost it sounded like you were implying that peak boost would be changed. Thanks for the reply keep up the great videos please.

[@robertmontgomery7158]

So why don't the OEMs use Turbo blankets???

[@EngineeringExplained]

It's a great question - it could be cost, it could be designing the turbos for specific locations, could be from using relatively low boost. I'm not 100% sure.

[@aussiebloke609]

I have to suspect cost as the culprit - a small price per car, but it adds up with volume (rather like that airline that saved millions by using one less olive in each salad.) OEM turbos are running up to 18 psi of boost, sans blanket - considerably higher than the 12 psi on this car. However, it seems they're mounting them low on the back of the engine, up against the firewall...so presumably the airflow is removing the heat as it flows under the car before it can heat the engine bay too much. That's obviously a guess, but it has to be better than squeezing it in between the radiator and engine in the classic manner, where the heat can flow over the entire engine (including the intake manifold) before it can exit the bay.

[@madfiat8932]

Also turbo blankets are porous and could easily become dirty, or worse oil soaked in case of oil leaks. Of to gets oily, it could be a fire hazard. Car guys would hopefully keep it clean, but grandma would never notice until she had a fire.

[@ChuckLZard]

Well that blanket is $140 on amazon. While economy of scale would definitely apply a part anywhere near that expensive is ridiculous when you can get a serious chunk of that using your standard metal heat shields. Another thing that I saw mentioned is the increased temperature on the exhaust piping leading out of the turbo (to the tune of more than 100C). So you would essentially be trading high temperature parts upstream for downstream. Depending on your layout that may be beneficial, but it's certainly not an always better scenario.

[@robertmontgomery7158]

aussiebloke609 Makes sense

[@SidharthThapar]

Love your videos! Keep it up.

[@pedrocosta2450]

COOL video, very good the usage of the blanket. even if only gives~5% torque. Vey good upgrade for turbo engines