Do I need to idle my turbo Skoda after long drives?

I recently bought a Skoda Superb Classic automatic, but because of my fairly low annual mileage and many short journeys I opted for the 1.8-litre turbo petrol engine against the more expensive but more economical diesel.

You often refer to the need to idle a turbocharged engine for a few minutes after a long fast run in order to lubricate the bearings. Could you tell me after how long a journey I need to idle my engine?

Asked on 20 October 2012 by CD, Manchester

Answered by Honest John
The turbo on your petrol engine is watercooled, but the engine and the turbo spin faster than a non-watercooled diesel turbo. So you need to allow the engine to idle or run at less than 1500rpm after a long ascent, after towing, after spirited high rev driving, and after constant speed on the motorway, for example when stopping for fuel. Just leave it idling for 30-60 seconds before switching it off. At the end of slower journeys where the revs are low, there’s no need.
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