Turbo/Oil question

[ARedmon]

My truck is a 2005 Dodge 2500 Cummins with G56 transmission. Love the truck so far but the "cool-down period" for the turbo is a bit aggravating. I guess I'm always in too big a hurry. According to the owner manual, I need to sit and idle for anywhere from "less than a minute" ?, to "5 minutes minimum" every time I want to make a stop. I've been told that the reason is because the high operating temps of the turbo will "cook" the oil in the turbo and eventually stop up the oil passage ways to the turbo bearings resulting in bearing/turbo failure. What if I switch to sythetic oils? Will the synthetics' high temperature operating characteristics allow me to forego the cool-down period? If not completely, would the use of synthetic oils at least make the cool-down periods shorter?

 

[nickleinonen]

coasting down the road to your drive or while idling around looking for a parking spot counts towards your idle down time... ~300*f and you're ok to shut down. .

 

[Missouri Mule]

It's highway speeds and pulling/loaded that you really have to worry about cool down period. Driving around town you should be able to shut it off right away.

 

[ARedmon]

The owners manual says to let it idle for "less than a minute" ?- ? when driving unloaded in city, and 5 minutes when loaded pulling hard. People tell me that turbo failure can occur if this is not adhered to. It seems unbelievable to me that such an important requirement is left to guess-work! Why isn't there some kind of indicator on the dash that will tell you when it is safe to shut down?

It seems from reading some different info that a pyrometer can help. Why isn't this standard equipment? If I buy a pyrometer (EGT gauge), is there a recommended type? Should the probe be mounted pre or post turbo? I would prefer to mount probe post turbo to insure no chips get in the system. If post turbo probe mount is OK, at what temperature is it safe to shut down the engine? How hard is it to install and wire? Sorry for all the questions but this seems important.