They do "care". It's not a huge thing, but it does matter. A water-cooled turbo has a water jacket that keeps the turbo from losing the heat if there's no water. A "dry" turbo has no jacket and they have little heat sinks to increase the surface area.
Bottom line: A water-cooled turbo will last longer than a dry one, but it won't last as long as a dry one if you don't run the water.
i should fix it?? The line thatruns into the motor side of the turbo started leakin and i fixed it wit a rubber hose but of course that melted in no time so i just capped it until i can get to the junkyard and grab another line.
off topic i rode in my buddies new ranger and it was pretty quick it has a dohc 2.3 and that thing was nice we power braked for about a block with the truck goin form side to side the whole tim those motors have lots of potential
i have a lil bit of oil comming out of the front of the turbo where the air goes in not a lot but just a lil bit is my turbo on the way to crappin out??? lata