Understanding a Turbocharger
Posted on: 25 October 2017
A turbocharger is a good choice for anyone who wants more performance from their vehicle, whether that's more pickup from a full stop, or the ability to achieve higher speeds overall. A turbocharger or booster can usually be installed on any type of engine, and has many benefits other than just a faster engine. Note a few of those advantages, and some commonly asked questions about a turbocharger, so you can understand if it's the best choice for your vehicle.
How does a turbocharger work?
A turbocharger works by using air that is pushed through a car's exhaust to spin a turbine. This turbine compresses clean and fresh air, which is then delivered to the car's engine. When more air is introduced into the engine, the fuel pump responds by adding more fuel, in order to create combustion; if there was more air than fuel, that combustion would fail and the engine would sputter and stall. When this higher amount of oxygen and fuel is introduced into the engine, there is more combustion created, so the engine then has more power overall.
What is turbo lag?
A turbo lag may happen when the engine is first started, as there isn't enough air being pushed through the exhaust system to work the turbine. This lag should dissipate once you drive the car for several minutes, or it has a chance to idle. Also, turbo manufacturers have worked to improve the design of their turbo boosters so that they can use smaller amounts of exhaust to work the turbine. In turn, you may experience less lag with today's models of turbochargers than previous models.
What is a twin turbo?
As the name implies, a twin turbo has two different turbines that work to increase engine performance. They may both work at the same time, or work at different RPMs, according to the overall performance you're hoping to achieve from your booster.
What are the advantages of a turbo?
The compressed air that is delivered into an engine mixes more efficiently with the fuel that is used to create combustion. When combustion is created with less wasted oxygen and fuel, your vehicle may have more fuel efficiency, so you use less petrol overall. Compressed air can also mean less air that is left in the engine, so that there are fewer fumes and emissions produced. In turn, the engine may run more cleanly and the exhaust system may need fewer repairs. With a turbo booster, you can enjoy all these advantages along with faster pickup and higher speeds.
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