TURBO VS SUPERCHARGER
There is quite a bit of terminology when it comes to automobile parts, and a person can get very easily confused. Some of the things that are bantered about may sound very appealing, but may not be what a car buyer wants in his or her vehicle. Understanding differences between various components helps to make a better decision. Superchargers and turbochargers are mentioned almost in the same breath by many people in the auto industry. There is definitely a difference between the two of them.
Turbocharger EngineEither one will deal with power. Turbochargers and superchargers are known as forced induction systems. It means that either will compress the air flowing into the engine, which provides more power to the car. This creates a considerable amount of boost, which can be as much as 50% more power into the engine. This makes a luxury car or high-end sports car roar like a lion whenever the owner is tired of the engine purring like a kitten. A main difference between the turbocharger and the supercharger lies in the power supply.
A turbocharger uses the exhaust stream for its energy. The exhaust will run through a turbine that will itself spin the compressor. The turbine spinning can be as much 150,000 RPM (Rotations Per Minute). To put that in layman’s terms, the turbocharger is able to have an RPM speed that can be almost 30 times faster than an ordinary automobile engine. It does take a little while for the turbine to produce the boost, and can result in the car lunging forward when the turbocharger kicks into action. The size of the turbocharger can impact power with a smaller one producing more boost faster. A turbocharger is particularly effective at high altitudes where other engines experience difficulty. Because the air is less dense a normal engine gets a smaller amount of air. Turbocharged engines do not suffer a dramatic reduction in power since the turbocharger is more capable of pumping thinner air.