MAINTENANCE
FEATURE
Auto components
By Joseph
Ndung’u
Mr Ndung’u has
been working in
the lubricants
industry for the
past 8 years in
area of Sales &
Marketing and
Technical support
Turbochargers
and lubrication
A
turbocharger
is a radial fan
pump driven
by the energy of the
exhaust gases of an
engine. It consists of a
turbine and a compressor on a shared shaft.
The turbine converts
the heat energy from
the exhaust to power, which then drives the
compressor, compressing ambient air and
delivering it to the air intake manifold of the
engine at higher pressure, resulting in a greater
mass of air entering each cylinder. The additional oxygen makes it possible to add more
fuel, increasing the power and torque output
of the engine while reducing emissions
The function of a turbo charger is to increase
the power output of an engine by up to 30%,
without adjusting the engine itself. It therefore
improves on the size- to output efficiency of an
engine. Typically, an engine would have to be
made larger and consequently heavier to gain
power; on the other hand, a turbo charger is
much smaller and lighter. Additionally, a turbo
charger is powered by the exhaust gases of the
engine, which would normally just leave the
engine and vehicle unused.
The construction and operation of a turbocharger places considerable strain on the
lubricating oil. The lubrication system plays an
essential role in prolonging the life expectancy
of a turbocharger by lubricat [