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10-15-2009, 01:09 AM
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Turbochargers Vs. Superchargers
Turbochargers Vs. Superchargers
Turbocharging and supercharging are two of the most common ways of getting more power and performance from a car's engine. But while both are forms of forced induction, which means forcing more air into the engine, the advantages and disadvantages of one over the other is a common debate among enthusiasts. Turbocharging Turbocharging is a form of forced induction that works on the exhaust side of the motor. As spent gasses (air and fuel) exit the motor's exhaust manifold, they enter the turbo's housing. Inside the housing is an impeller that begins to spin at up to 2,000-revolutions per second as the gasses enter the turbo, forcing more air into the motor, which in turn creates more power by applying more force to the pistons. Because of the fact that turbos work off of the exhaust, there is a momentary delay, called turbo lag, before the engine begins producing more power. This is why turbocharged cars have such an exciting power delivery, since it changes so rapidly. Car companies have reduced turbo lag considerably with new technology and smaller turbos, but it is unavoidable. Supercharging There are two primary types of superchargers, the Roots type and a centrifugal type. There is also the Lysholm Screw Type, though this similar to the Roots. Supercharging is based on the same principal as turbocharging, but uses the incoming (intake) air to provide the forced induction. As air enters the supercharger, a series of intermeshing lobes spins up, forcing more air into the motor and increasing power. Since superchargers work from the intake air, they do not experience the lag associated with turbos. In fact, supercharged cars feel more like very powerful normally aspirated vehicles. Superchargers are generally noisier than turbos, and often emit a loud whine when they are producing boost, as opposed to turbos, which are often silent. Reliability Turbos produce much more heat and often need intercoolers to keep them cool and allow them to provide maximum performance. The heat from the turbo is not only hard on the turbo itself, but the motor as well. A turbocharger also needs to be oiled constantly and shares the engines oil supply, further adding to the complexity. Another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the engine's compression ratio, which needs to be low if a high boost is going to be produced by the turbo. Often, installing a turbocharger also means the motor needs to be rebuilt. Arguably, supercharging is more reliable then turbocharging since it is less complex and places less strain on the motor. Generally speaking, supercharged engines do not need to run as low of a compression ratio as turbos. Usually, running a supercharger on an engine is simply a bolt-on process. Performance For high-power applications, turbocharging is the most common route. Most cars that have ouputs of 800 to 1000 horsepower or more are usually twin turbocharged. The performance potential for superchargers in not as high, though it can still increase the power output by up to 30 percent or more. Cost Supercharging is generally cheaper than turbocharging. A complete supercharging kit will run anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the type of car. A well-engineered turbo conversion can easily run to $15,000 or more.
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