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Turbochargers vs. Superchargers

April 8, 2021

The terms “turbochargers” and “superchargers” are common phrases at specialised motor car shops to describe adding more power to a vehicle and improving engine efficiency. However, some people may understand that the terms and their technicalities are different, and the question of “Which one is better?” begs to be answered.

What Makes Turbochargers and Superchargers Different

The amount of power an internal combustion engine can produce will depend on how quickly and efficiently it burns fuel and converts the heat to mechanical force. Fuel also requires air to combust, so an engine’s maximum output will depend on how much air it can take in to burn fuel.

Turbochargers use the velocity and heat energy of the searing hot exhaust gasses rushing out of an engine’s cylinders to spin a turbine. This rushing air drives a small compressor or impeller to stuff more air into the engine.

A supercharger also pumps additional air into the engine to increase engine efficiency. However, the engine drives the air mechanically through a belt that runs off the crankshaft or by an electric motor.

Turbocharger Australia: Pros and Cons

Turbocharger Pros:

  • It permits smaller engines to generate substantially greater power in proportion to their size.
  • It improves fuel economy. Smaller engines use less fuel to idle and have less reciprocating and rotational mass.
  • Improves engine energy recovery to improve the overall efficiency of the engine. This is higher efficiency because turbochargers run off energy lost in supercharged engines.

Turbocharger Cons:

  • Large turbochargers take a while to reach their optimal speed and deliver a noticeable power increase.
  • Traditional turbochargers are typically designed to match a particular RPM range because they rely on exhaust gas flow to generate additional power for the engine.
  • In specific turbocharger setups, the sudden power surge when the engine hits the boost threshold can lead to vehicle instability and potentially reduce tyre grip.

Supercharger Australia: Pros and Cons

Superchargers Pros:

  • A supercharger Australia product enhances horsepower quickly, offering a swift power boost.
  • They eliminate lag by delivering power instantly, as the engine’s crankshaft directly drives them.
  • Superchargers deliver substantial power even at low RPM levels.

Superchargers Cons:

  • Less efficiency because supercharge batteries suck engine power to produce engine power. It’s essentially powering an air pump with another air pump.
  • With all those forced induction systems, The engine internals become less reliable when exposed to higher pressures and temperatures. This will significantly affect the longevity of the engine.

The Bottom Line

Turbochargers win by a wide margin. While superchargers may give out so much power, everything comes down to fuel engine efficiency and longevity. Likewise, government requirements for improving fuel efficiency, strict greenhouse gas emissions standards, and fuel mileage have also driven car owners and manufacturers to install turbochargers instead of supercharge batteries.

Call an Expert

Toowoomba Superior Turbos is the premier remanufacturing facility for turbochargers in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. We offer our customers on-site inspections and free quotes, so give us a call today at (07) 4634 6565 to discuss how we can help you increase your vehicle’s engine efficiency.

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