Who doesn’t want a little more power under the hood? Since the dawn of the automobile industry, drivers have always wanted more. It’s an American pastime to see mechanics pushing their rides to the limit! While many believe the age of muscle cars and unbridled engine power reached a peak in the 1970s, turbocharged engines are a unique return to form.
Turbochargers are the modern alternatives to souped-up engines of yesteryear. Sure, they’re not as intimidating when it comes to looks. But turbochargers have a lot to offer where it counts most: Power!
So, how much horsepower does a turbocharger add? To answer that, it pays to understand how these upgrades work and what kinds of benefits they bring to the table.
What is a Turbocharger?
Let’s clear one thing up first: A turbocharger is a separate accessory added to an engine. Colloquially known as “turbos,” these devices are pretty standard on stock engines these days. As a result, there’s some confusion about what they are.
A turbocharger is a turbine-driven, forced induction add-on. Its goal is to force extra air into the engine’s combustion engine to increase its output.
How Does a Turbocharger Work?
Generally, a Turbocharger bolts onto the exhaust manifold of your engine. There, it can take advantage of the laws of physics to create a more robust engine cycle.
Without a turbocharger, standard aspirated engines expel exhaust gases into the atmosphere. But with a turbo attached, you’re able to harness that exhaust and put it to good use. The exhaust flows into the turbocharger directly. The gust of gases spins the blades of the turbine.
Opposite the turbine is a compressor wheel and ambient air inlet. This component sucks in more air, compresses it, and sends the air towards the engine. Connecting the turbine housing and compressor housing is a shaft that ensures the two components rotate as one.
Before the compressed air from the turbo enters the engine, it goes through an intercooler. This part is essential, as the extreme heat from the exhaust system and compression process can cause all kinds of trouble. The intercooler lowers the temperature while also making the air denser, which increases volumetric efficiency.
The extra air does airflow into the engine does a couple of things. However, the most significant impact is the engine’s output. With more air, the fuel mix can take advantage of more oxygen. As a result, it experiences better fuel burn and more power output with each cycle. To put it simply: The engine works harder and more efficiently without using more fuel.
Understanding Turbo Boost and Turbo Lag
There are two main effects of the turbocharger. The first is the turbo boost, which is the effect you want to see in your engine. The boost is the amount of compressed air created by the turbocharger. In more technical terms, it’s the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure and the intake manifold. You’ll see turbocharger figures represented in bar pressure unit or PSI, with a higher number indicating more power.
So, what about lag? Well, lag is the opposite of what you want. It occurs when your engine is running at a lower RPM. Because it’s not working overtime to produce exhaust, the turbocharger doesn’t have enough fuel to create a turbo boost. This lack of exhaust results in lower output from the turbocharger, making the engine run more like a standard aspirated engine. It might feel sluggish until the engine’s RPM rises enough to produce the boost you’re looking to achieve. In most cases, that point is around 2,000 RPM. Once your engine hits that threshold, the surge of power from the boost kicking in can feel sudden and unnatural.
Manufacturers are doing a lot to produce more boost and less lag. However, lag is still an inherent problem with aftermarket upgrades. To avoid it, you must use a boost controller or standalone ECU. Not only that, but you’ll likely have to make significant upgrades elsewhere to ensure that your engine is fine-tuned to work with the turbocharger.
What are the Advantages of Having a Turbocharged Engine?
The biggest perk of having a turbocharger installed is more power!
There’s a reason why you don’t see those oversized engines on modern vehicles anymore. Contemporary automobile design is about performance efficiency. Manufacturers are looking to cut back on weight and maximize vehicle fuel economy. A clunky machine that only gets a few miles a gallon doesn’t cut it in today’s market. Yet, we have more powerful cars than ever.
That’s because most utilize a turbocharger. Even iconic lines of the muscle car era, such as the Mustang, have a much smaller engine than most would expect. However, it’s sporting a turbocharger.
You see, turbochargers allow manufacturers to use smaller and lighter engines than those of the past. But, they maintain the same output as the behemoths. It’s a favorable tradeoff that provides wins across the board.
The machines are lighter and more efficient without sacrificing power.
Another benefit is enhanced low down torque. Turbochargers improve throttle response. Plus, they can make your ride more fuel-efficient. Who doesn’t want all that?
Can You Add a Turbocharger to Any Engine?
Yes, you can add a turbocharger to any engine. A turbocharger is basically a supercharger that uses the exhaust gases from the engine to spin a turbine, which then powers a compressor that forces more air into the engine. This increases the power and efficiency of the engine.
Turbochargers can be added to gasoline or diesel engines, and they are especially popular on diesel engines because they can help them run more efficiently and obtain more power gains. However, there is some cost and complexity associated with adding a turbocharger, so it’s not always feasible or practical for everyone.
How Much Horsepower Does a Turbocharger Add?
Here’s the million-dollar question. You can expect a horsepower increase between 10 and 50 percent with proper installation. Around 40 percent seems to be the average. However, that figure is a broad generalization. Theoretically, you can get even an even more significant boost than 50 percent! It depends on the installation and how you tune the engine moving forward.
To maximize the impact of the turbo, most vehicle engines will need additional upgrades. Low-compression pistons, boost controllers, and strategical injection mapping can make a world of difference. Those parts will increase the overall upgrade costs, but they may be worth it to maximize the boost your engine receives.
Does a twin-turbo make a car faster?
Yes, it does. A twin-turbocharger setup will deliver more power than a single turbocharger because the airflow from each turbine is divided by two and directed to separate cylinders. This system divides the workload between both turbos which results in quicker response times and increased efficiency as well as better fuel economy due to less waste of energy through wasted exhaust pressure. The end result? A car that’s faster with better performance all around!
Conclusion
Turbochargers are a real game-changer in the automotive industry. In the past, they were more of a niche upgrade. However, more and more manufacturers are taking advantage of the technology to maximize fuel efficiency without sacrificing power. A turbocharger can do a lot to help your engine reach its full performance potential, allowing you to get the horsepower you want in a much smaller package!