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Turbo system vs Supercharger
by Terry bolton
If you are looking for extra power then a supercharger or turbo kit can provide you with the means you are looking for. Turbo cars and twin turbo cars are sought after by many people, and others look to create a precision turbo by performing a turbo upgrade on your car. You will need to ensure you have picked the right turbo system or supercharger for your car, so consider which is the best for you by becoming familiar with the following information.
Turbo chargers can be fitted to any engine type so long as you have a decompressed engine block and the appropriate turbo manifolds. A smaller turbo system will mean a faster boost response, but the total amount of boost will be lower. By comparison, a larger system takes much longer to build up its turbo boost, but once it is ready it provides some serious kick. The turbo exhaust gas velocity is what propels a turbocharged system and are proportional to the engine temperature. As they feed on frsh oil, the turbo must use an oil with a high rating.
A turbo engine can provide a massive increase in horsepower, but also a sharp rise in temperature which results in air incapable of being compressed. The solution to this problem is cooling systems. Rapid heating and cooling must be carefully managed. Many custom turbo kits will use a turbo timer to manage the intercooler system.
A supercharger avoids this heating and cooling time, so effectively it is ready to go whenever you are. Like turbo chargers, a supercharger also uses compressed air and can also be fitted to any type of engine you have.
A supercharger can add up to 40% horsepower and 50% torque, but the pulley driven system puts a fair amount of strain on the engine. A turbocharger with intercooler system installed is able to provide a virtually unlimited boost, but this engine strain means that the increase in boost with a supercharger is finite.
Complete installation of a supercharger will normally take you around six to eight hours, provided there is no special cutting or welding modifications to be made, and of course you are mechanically inclined enough to do it yourself. Another advantage over a turbo system is that it will tend to last longer. The Supercharger has it's own self contained oil supply, and also hardly requires any maintenance at all.
You can tell the difference between a turbo and a supercharger just by listening to them in action. Both have very cool sounds. A supercharger emits a kind of aggressive whistle, while turbos sound like a jet engine.
To summarize the comparison, turbochargers are very efficient and flexible, allowing you to swap parts of the turbo system in and out to achieve the power output you are interested in. The turbo setup is great for cars that are lightweight or front wheel drive, because they allow you to gain traction before your speed boost kicks in. Superchargers are lower maintenance, give a fantastic kick immediately after a standing start and are ideal in cars that have horsepower to spare in their engine. Which one you choose will depend on your own unique requirements, but either will give your car a dramatic power increase.
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