How does a turbocharger increase air flow into the engine?
The turbocharger on a car applies a very similar principle to a piston engine. It uses the exhaust gas to drive a turbine. This spins an air compressor that pushes extra air (and oxygen) into the cylinders, allowing them to burn more fuel each second.
What does a turbo do to a gas engine?
It is the job of the turbocharger to compress more air flowing into the engine’s cylinder. When air is compressed the oxygen molecules are packed closer together. This increase in air means that more fuel can be added for the same size naturally aspirated engine.
How does air flow into an engine?
It consists of a bored housing that contains a throttle plate that rotates on a shaft. When the accelerator is depressed, the throttle plate opens and allows air into the engine. When the accelerator is released, the throttle plate closes and effectively chokes-off air flow into the combustion chamber.
What kind of gas does a turbo engine need?
Engines with high compression ratios or turbochargers often require high octane fuel found in premium gas for optimal performance and fuel efficiency. However, the majority of cars on the road today are optimized to run on regular gas.
What is the turbo connected to?
The turbocharger is bolted to the exhaust manifold of the engine. The exhaust from the cylinders spins the turbine, which works like a gas turbine engine. The turbine is connected by a shaft to the compressor, which is located between the air filter and the intake manifold.
What is the purpose of a turbocharger?
A turbocharger (also exhaust gas turbocharger) uses the energy that is lost by the exhaust gas of a reciprocating engine, profitable for driving the cylinder. It compresses the combustion air supplied to the engine, providing more torque and an increase in engine power.
Why do turbocharged engines wear out so quickly?
The first reason is that adding a turbocharger to a smaller engine makes it work harder. A turbocharger increases the pressure and temperature inside the combustion chamber, which adds more strain on all internal components including pistons, valves, and the head gasket. The harder the engine works, the faster it wears out.
What are the pros and cons of a turbocharger?
Pros and cons To summarize: a turbocharger adds complexity to the engine, which means more possibility for something to go wrong. Turbocharged cars are more sensitive to poor maintenance. On the plus side, a turbocharger adds power only when you need it, while allowing for a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine.
Why is there no boost pressure in turbocharged cars?
In older turbochargers, a certain speed was required for the charge. In the low speed range, the amount of exhaust gas is insufficient to produce the required boost pressure for the turbocharger.