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You Should Know This About Your Turbo & Supercharger

The phrase "supercharger" refers to an air compressor that increases the pressure or density of air entering an engine, which allows oxygen to be burned. The initial superchargers were always powered by the crankshaft, usually through a gear, belt, or chain. A turbocharger is a supercharger that is powered by a turbine in the exhaust stream. To understand more about the Turbo & Supercharger, keep on reading this article and get all your questions answered.

What Is A Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Turbocharger

A turbocharger is also known as a turbo. It is a turbine-driven forced induction device that raises an internal combustion engine's productivity and power output. This is done when the extra compressed air would be forced into the combustion chamber.

Supercharger

An air compressor that raises the pressure or density of air supplied to an internal combustion engine is the supercharger. This provides every intake cycle of the engine with more oxygen. This would allow it to burn more fuel and more work would be done, thus raising the power.

What Are The Types Of Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Willing to know the different types of Turbo & Supercharger in automobiles? Have a look at the various types of Turbo & Supercharger below:

Turbocharger :

  • Single-Turbo
  • Twin-Turbo
  • Twin-Scroll Turbo
  • Variable Geometry Turbo
  • Variable Twin Scroll Turbo
  • Electric Turbo 

Superchargers:

  • Roots Type Supercharger
  • Twin-Screw Supercharger
  • Centrifugal Supercharger

What Are The Important Features Of Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Do you want to know the essential features of Turbo & Supercharger? Then you have arrived at the right place. Have a look below to know the important features of Turbo & Supercharger:

Turbocharger

  • It should be safe
  • It should be more fuel-efficient
  • Keep in mind that it should be cleaner and eco-friendly
  • If it would be quieter, then it would be better
  • The overall driving experience should be superior

Supercharger

  • There should be higher power output
  • There should be greater induction of charge mass
  • It should give better atomization of fuel
  • The mixing of fuel and air should be better
  • It should have high-quality scavenging products
  • There should be better torque characteristics over the whole range
  • The acceleration of the vehicle should be very quick
  • The combustion should be complete as well as very smooth
  • There should be enhanced cold starting
  • There should be a reduction in exhaust smoke
  • There can be a reduction in the particular fuel consumption
  • The rise in mechanical efficiency would be beneficial
  • There should be a smooth operation and the diesel knock tendency should be reduced

How Does My Car Turbo & Supercharger Work?

Are you searching for how the turbo & supercharger work? Then all you have to do is to have a look below and then you will understand everything.

Turbocharger:

  • First, the cool air enters the car engine’s air intake, and then it heads towards the compressor. After that, the compressor fan helps to suck the air in. The compressor then squeezes and heats the incoming air and then it is blown out again. The hot, as well as compressed air from the compressor, passes through the heat exchanger, which then cools it down. Cooled, as well as compressed air, then enters the cylinder's air intake. 
  • The fuel in the cylinder starts burning at a faster rate with the help of extra oxygen. Now since the cylinder burns more fuel, it will produce energy at a faster pace and then it would send more power to the wheels via the piston, shafts, and gears. The waste gas which is in the cylinder starts exiting through the exhaust outlet. The hot exhaust gases that blow past the turbine fan rotate at high speed. The spinning turbine is mounted on the same shaft as the compressor. So now as the turbine spins, then so would the compressor. Then the exhaust gas would leave the car, which wastes less energy than it would otherwise.

Supercharger: 

  • A supercharger makes sure to pressurize intake air. It increases the density of the air. More amount of air means more fuel which results in more powerful combustion which is recognized as increased horsepower. The supercharger is driven directly by the engine crankshaft. It can be either with a belt, chain, gears, or driveshaft. Therefore, the blower speed and the performance of the supercharger depend entirely on the engine speed.  
  • Now when the crankshaft starts spinning, it starts turning a belt which spins another pulley on the supercharger. It is joined with the internal rotors inside the case. It then compresses the air and then forces it into the engine's intake manifold. All the molecules are heated up because of the compression and that’s why an intercooler is utilized to bring temperatures down before the air enters into the intake manifold.

That is the real difference between a supercharger and a turbocharger. Now with a turbocharger system, the forced air induction is driven by exhaust gases. There is an advantage of the turbocharger that they have a less parasitic drag on the engine. It is because there is no belt-driven blower mechanism, but they start suffering from "turbo lag" before boost kicks in, and then they would be less responsive than superchargers at low RPMs.

If you are driving a supercharged automobile, the power is delivered at lower RPMs or lower in the power band. This happens because there is no exhaust gas build-up like a turbocharger and no extra power at lower engine speed. 

What Are The Common Car Turbo & Supercharger Problems?

Willing to know some common car turbo & supercharger problems? In that case, all you have to do is keep on reading further:

Turbocharger:

1. Poor acceleration - One of the most obvious signs which indicates that there are some flaws in the turbo is a lack of power. Now if it takes more effort by the engine to get going and speed up through the gears, then you should surely check if the turbo is working in the right manner or not.

2. Irregular exhausts - Now if there are some flaws in the turbo, then there might be a leakage of the oil into the exhaust which leads to a lot of smoke emitting from the exhaust of your automobile, which is thicker, grey smoke than usual. If the car engine will be overworked, it would lead to a higher level of smoke emitting from the car exhaust.

3. Check engine light - Many times the symptoms which are the simplest ones are the most important ones. Make sure that you monitor your car dashboard and then see if there is an appearance of the warning lights. Now if there is an appearance of the engine light, then it might be the turbo due to which issue is being caused.

4. Low boost levels - If you think that there are some flaws in the turbo, then it is essential to inspect the turbo. Keep on observing the boost gauge and then if it reaches the low levels, it is a clear sign that there is something that requires inspecting, fixing, and then restoring.

5.  Loud shrieks – It is very important to pay attention to the noises while driving which you are not used to, as it means that there is some flaw that requires investigation. If the automobile causes shrieks while the boost is running, then it is essential to inspect the reason behind it. 

Supercharger:

1.  Growling - Growling occurs when the debris in the supercharger causes the rotor to hit the housing.

2.  Clacking - Now if this situation is present at the idle and then goes away under load then it shows an issue with the idle. If the issue continues after engine rev then the coupler might be faulty.

3.  Vibration - Vibrations can never occur because of the supercharger unit as the unit is balanced. It is the engine that can cause these vibrations.

4.  Whistling - A whistling sound is created by the supercharger unit because of the air which moves through the unit. Now if the sound is very loud, it means that there is a leakage in the vacuum. 

5.  Gear Whine - The gear whine happens because of the age, but mostly it happens when the unit would run in the absence of the oil.

What Are The Symptoms Of Bad Turbo & Supercharger?

Are you searching for symptoms of faulty Turbo & Supercharger? All you have to do is to have a look below:

Turbocharger:

  • There might be a slow acceleration
  • A lot amount of oil might start burning
  • Immoderate exhaust smoke
  • Illumination of the check engine light
  • A loud whining noise can start coming from the turbo 

Supercharger:

  • The automobile might start lagging when accelerating
  • Engine's inability to efficiently burn a mixture of fuel and air
  • The appearance of the check engine light
  • There might be difficulties to accelerate
  • If the supercharger is not forcing air into the engine, then the miles driven per gallon starts decreasing
  • There might be a clicking noise at the front of the supercharger when the automobile is idling
  • The gears might start turning blue-black or black if there is not enough oil in the system
  • There might be dripping or leaking oil from the supercharger

Which Tools Do I Need To Repair My Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Do you enjoy repairing your car on your own? Thinking of opening up your car body shop? It is a great business opportunity if you love cars and possess a good work ethic. Now if you want your shop to be successful, then you will require a combination of effort and car mechanic training. And of course, the correct types of equipment to upgrade your speed and make your repair work easy. If you have the right tools, then you can easily meet the demands of today's car body structures. Here are some of the most essential tools which you might need to repair your Turbo & Supercharger.

Turbocharger:

  • Complete Turbocharger Kit
  • Hydraulic jack/Scissor jack
  • 2 Jack stands
  • Socket
  • Wrench
  • Combination wrench set
  • Oil pan
  • Motor Oil 

Supercharger:

  • Service/repair manual specific to your vehicle.
  • Socket
  • Ratchet
  • Screwdrivers
  • Torx & Allen head drivers.
  • Pliers
  • Shop rags / towels.
  • Masking tape.

Which Top Brands Turbo & Supercharger Parts Should I Choose?

You won’t have to think a lot while purchasing if you are already using a particular car part brand and are fully satisfied with it. Some people trust a specific brand and would go with it once again with a minimum of thought. Here we have the best Turbo & Supercharger brands to help you out in choosing your favourite one in case you don’t have any. So what are you waiting for? Have a look below and choose the best brand for your Turbo & Supercharger. 

  • Dorman (OE Solutions) Turbo And Supercharger
  • BD Diesel Turbo And Supercharger
  • Edelbrock Turbo And Supercharger
  • Gates Turbo And Supercharger
  • Various Manufacturers Turbo And Supercharger
  • Cardone Industries Turbo And Supercharger
  • Blue Streak (Hygrade Motor) Turbo And Supercharger
  • Turbosmart USA Turbo And Supercharger
  • Dorman/Techoice Turbo And Supercharger

Which Parts Are Related To My Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Do you want to know what are the related parts of the car Turbo & Supercharger? Say no more! We are here to help you out. Have a look at Turbo & Supercharger related parts below:-

  • Turbo or Supercharger Hose
  • Turbo Boost Sensor
  • Turbocharger Kits
  • Turbo Boost Solenoid
  • Turbocharger Pipe

What Is The Repairing Cost Of My Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Failure in the Turbo & Supercharger comes in a lot of forms. But take note that it is not an inexpensive repair. Sometimes in the end you might find out that there is a need for complete Turbo & Supercharger replacement. There is no hard and fast number as to how much a Turbo & Supercharger replacement would cost as it depends upon a lot of factors like the brand, make, model as well as the mechanic who is going to repair/replace it. If you want to substitute your turbocharger, then it generally ranges between $6,754 and $6,999. Talking about the work expenses, they would range between $932 and $1177 and the parts would be valued somewhere around $5822. If you want to substitute your supercharger assembly, then it generally ranges between $3,457 and $3,649. Talking about the work expenses, they would range between $439 and $555 and the parts would be valued somewhere in the range of $3018 and $3094.

What Are The Steps Of Changing My Car Turbo & Supercharger?

Do you want to change your Turbo & Supercharger on your own? Then have a look at the steps of changing the Turbo & Supercharger below:

Turbocharger:

Step 1

First of all, raise the front end of the vehicle with a hydraulic jack or a scissor jack. Then the two jack stands should be placed under the car.

Step 2

Now when the automobile is on the jack stands, the oil pan should be placed under the engine and the engine's motor oil should be drained.

Step 3

Once the oil drain plug has been replaced, then the front bumper of the vehicle should be removed. After that, the intercooler should be installed.

Step 4

After that room should be made for the turbocharger by carefully removing the exhaust header.

Step 5

A tap should be created in the vehicle’s filter line when the turbo header is in place. Then, a tap should be connected to the turbocharger's oil feed line and then carefully connect the turbocharger's oil return line to the engine oil pan.

Step 6

Now once you are done with the oil lines, the rubber hoses and metal pipes should be connected to the turbocharger's compressed air outlet. After that, the set of pipes and hoses should be connected to one side of the intercooler.

Step 7

The engine's air intake should be located and then if there are any filters and tubes attached to it, they should be removed. If there is a carburetor in your car, then you would require a turbo hat.

Step 8

Then the other side of the intercooler should be taken and then carefully attach the remaining hoses and pipes. Then connect the hoses and pipe to the engine's air intake system.

Step 9

Once the turbocharger's compressed air outlet has been connected to the engine's air intake, then it is essential to double-check all the bolts and oil taps. This is done to make sure that all of them are secure.

Step 10

The car should be filled up with new oil and then the car should be taken off the jack stands. Then your vehicle is ready to go.

Here are the steps of changing a car supercharger:

Step 1

First, allow the engine to cool and position the vehicle safely. Pull the handbrake and ensure the vehicle doesn't move while carrying out the replacement. 

Step 2

The next step is to remove the radiator hoses and pipes and the air intake system. Also, disconnect the air intake system by removing the throttle body, PCV lines, and other electrical connections, like the MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor. 

Step 3

Remove the coolant lines and hoses, followed by loosening the air filter box bolts, and remove the airbox. Remove the engine harness to the supercharger and disconnect the coils as well.

Step 4

Remove the MAP sensor, throttle body position sensor, and the vacuum line to the canister purge solenoid. Remember the order in which you disconnect the cables and connections.

Step 5

Now use a wrench to pull the tensioner back and remove the supercharger belt. Begin to move the supercharger lid by loosening all the retaining bolts. Don't forget to disconnect the second MAF sensor at the back of the supercharger. 

Step 6

Remove the supercharger base bolts. You can do this by hand or use an electric gun to speed up the process. Now you can remove the supercharger assembly easily. Check the condition of the air intake ports and wipe off any gunk or deposits. 

Step 7

Set the new supercharger onto the cylinder heads. Make sure it is seated properly and the throttle body is connected before you attach the new supercharger to the cylinder head. Now tighten all the bolts on the supercharger base with a torque wrench to the recommended torque specifications. 

Step 8

Reinstall the supercharger lid and the connections back in the order you removed them.

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FAQ
Twin-charging does the same. The supercharger kicks in immediately to deliver an initial surge of power, then the turbocharger spins and does its thing when the supercharger's output levels out. Their combined performance produces consistent power throughout a wide range of engine speeds.
Superchargers are more reliable than turbochargers. They're simple to set up and manage. They're noisier than turbochargers, and they increase RPMs significantly.
Supercharging, like OEM turbocharging (with correct cool down for turbochargers), will not shorten the life of an engine assuming a properly tuned system, proper oil change and engine maintenance, and similar driving. With supercharging, there is no need for a cool-down period after driving.
The life expectancy of a supercharger belt is 80,000-110,000 kilometers, and it should be replaced before it reaches this point.
Forced induction systems of both types provide more horsepower. If you're looking to save money on petrol, turbochargers are a better option, while superchargers deliver faster and more balanced performance.
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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.