Superchargers and Turbochargers on Cars

    Cars have been around for more than 200 years. They have become part of our lives, both in the form of private vehicles, and also public transportation. The more cars there are on the road, the more varied the types. Not only the types of cars that varies, but the components in it as well. In this blog, we will discuss about the engine aspiration component on cars. We will discuss about Superchargers and Turbochargers.

Photo of a Supercharger

    Supercharger or Compressor or Blower is an air compressor that increases the pressure of air that is supplied to an internal combustion engine. This results in a higher power output to the engine as it burns more fuel with the extra oxygen in each intake. Superchargers are driven by a belt that is mechanically driven by the engine. The great thing about Superchargers is that it gives an instant power kick-in. But the thing is that it is less efficient than a Turbocharger. It is also performs better on bigger engines, so not all cars can be fitted with a supercharger.

Photo of a Turbocharger

    In the other hand, Turbochargers also increase the power output out of the engine by increasing the air pressure into the engine. The difference is that Turbochargers are driven by the air from the engine exhaust. Turbochargers can be fitted to small engines as well as big engines. Turbocharged cars are more efficient than Supercharged cars.  But there are some weaknesses in this system as well. Firstly, because it's air-driven, it takes a bit of time or "lag" for the power to kick in. The next thing is that the sound of the exhaust is often muffled due to the air powering the turbo.

    But there are also a lot of cars that use either of those two. Mainly because not all cars are made for performance. Most cars are built for practical use such as an MPV, an SUV and a Crossover which is becoming more popular nowadays.