|
Acerca de mí:
|
WHAT IS A TURBOCHARGER AND HOW DOES IT WORK?
</p>
<p>
A <a href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/"
target="_self">turbocharger</a> is a device fitted to a vehicle's engine that
is designed to improve the overall efficiency and increase performance. This is
the reason why many auto manufacturers are choosing to turbocharge their vehicles.
The new Chevrolet Trax and Equinox are both offered with turbocharged engines and
as time goes on, more and more vehicles will be fitted with them. Obviously,,
different brands of vehicles need different kinds of turbocharger to fit, for
example, there are <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-audi/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Audi</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-seat/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Seat</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-skoda/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Skoda</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-volkswagen/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Volkswagen</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-bmw/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for BMW</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-mercedes-benz/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Mercedes-Benz</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-toyota/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Toyota</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-volvo/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Volvo</a>, <a
href="http://www.chinaturbokits.com/turbocharger/turbocharger-for-hyundai/"
target="_self">Turbocharger for Hyundai</a>, etc.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
<strong>How does it work?</strong>
</p>
<p>
A turbo is made up of two halves joined together by a shaft. On one side, hot
exhaust gasses spin the turbine that is connected to another turbine which sucks
air in and compresses it into the engine. This compression is what gives the
engine the extra power and efficiency because as more air can go in the combustion
chamber, more fuel can be added for more power.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Advantages</strong>
</p>
<p>
In addition to the extra power, turbochargers are sometimes referred to as
devices that offer "ree power" because unlike a supercharger, it does
not require the engine's power to drive it. The hot and expanding gasses
coming out of the engine are what power a turbocharger so there is no drain of the
engine's net power. Turbocharged engines are also not affected in the same way
as naturally aspirated engines are when they go at higher altitudes. The higher in
altitude a naturally aspirated engine climbs, the harder it becomes for it to get
oxygen due to the thinning atmosphere. A turbocharger gets around this problem
because it forces the oxygen into the engine's combustion chamber, sometimes
at 2 times the pressure of the atmosphere.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
Turbochargers also improve the fuel efficiency of a vehicle however there is a
misconception when it comes to turbocharged vehicles and fuel efficiency. Taking a
naturally aspirated engine and slapping on a turbocharger on it will not improve
fuel efficiency. The way that manufacturers improve fuel efficiency though
turbocharging is by down-sizing an engine and then turbocharging it. For example,
take a 2.5L inline-4 cylinder naturally aspirated engine and decrease the
displacement to 1.4L and then turbocharger it. The smaller, turbocharged engine
would still have the same performance figures (or slightly better) but because of
the smaller displacement, it would also use less fuel.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
<strong>Disadvantages</strong>
</p>
<p>
Turbochargers have 2 main disadvantages when compared to a naturally aspirated
or supercharged engine. Firstly is heat. Because a turbo is powered by hot exhaust
gasses, it gets very hot. Sometimes under certain engine conditions, the
turbocharger itself could start glowing red but of course this doesn't happen
in everyday driving conditions; it happens when the engine is pushed to its limits
for a continuous amount of time. This is why you see some turbocharged sports cars
with vents in the hood or down the side, it's to try to get air moving through
the engine bay and keep things cool.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
The other big disadvantage of a turbocharger is something called turbo lag.
Under certain conditions, whenever you put your foot down on the throttle, there
is a delay between the time you demand power from the engine and the moment you
actually start to feel it. That is turbo lag. When the engine's speed is low,
there isn't a lot of exhaust gasses passing through the turbocharger so when
you do demand power from the engine, the turbocharger turbine needs time to start
spinning at an optimal speed. The effects of this can be reduced by downshifting
to a lower gear but keen drivers can still sometimes notice the split delay in
response.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
<p>
So the next time you're in a GM showroom, don't overlook the
turbocharged vehicles. They offer the same or more power as V6 or sometimes even
V8 counterparts and they usually have better fuel economy due to the smaller
displacement engine and less weight.
</p>
<p>
<br/>
</p>
|
