Supercharger or Turbocharger

Nicodemus · 08-01-2002, 02:22 AM

What are the differences between the supercharger and the turbocharger? What does each do and where is each installed?

tireburner163 · 08-01-2002, 04:38 AM

Let's start with the similarities. Both turbochargers and superchargers are called forced induction systems. They compress the air flowing into the engine. The advantage of compressing the air is that it lets the engine stuff more air into a cylinder. More air means that more fuel can be stuffed in, too, so you get more power from each explosion in each cylinder. A turbo/supercharged engine produces more power overall than the same engine without the charging.

The typical boost provided by either a turbocharger or a supercharger is 6 to 8 pounds per square inch (psi). Since normal atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi at sea level, you can see that you are getting about 50-percent more air into the engine. Therefore, you would expect to get 50-percent more power. It's not perfectly efficient, though, so you might get a 30-percent to 40-percent improvement instead.

The key difference between a turbocharger and a supercharger is its power supply. Something has to supply the power to run the air compressor. In a supercharger, there is a belt that connects directly to the engine. It gets its power the same way that the water pump or alternator does. A turbocharger, on the other hand, gets its power from the exhaust stream. The exhaust runs through a turbine, which in turn spins the compressor.

There are tradeoffs in both systems. In theory, a turbocharger is more efficient because it is using the "wasted" energy in the exhaust stream for its power source. On the other hand, a turbocharger causes some amount of back pressure in the exhaust system and tends to provide less boost until the engine is running at higher RPMs.

mustangman65_79 · 08-01-2002, 07:03 AM

Hey tireburner163, gr8t good on explaning. One thing u forgot was turbo's need some sort of downpipe with a blowout valve. I'm sure there's more, just can't think of it.

GodStang · 08-01-2002, 10:07 PM

you boys are good.

Bake · 08-02-2002, 10:40 AM

Another thing is turbo's can offer variable controlled boost by a mechanical dial or computer controlled switch. but with a supercharger you must change belts to change to boots. unless you have an electronic belt tensioner. Also the turbo lag during spoolup where you get no extra boost till it hits set rpms, and the supercharger, as soon as you hit the gas, you get the boost.
but the thing i dont understand is the complete oppsite pressure from the boost you get when you brake with a super. like if you are running wth 8psi of boost and you brake, you get 8psi of vaccume, what does that mean?

08-01-2002, 02:22 AM	#1
Nicodemus Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 10	Supercharger or Turbocharger What are the differences between the supercharger and the turbocharger? What does each do and where is each installed?

08-01-2002, 04:38 AM	#2
tireburner163 It's a lot like a race car Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Meridian, MS Posts: 4,130	Let's start with the similarities. Both turbochargers and superchargers are called forced induction systems. They compress the air flowing into the engine. The advantage of compressing the air is that it lets the engine stuff more air into a cylinder. More air means that more fuel can be stuffed in, too, so you get more power from each explosion in each cylinder. A turbo/supercharged engine produces more power overall than the same engine without the charging. The typical boost provided by either a turbocharger or a supercharger is 6 to 8 pounds per square inch (psi). Since normal atmospheric pressure is 14.7 psi at sea level, you can see that you are getting about 50-percent more air into the engine. Therefore, you would expect to get 50-percent more power. It's not perfectly efficient, though, so you might get a 30-percent to 40-percent improvement instead. The key difference between a turbocharger and a supercharger is its power supply. Something has to supply the power to run the air compressor. In a supercharger, there is a belt that connects directly to the engine. It gets its power the same way that the water pump or alternator does. A turbocharger, on the other hand, gets its power from the exhaust stream. The exhaust runs through a turbine, which in turn spins the compressor. There are tradeoffs in both systems. In theory, a turbocharger is more efficient because it is using the "wasted" energy in the exhaust stream for its power source. On the other hand, a turbocharger causes some amount of back pressure in the exhaust system and tends to provide less boost until the engine is running at higher RPMs. __________________ 1987 Buick T-type 1998 HD Electra Elide

08-01-2002, 07:03 AM	#3
mustangman65_79 My poor 79 RIP Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Suisun City, Posts: 2,320	Hey tireburner163, gr8t good on explaning. One thing u forgot was turbo's need some sort of downpipe with a blowout valve. I'm sure there's more, just can't think of it. __________________ '84 mustang GT turbo '85 LTD '89 Camaro Irocz z28 '94 Lightning '96 Trans am

08-01-2002, 10:07 PM	#4
GodStang College Stanger Join Date: May 1999 Location: Aiken,south carolina, usa Posts: 1,097	you boys are good. __________________ 2003 Sonic Blue Cobra

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08-02-2002, 10:40 AM	#5
Bake Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Ancaster Posts: 35	Another thing is turbo's can offer variable controlled boost by a mechanical dial or computer controlled switch. but with a supercharger you must change belts to change to boots. unless you have an electronic belt tensioner. Also the turbo lag during spoolup where you get no extra boost till it hits set rpms, and the supercharger, as soon as you hit the gas, you get the boost. but the thing i dont understand is the complete oppsite pressure from the boost you get when you brake with a super. like if you are running wth 8psi of boost and you brake, you get 8psi of vaccume, what does that mean?