WHAT IS A TURBOCHARGER?
How turbochargers improve car performance, from increasing their speed and acceleration to making engines more eco-friendly
WORDS MIKE JENNINGS
Beefier turbochargers have larger air intakes because more air equals more power
If you’re into cars, you’ve probably heard about turbos, or turbochargers. They’re popular for good reason: these futuristicsounding devices can drastically improve your car’s performance or efficiency. They’re quite simple devices, revolving around how much oxygen gets pumped into an engine.
A turbocharger uses two main parts that work together: a compressor and a turbine. The turbine – powered by exhaust fumes – rotates a compressor fan that sucks in cool air and compresses it, increasing its density and temperature. A heat exchanger chills this hot dense air, and then it’s pumped into the car’s engine. This means that the engine gets more oxygen than it would without a turbocharger, meaning it can burn fuel at a faster rate. That in turn means more power sent to the wheels.