How Does a Turbocharger Work?

At its core, a turbocharger—often just called a “turbo”—is a turbine. When exhaust gases flow through it, the turbine spins like a top. This rotation connects to another turbine, pulling in air from outside.

But here’s the kicker: it’s not just any air. The turbo creates a vacuum, sucking in way more air than usual, which means it’s under pressure. This compressed air then goes through an intercooler to cool it down. Cooler air packs in more oxygen, making for a better burn.

After that, the air gets sent back to the engine’s intake, where it’s forced into the cylinders, leading to a super-efficient combustion process. This is what’s known as forced air induction. Superchargers work similarly but are powered directly by the engine instead of exhaust gases.

Why Does a Turbo Increase Horsepower?

A turbocharger pumps a lot more oxygen into the engine, which means when the spark plug fires, it creates a bigger explosion. This drives the piston down harder, resulting in more horsepower.

Think of it like using bellows to stoke a fire. More oxygen means a hotter flame. But just like a fire needs more fuel to keep burning bright, a turbo needs the engine to inject more fuel into the mix.

What Else Needs to Change When Adding a Turbo?

Adding a turbo isn’t a one-and-done deal. There’s a laundry list of things to do to make it work right. Skipping these steps can lead to some serious engine problems, or worse, complete failure.

• Remap or chip the ECU.
• Adjust the timing (if doing it manually).
• Change spark plug gaps.
• Upgrade to better fuel injectors.
• Make sure the turbo is properly lubricated and check the oil pressure.
• Test the engine to find its new limits.

If these steps aren’t followed, the engine could run lean (too much air compared to fuel), misfire, and lose power. Plus, without proper oil supply, the turbo could overheat and fail.

It’s also a smart move to:

• Upgrade to performance brakes.
• Rebuild the engine with new piston rings and other key parts.
• Upgrade the transmission—it might not handle the extra power.
• Get high-quality tires.
• Install other performance parts like an exhaust and camshaft.

More power means the drivetrain has to work harder to transfer that power to the wheels. It’s best not to leave anything to chance!

Can Any Car Get a Turbo?

Not every car is cut out for a turbo. For instance, a small 1.0-liter engine isn’t going to handle the extra force well. The horsepower gains would be minimal, but the risk of serious engine issues is high.

Adding a turbo requires significant modifications. Timing and fuel mixture settings need to be adjustable. Without those tweaks, the engine could run lean and suffer damage.

In general, bigger engines are better candidates for turbos. They produce more exhaust gases, which means more power to drive the turbo and boost potential.

What Kind of Turbo Should Be Installed?

Big turbos take longer to spool up, meaning a slower initial acceleration before the boost kicks in. Small turbos spin up quickly but can only maintain so much pressure.

A twin-turbo setup combines two turbos, offering a solid boost at low RPMs. However, this guide focuses mainly on single turbos.

How Much Horsepower Does a Turbo Add?

The answer isn’t straightforward. Horsepower gains can range from 5% to 100%, depending on the car. Most cars with a turbo can expect a boost of 10% to 50%, which is still a solid increase.

The bigger the engine, the more horsepower it can potentially gain. Variations depend on engine size and any additional modifications made.

How Much Horsepower Does a Twin Turbo Add?

A twin-turbo setup might not drastically increase horsepower compared to a single turbo, but it can enhance overall performance. Twin turbos can create a better power curve, but peak horsepower might not see much change.

Also, the design of the turbos matters. A well-engineered single turbo could outperform a poorly designed twin setup. Some twin systems use a big turbo for high RPMs and a smaller one for low RPMs, which can affect acceleration but not peak horsepower.

How Much Horsepower Does a Turbo Add to Different Engines?

Here’s a quick rundown of how much horsepower turbos typically add to various engine types:

Inline-4 Engines

Inline-4 engines usually see a gain of about 10%. They’re reliable but not built for high performance. Adding a turbo to a small hatchback might not be worth the trouble unless it’s a 1.4L or bigger.

V6 Engines

For V6 engines, expect gains of 15% to 25%. If a V6 is pushing 200 horsepower, adding a turbo could bump it up to around 250 hp.

V8 Engines

V8 engines can see gains of 20% to 40%. With proper tuning, those numbers can climb even higher. V8s are great candidates for twin-turbo setups, too, allowing for incredible acceleration.