Heat is also a factor. With turbo engines, the oil is exposed to higher temperatures within the cylinders, and the engine gets hotter.
How does a turbocharger cool hot air?
When we are using a turbocharger to compress the incoming air, the air gets hotter. Usually this hot air is cooled by using an intercooler before it’s passed to the engine. What is the reason behind cooling this air? Why can’t we pass it as hot air, since inside the engine the air will be compressed which will heat it up anyway?
Do internal combustion engines run hot?
Plenty of myths surround the workings of internal-combustion engines. One is that an engine running lean—meaning too much air is going into the cylinders—tend to run hot. Jason Fenske of Engineering Explained busts that myth in this video. The ideal ratio of gasoline to air for combustion is 14.7:1, meaning 14.7 parts air to one part gas by mass.
Why are turbocharged engines not as efficient?
So when you ask for full power, turbocharged engines aren’t as efficient because of the high fuel to air mixture that’s needed to protect the engine. The sound quality of the engine is a subjective point but has some objective reasoning. The location of the turbo sits between the engine and the atmosphere in the form of the tailpipe.
Why do Lean engines run hot?
Excess air from a lean mixture won’t be burned in combustion, so its presence lowers cylinder temperature. This is the basic principle behind the exhaust-gas recirculation systems some automakers use to reduce NOx emissions, Fenkse noted. So where did the myth that lean engines run hot come from?
Is Turbo engine good for city driving?
Yes, a turbocharged engine is better than a normal engine in terms of performance and efficiency. A lower capacity turbo engine can produce the same amount of power as a higher capacity NA engine. Is a turbo engine-powered car good for city driving? Yes, a turbo engine car can be good for city driving.
What are the benefits of a turbocharged engine?
Cars with a lighter 4-cylinder turbo engine have a better weight distribution compared to the same cars with a heavy V6 or V8. Better weight distribution means more balanced handling. 6. Due to forced induction, turbocharged engines are better at higher altitudes when driving in the mountains. 1.
Is a turbo engine better than a normal engine?
Generally, turbo engines are efficient due to their smaller capacity. However, the fuel economy depends on your driving style. If you are gentle on the throttle, you can expect a good fuel economy, and if you drive aggressively, a turbo engine may consume more fuel. Is a turbo engine better than a normally aspirated engine?
What to look for when buying a used car with a turbo?
Most turbocharged cars require high-quality synthetic oil and have shorter maintenance intervals. Some require premium gasoline. A turbocharged engine will not forgive low oil level, poor-quality oil or extended intervals between oil changes. What to watch out for when buying a used car with a turbo engine?
Are diesel cars good for city driving?
Following on from previous articles about the differences between petrol and diesel engines, and explaining why your fuel economy doesn’t usually match the official figures for your car, The Car Expert looks more closely at the suitability of diesel cars for use in city driving.
What is the disadvantage of turbo engine?
Disadvantages of a Turbo Engine Well, more power means more energy output per second. This means that you have to put more energy when you use it. So you must burn more fuel. In theory, that means an engine with a turbocharger is no more fuel efficient than one without.
What are the downsides of a turbocharged engine?
Five downsides of turbocharged engines are found below. Throttle response is a measure of vehicle responsiveness, which looks at how fast an engine can increase its power output in response to the driver’s request for acceleration. With a turbo engine, you’re waiting for it to spool up to produce torque, or power, to the engine.
What causes a turbocharger to fail?
Most failures are caused by the three ‘turbo killers’ of oil starvation, oil contamination and foreign object damage. More than 90% of turbocharger failures are caused oil related either by oil starvation or oil contamination. Blocked or leaking pipes or lack of priming on fitting usually causes oil starvation.
Is it better to have a turbo or a big turbo?
And even though the turbocharged engines are made better now, you often have to choose between a small turbo with better response time or a big turbo with more power. Typically, the torque will die off the higher the rpm, creating a waiting period for the boost and feeling of losing power afterward.
What is the difference between a naturally aspirated and turbocharged engine?
A naturally aspirated engine is going to have a more linear throttle response than a turbocharged engine, due to the way a turbocharger works and turbo lag, although throttle response is different than turbo lag. “You want a linear relationship between throttle position and the power that’s delivered,” Fenske explains.
Can a turbo damage your engine?
But, while the turbocharger does add power, it can also damage or even destroy your engine if used improperly. The extra power comes from a more violent explosion within your engine’s combustion chambers. And your car’s pistons, valves, and other internal components may not be able to handle it.
Can you drive with a bad turbocharger?
While we suggest you never drive with a bad turbocharger; Yes, it is still possible to drive your vehicle when the turbo is damaged or blown. Still, that does not mean you want to keep driving. If the turbo impeller gets damaged it will get sucked into the engine and this can cause serious engine damage.
What can damage a turbo?
Foreign objects – there’s a chance larger items of debris, such as stones or even broken car parts from other cars can get sucked into the turbo via the inlet. As you would expect, these particles can cause severe damage to the wheels and blades in the turbo. Check your air filter is serviced regularly.
Why is my Turbo not working?
If you are experiencing some or all of these, there could be a problem with your turbo. Engine oil – your turbo needs oil to function properly. A lack of oil, the wrong grade of oil, or poor quality oil will lead to a build up of carbon deposits and contaminants in the engine, which can cause abrasive damage to the turbo.
Can you turn off the engine without damaging the Turbo?
The turbocharger is very hot at this point. If you turn off the engine immediately, it could damage the turbo. Therefore, you need to let the unit cool off first. To avoid problems, you should let the vehicle idle for 30 seconds or so. Then, you can shut off the engine without causing any damage to the turbo.
Does a turbocharger run all the time?
The turbocharger doesn’t boost the engine all the time. If you’re driving moderately, the air drawn in at atmospheric pressure is enough, and the engine operates like it’s naturally-aspirated.
How fast does a turbocharger run?
The turbine in the turbocharger usually spins at speeds between 80,000 and 200,000 rotations per minute (rpm) — that’s up to 30 times faster than most car engines can go. And since it is hooked up to the exhaust, the turbine also runs at very high temperatures.
How does a turbocharger work?
A turbocharger is a turbine-driven forced induction machine that boosts the efficiency and power output of an internal combustion engine by bringing additional air into the combustion chamber. If it seems a bit complicated to understand how a turbo works, take the cue from the fact that an engine run by a mixture of fuel and air.
Do petrol engines need a turbocharger?
For cars and vans, generally, turbos have been more commonly used on diesel engines as a way of boosting performance but, to meet ever-tightening emissions control, there is now a move towards the turbocharging of production petrol engines.
How many parts does a turbocharger have?
There are four parts that allow a turbocharger to work. They are: The turbocharger itself resembles a snail and features an air intake, an exhaust intake, two different impellers (a turbine in the rear and compressor toward the front), and a charged air exhaust that goes to the intercooler.
Why do turbos spin so fast?
Turbocharger Design The compressor pressurizes the air going into the pistons. The exhaust from the cylinders passes through the turbine blades, causing the turbine to spin. The more exhaust that goes through the blades, the faster they spin.
What happens if you over speed a turbo?
Over speeding can push a turbo beyond its safe operating parameters, causing it to fail by damaging the turbine or compressor wheels and bearings. Turbos fitted to most vehicles usually have some tuning potential allowing them to spin faster but its limited and only a highly experienced tuner should be allowed to raise your boost limits.
How do you boost a turbo?
To make a boost, the engine should be running at boost threshold RPM where the turbo can spin with full potential. Q: What Causes Excessive Turbo Lag ?
What causes a turbo to kick in?
The exhaust flow of your engine causes a turbo to kick in. When the engine is making enough exhaust flow, the turbo will kick in and it will give you a boost. When you put the paddle down and accelerate you can feel the turbo kicking. It’s because the exhaust flow is responsible for making the turbo operational.
Are turbos bad in winter?
Turbochargers are a great way to improve power and efficiency, and are particularly popular with lower-displacement GM engines. However, some turbocharged engines may actually suffer in performance during the wintertime.
Do car turbos go bad?
In general, car turbos have high reliability and do not go bad usually before 150,000 miles, depending on your driving style. However, there will be a point of time where you need to perform some maintenance on your car’s turbo to increase the life of your car’s engine and thus your entire vehicle.
Why is a turbocharged engine better than a regular engine?
The turbo takes all the energy out of the engine to produce the added boost. That takes the noise away from the engine, even though you can hear the turbo still. Also, the turbocharged engine allows for more horsepower, which allows for smaller engines that don’t put out as much bark because they have fewer cylinders firing.
Are turbo engines reliable?
Our survey data show that many turbo engines are highly effective and reliable. But some CR members reported problems with certain turbocharged engines when compared with nonturbo engines, including problems with the turbochargers and engine computers. A few members also told us they needed engine replacements.
Do small turbo engines save gas?
“Small turbo engines can save gas while delivering the power people want, but only if the engines are reliable,” says Jake Fisher, director of auto testing for Consumer Reports. “Sometimes the added complexity means trouble arises down the road.” Our survey data show that many turbo engines are highly effective and reliable.
Does heat cause turbo lag?
For most people, the drop in turbocharger performance during hot weather won’t be a problem. On most modern turbocharged vehicles, the drop in performance is relatively insignificant, thanks to improvements in the air intake, intercooler and air filtration technology.
Why is my turbo lag so bad?
Until that happens, the turbo does not play a role in boosting the car. This issue, usually called turbo lag, is when the turbo spools air and fuel to send into the cylinder. If this process is slower than usual, you are experiencing a boost leak. The concept is simple; due to a leak, it takes more time for a turbo to fill up the boost pipes.
Does a smaller exhaust reduce turbo lag?
If you’re decreasing your exhausts downpipe, you’re going to decrease your turbo lag, but the tradeoff is that you’re going to reduce your top-end horsepower too. That’s because a smaller downpipe increases the speed of the exhaust, which increases your turbo spooling.
Why does a turbo boost work at low speeds?
This not only reduces turbo load, but it also allows boost to be produced at very low engine speeds where boost was previously limited by compressor surge or exhaust energy. With relatively high boost at low speeds, this makes the low end torque superior even to large naturally aspirated engines.
How do I get rid of turbo lag?
There isn’t a single solution to eliminate turbo lag, although there are a lot of strategies that can help. Most importantly, though, is building a combination that has the converter, cam, compression ratio, displacement, gearing, and even correct braking system for the turbo that’s being used.
Is idling a turbo bad?
While there are a lot of valid arguments supporting the cause of idling, even the naysayers will agree you’ve got nothing to lose by practicing the idling rule. Abusing your turbocharger can affect its longevity. With time, the turbo will become less effective.
Does idling a car damage your engine?
Idling your car for 10 minutes every now and then won’t damage your engine. But if you do it every day, it can wear out your engine in the long run. You save both engine, fuel and the environment by turning off the engine instead of idling.
How long does it take for a turbo to idle?
At the end of the day, it’s only a matter of 30 seconds. While there are a lot of valid arguments supporting the cause of idling, even the naysayers will agree you’ve got nothing to lose by practicing the idling rule. Abusing your turbocharger can affect its longevity. With time, the turbo will become less effective.
Is it safe to drive with a blown turbocharger?
At the end of the article, you will find out if it’s safe to drive with a blown turbocharger. The most common symptoms of a bad turbocharger are low engine performance, blue smoke from the exhaust, and a burning oil smell. You may also notice reduced fuel economy and a check engine light on your car’s dashboard.
What happens if you abuse your turbocharger?
Abusing your turbocharger can affect its longevity. With time, the turbo will become less effective. Take care of your turbo so that it gives your engine adequate boost and thus, an enjoyable driving experience for years to come.
Is it good to let turbo cool down?
We’ve seen a dramatic increase in belt life from allowing our vehicles to idle for 2 minutes. According to Yamaha: The key is to allow the turbo and engine to cool down to its average temperature when at idle – which is a good practice for any performance engine after usage.
Can a turbo engine cool down while idling?
Many people do not know this, but your turbo-powered engine can cool down while idling. The engine generates a lot of heat while moving, especially at top speed; as a result, liquids and other parts of the engine are at high temperatures. These liquids may not be dangerous to your engine while running because they are continuously moving.
What temperature does a turbo cooled engine stay?
So in a turbo charged engine, the engine will still remain around 80 degree Celsius (because it is constantly being cooled). How come the radiator/fan which cools the engine, can’t keep the turbo just as cool as well? Jul 22, 2015 at 12:19 The turbine side needs hot gases in order to make it spin really fast.
Do I need to Rev A turbo after hard driving?
In everyday driving most people don’t rev their engines so hard to create maximum boost all the time , so you don’t need to wait for 15 seconds every time you have a short drive. Yes, otherwise parts of the turbo such as bearings can go bust and will need replacing. After hard driving, just drive your car slowly/calmly for a few miles.
Are turbos water cooled?
Oil tech is better, bearing tech is better, and most turbos are water-cooled. Water cooling means convective movement of the coolant when the engine’s not turning the water pump, which means the turbo is still getting cooled.
Why do turbos like cold air?
As air temperature increases, the density of the air, and the amount of oxygen it holds decreases. This means that the turbocharger has to work harder, spin faster and compress more air to produce the same amount of boost it would at lower temperatures.
How do I cool my Turbo?
Fit a larger air intake – increasing the amount of air available to your turbo Replace your air filter – to ensure that it is clean and free flowing Fit a water or methanol injection system – which can be used to cool either the intake air, or the charged air.
Let the Engine Cool After Driving After driving, get in the habit of leaving the engine running for a couple of minutes at idle, which will cool the turbo enough to switch off the engine without cooking the engine oil.
How does a turbo work?
A turbo provides extra power because it uses the exhaust gases to pump air into the engine block under pressure. This technique is very effective and beside more power a turbo can decrease the fuel consumption. A turbo uses the exhaust gases to set a flywheel in motion, the more revs, the more exhaust gases the faster the flywheel turns.
How does hotter air affect the turbocharger?
In addition, hotter air also has a secondary affect on the turbocharger, by naturally increasing the operating temperature inside the turbo. Usually, the intercooler works to cool the air from the hot air intake, but in warmer temperatures, the intercooler becomes less efficient, as it is also exposed to the warmer temperatures.
Why does a turbo make a loud noise?
Turbos tend to make the air escaping the engine a little muffled, due in part to the fact that there are other noises happening, but mainly because of the fact that the turbo itself acts as a muffling chamber. The result is that the engine doesn’t scream as loudly and many of the natural tones of the engine itself are lost.
Do I need to let my turbo cool down?
Turbocharged engines do need to cool down before they are turned off. But in nearly all driving conditions, the engine does not reach temperatures that require a deliberate cooling down period.
Should I idle and cool down my turbocharged engine?
You should idle and cool down your turbocharged engine because the oil in the bearing shaft can easily get burnt, and the residue can cause the turbo engine to fail. The other parts of the engine could also get damaged because the engine did not cool properly before the switch off.
How do you keep a Turbo Cool?
To keep them cool two methods are used, oil cooling and water cooling and sometimes both together, depending on tge size of the turbo and the thrust it generates. While you run the engine, the oil and coolent keep running through the engine and tge turbo.
How do I lubricate my turbo after hard driving?
After hard driving, just drive your car slowly/calmly for a few miles. This will let the turbo cool down and because the engine is still on, the various turbo parts will still be lubricated whilst the turbo is cooling down. Not the answer you’re looking for?
What temperature does a turbo run at?
The turbines in most current production turbochargers are suitable for continuous operation at an exhaust gas inlet temperature of 1750°F (950°C).
What is the temperature of the turbocharger inlet?
The turbine inlet temperature varied between 550 and 850 °C at different engine loads. The results of this study show that the temperatures of turbocharger walls are predictable from the experiment. They are dependent on the load point and the heat transfer condition of the turbocharger.
How does a turbo boost work?
Adding boost with a turbo increases the temperature of the charge air above inlet air temperature through compression of the air. This calculator provides the temperature of the air as it exits the turbo. If you are using an intercooler we have a calculator that will work out the temperature after the IC as well.
