Understanding Turbo Chargers in Cars

Posted on: May 2, 2023 | | Written by:

Understanding Turbo Chargers in Cars

Published on May 02, 2023. EST READ TIME: 4 minutes

Turbo charges are the rage these days as more manufacturers fit them into small-engine cars. The technology, which has been around since the 1960s, is finding more applications to improve the efficiency and power of cars. For those who want to know what is turbo engine, here is all that you need to know.

Understanding a turbo engine

If you are wondering what is turbo engine, it is an engine that has a turbo charger fitted to it. The engine of a car uses an air and fuel mixture for combustion, which then drives the car. The combustion is at the centre of better power and performance. And turbo charges use exhaust gases to enhance the combustion, thereby offering better power and efficiency via a much smaller engine.

The workings of a turbo charger

A Turbo charger is a device that has a compressor wheel and a turbine wheel, which are held by a shaft. A turbo uses the exhaust gases of the car, which spins the turbine due to the high pressure. As a result, the compressor wheel also rotates, and it pushes air into the engine cylinder via a pipe. Since it uses exhaust gases, it does not require any additional energy and reuses the waste exhaust gases of the car. To ensure that the hot exhaust air does not damage the engine, the intercooler cools the air before it is fed to the cylinders.

What is the difference between a supercharger and a turbo charger?

The difference between a supercharger and a turbo charger can seem a bit confusing since both have the word charger in their name and use compressed air to enhance the fuel efficiency and performance of a car.

There are a couple of major differences between them. The first one is that a supercharger is directly related to the engine, while a turbo charger is not. Secondly, turbo chargers use the exhaust gases of the vehicle. While the engine directly powers a belt pulley in a supercharger that rotates the compressor fan. Turbo chargers can be a bit more efficient than superchargers.

Pros of a turbo engine car

It is apposite that you are aware of the turbo engine advantages before investing in one. Here are the major advantages of having a turbo engine car.

1. Better power output

The way turbo chargers are designed, they can result in higher power output. One can achieve a similar power output from a smaller engine with the help of a turbo charger, as compared to an engine with a large displacement. This enables smaller engines to be more powerful.

2. Better torque

One of the most significant advantages of buying a turbo charger car is its low-end torque. A major issue with small petrol engines is lower torque output, which makes the initial acceleration of the car a bit laggard; however, with a turbo engine, that can be easily resolved.

A diesel engine, on the other hand, has excellent low-end torque. And putting a turbo charger in the car further enhances the torque and power output of the car.

3. More efficient engines

Turbo charged cars are designed in a way that the turbo only gets activated once a certain speed or engine revolutions are met. And as you rev the engine higher, the turbo also works harder. On the other hand, when you drive sedately, the turbo also gets activated in a very smooth manner. Thereby aiding in better fuel efficiency as compared to cars with larger naturally aspirated engines since they draw a lot of fuel for optimum operation.

4. Lighter cars

Since the turbo charger allows for a smaller engine as compared to a naturally aspirated engine, it reduces the overall weight of the car. Also, a lot of modern engines are made with alloys rather than iron or steel blocks. This further aids in lowering the weight of the car, which can result in better efficiency and nimbleness.

Cons of a turbo engine car

Though they bring a lot of advantages and perks, there are still a few turbo engine disadvantages. The major one is turbo lag. Turbo lag is the slight delay in the deployment of power when you press the accelerator of the car. This is primarily because the exhaust gases need some time to reach the turbo. Once the turbo spools and is ready, you will experience a surge of power.

Since it is a known phenomenon, manufacturers have identified a couple of ways to overcome this. A few manufacturers deploy two turbo chargers, each for a different rev range of the engine. Another approach is to use a supercharger, till the time the exhaust gases reach the turbo charger. This way, the turbo lag can be easily managed.

Turbo engine maintenance is another crucial area of owning a turbo charged car. Negligence or a driving style that is too aggressive can damage the turbo charger. These normally lead to the breakdown of the turbo charger. However, it can easily be avoided by careful driving.

Turbo engine cars in India

Here is a list of some of the more popular cars in India that offer a turbo variant of their engines.

1. Turbo-Petrol

○ Tata Nexon

○ Renault Kiger, Nissan Magnite

○ Hyundai i20

○ Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet

○ Tata Altroz

2. Turbo-Diesel

○ Hyundai Creta

○ Mahindra XUV700, Mahindra Thar

○ Tata Harrier, Tata Nexon

○ Kia Seltos

Why you should insure your turbocharged car

A turbo charged engine brings a lot of pros to the table, as we have seen above. Right from better fuel efficiency to better power outputs and in most cases, better drivability as well. However, one major downside is that turbos can cost a fair bit to repair. If you do not take adequate precautions while driving it can cause damage to the car.

Thus, making it even more important to buy insurance for the car. You can buy car insurance online, as it offers you a lot of flexibility. You can buy a policy right from the convenience of your laptop or phone. Also, buying car insurance online is more affordable than the traditional offline mode of buying.

Insurance companies consider the insured declared value of the car before insuring a plan. The insured declared value or IDV of the car is its current market valuation after factoring in depreciation. And most insurance companies allow you to change the IDV since it can increase or decrease your policy premium.

For turbo charged cars, it is advisable to opt for a return to invoice cover. Return to invoice cover is an add-on that will help you get the invoice price of the car in the case of severe damage or theft. Otherwise, depreciation will eat into the compensation.

Conclusion

Turbo chargers are becoming more mainstream in cars as manufacturers can extract more performance and efficiency from smaller engines. If you are planning to buy a turbo charged car, it is pertinent that you opt for car insurance online. Since the cost of repairs for a turbo charger can be a financial setback.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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