What’s the Difference between Turbochargers and Superchargers?

What’s the Difference between Turbochargers and Superchargers?

Turbochargers have gone from being primarily for sports cars to popular equipment even in affordable compacts – and for good reason: They add a nice boost of muscle to a typical gas engine, so automakers can use smaller turbocharged engines to deliver the same performance – and sometimes better – than you’d get with a larger powerplant. Also, to be clear, that increase in performance is usually accompanied by an increase in EPA ratings.

Now, superchargers work on the same principle but get there in a different way, and that’s what we’ll be looking at today.

What Is Forced Induction?

A standard internal combustion engine gets its power when its pistons push gasoline and air together in the cylinders, which are then ignited by the spark plugs. Forced induction is the term for forcing more air into the cylinders and squeezing together the actual molecules of air so they're closer together. As a result, more air and more fuel can get into the same cylinder space, creating a more powerful combustion force when sparked.

Both turbochargers and superchargers are methods of forced induction. The key difference is a turbo is powered when the exhaust gas is pushed out of the engine and through a small turbine. With a supercharger, the fan blowing extra air into the engine is driven by a belt connected to the engine itself. That means a supercharger isn’t as efficient as a turbocharger, since some of the engine has to be used to spin the blower instead of turning the wheels.

A newer technology is the electric turbocharger, which draws electricity from a vehicle's battery to power its turbine. 

Pros and Cons of Turbochargers and Superchargers

• Efficiency: Turbochargers tend to be more efficient than superchargers

• Lag: A turbocharger can only start working after exhaust gas pressure is high enough, so there can be a lag between when you press the accelerator and when the boost kicks in. The effects of a supercharger are much quicker because it’s turning whenever the engine is.

• Cost: Generally speaking, there are more parts in a turbo than in a supercharger, and many people think that more parts can mean more parts to fail. Turbochargers are more expensive, too.

The real-world outcome is that most automakers, especially the mainstream ones, rely on turbochargers to make the most of their efficiency gains. The much smaller number of cars with superchargers tend to come from luxury brands or be used in ultra-high-performance muscle cars like the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, Dodge Challenger Demon, and Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

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