Turbo vs Supercharger

[nametakennow]

Alright, I know the difference, but I see people who actually claim superchargers are better... Why? They take power from the crank when you could just use the excess energy from the exhaust stream.

[Miami240]

Alot of people say they are better beacuse there is no lag... its instant.. but like you said.. it saps power from the engine to turn the rotors that make the horsepower... kinda redundant isnt it? also.. a Supercharger will never make the amount of power on a smaller engine that a turbo can make.. Superchargers work alot better on a big huge piece of American iorn IMHO

[Tino]

superchargers use up more fuel than a turbo also right?

[nametakennow]

I would think so, since the crank has to have more power put through it to turn. Very redundant, but it's a good cheaper turbo wannabe.

[Tino]

their cheaper?? didnt know that... they are like 3-4 grand. Also turbo create pressure?

[nametakennow]

Yes, its cheaper to install a supercharger in a na car. Yes, turbos spin a compressor wheel by the flow of the exhaust, compressing outside air and throwing it into the cylinders. This spawned the term "Got BOOST?"

[Tino]

yes I know and doesnt it create backpressure

[nametakennow]

Yes, I think, but not enough to be a real problem.

[MaineExport]

Another super-charger drawback... it doesn't cool the air it induces. But I would argue with the point that they won't give as much power as a turbo on a 4 cyl. I think they can beat a turbo hands down. Both turbos and super-chargers drain a certain amount of power from the engine, to do their job... (the whole theory of energy never being gained or lost... just transfered, dispersed, or focused.) Obviously a SC is going to drain more, and as a result it puts out more to compensate. Screw type SCs compress air more efficiently than a turbo. Ah, just my opinion, I could be wrong. I think a super charger has the potential to provide MORE horsepower than a turbo... on ANY engine, and it is constant power.

[nametakennow]

But torque wise, turbos (small ones, that is) win.

[APEXi240]

how much psi can you run with a supercharger, cause i've never seen any large amounts.

they have superchargers that run intercoolers to cool the air, just like a turbo.

[nametakennow]

Yes they do, and that's the other problem, I've heard of turbos that run 24psi, I've never heard of a supercharger running very high at all.

[Megaseth]

A super charger forces more air and fuel into the intake manifold by means of a pulley connect with a belt to the crank. The power is in great amounts at lower RPMs. at higher RPMs, the turbines are running to fast to give you anykind of benefits. Turbos use exhaust to power them. as the engine revs higher, more exhuast gas is put out and there fore it spools up the turbo. at lower rpms, turbos arent that good. As for expense, if the supercharger is put on an older engine, lets say a 396 out of a Chevelle, then you would have to lower the compression as to avoid a very large explosion. Older cars from the good old days of american autos had super high compression ratios. anywhere from 10:1 to 12:1, all of which arent souted for a SC. there for the ratio must be lowered to somewhere around 8:1 to 9:1 or a little ower depending on what kind of boost you want to run. the more boost, the more the compression ratio is = to. bolt on kits, both trbo andSC are made for cars with lower compression so that at a higher level of boost, the compression ratio will be = to a higher one. but if you wnat to get more HP safely, you would lower the CR so you could turn up the boost to higher levels. Since turbos only give you HP gains at higher RPMS and SCs give you HP gains at lower RPMs, the ideal thing to have is a car that is both SCed and Turboed. Lancia made a rally car like this, the Delta S4. They spent millions and years developing the car, and it only raced once. but althought the car only made 650hp, it was a constant 650 at all levels. they tuned the car just right that when the HP gains from the SC started to drop, the turbo kicked in, so it was a smooth switch over and the HP dropped very little if not at all.

[MaineExport]

they have superchargers that run intercoolers to cool the air, just like a turbo.

Cool... never heard of such a thing....

In regard to how much boost you can attain... you can blow up an engine with either a turbo or SC...

There are pro's and cons for each... I'm just playing devil's advocate... I'm CERTAINLY not an expert on either setup! It just stands to reason, that a lot of people in all types of racing, prefer super-chargers. There is little doubt that running equal amounts of boost, an SC will improve 1/4 mile times, and it is better for auto-x and rally where instant power is needed. Oh yeah... and they don't heat up like a turbo.

[Slammed240SX]

Hey sorry to burst your guys' bubbles but a supercharger uses about 3 hp on the crank. A turbocharger uses about 5 out of the exhaust stream causing more back up. Superchargers just can't boost as high a turbo's can.:icesangel

[nametakennow]

I think slammed the newb (not to say being a newb is bad) is incorrect, there may be more backup... but using a larger downpipe and exhaust fixes that plus it creates more power. supercharges take much more than 3hp from the crank. Holy ****! "Only 650" everywhere! Good God! I want 650 everywhere! First I need a car, then I need the crazy money to do it... who's in it with me? A blown/turboed 240 would kick some serious Civic slime!

[Excedio]

i dont know for sure but shouldnt the amount of hp it takes depen on the turbo/super charger and the car that its on...if im wrong please dont kill me...im to young to die :bowdown

[nametakennow]

Perhaps, but I wouldn't expect much difference.

[illusion]

first off.... there are several different kinda of superchargers.... with very different properaties... it sounds to me like most people are reffering to Positive displacement units...

second... technically.. all supercharging is, is forcing more air into an engine than it could get naturally... meaning that turbochargers are a way of supercharging....

anyway....

any turbine based compressor (turbo, centrafugal SC etc.) will never be able to create the absolute pressure of a possitive displacement pump (Roots, Screw type.... etc)

when used as a pump for other purposes... positive diplacement air pumps can build several 100PSI ... but doing so with one takes a LOT of power.....

I tend to agree with the general sentiment that turbos generally work better on small displacement internal combustion engines...and that possitive displacement blowers are more suited to large displacement applications..... but... crank driven super charging has nearly N/A feeling instant response... and in some applications that's important.. and it can feel better....

anyway... that's enough rambling out of me for now...

Jeff

[nametakennow]

But, because of the operative differences, we like to distinguish between the two. Thanks for filling in the exact nature of a supercharger. Oh, its after midnight here, so... 8 months 29 days til I'm 16, and 9 months and a week until I get my license, YAY!