Originally posted by TheGreatOne:
1. Superchargers make more power down low in the powerband,
2. but also create what's caled "parasitic loss" because it takes engine power to spin the SC.
3. Turbo's don't suffer from this since the flow of the car's exhaust "spools" up the turbo.
4. Both the SC and Turbo produce power by shoving lots of air (boost) into your engine.
5. The downside to a turbo is if it isn't done right you have a long spool up time and lag.
6. Turbo's sound infinitley cooler though!
7. I like to think of it this way, If I were building a 1/4 mile dragster, I'd probably supercharge it...
8. for road racing, I'd probably go turbo.
9. If properly set up, It's hard to say which is superior so it comes down to taste and application.
1. Only true for roots or screw type superchargers. A centrifugal s/c reacts more like a slow turbo.
2. Yes & quite a bit too
3. They do rob a little HP by creating "backpressure so to speak" in the exhaust system, but yes are significantly more efficient than any s/c.
4. mmmmm.. BOOST!
5. Very painfully correct.
6. I too like bypass / blowoff valves.
For ref - We'd have bypass valves (metered air system)
7. Tell that to the Pro 5.0 crowd. (among others) A turbo is more efficient and makes better power though it is much more expensive comparatively.
8. Compare a road racer with a roots/screw blower to a single turbo. Easier to drive the s/c car. A turbo car would need to lean into the throttle earlier to raise boost before exiting turns.
9. A turbo will always win in a "direct comparrison" on the virtues that it is more efficient. However like you said "different" setup variations will give comparable results.
I vehemently love & prefer turbos myself...
...and to answer the first question...
A turbocharger is a
exhaust driven centrifugal supercharger.
