Turbo Function on Car Engines and How It Works

The turbo function needs to be known by car owners because it has a close relationship with vehicle performance. Although turbo engines are usually installed in high-performance diesel cars such as the Fortuner, turbos can also be found in non-sports cars, such as the Honda Civic Turbo in the hatchback class.

In the world of modification, the addition of a turbo or turbocharger on a car has become common. Moreover, nowadays turbo cars can be purchased easily with many choices of brands, specifications and capabilities.

Turbo is usually often installed if your car wants to be modified for higher speed performance. Turbo can be used for diesel cars to trucks, you know !

But, before deciding to install an additional turbo on your car, it's a good idea to know in advance what the functions of the turbo are for your car. Come on, find out various information about car turbos in the following explanation.

What Is a Turbo for a Car Engine?

Turbo is a forced induction device or forced induction which is installed in the exhaust pipe of the vehicle (muffler). Turbo has two turbines that are located on the same shaft. The first turbine is called the drive turbine and the second is the driven turbine which can rotate because of the first turbine.

The driven turbine is located in the middle of the intake airflow. The way this turbo works is to make the air enter the engine room faster. Thus the power can be better.

Meanwhile, the turbine drive has a function as a player whose power comes from the exhaust gas of the engine itself. The position of this turbine is in the middle of the exhaust gas flow so that when the turbine rotates, the driven turbine will also rotate and deliver more air to the engine.

Turbo in car engines are usually also equipped with an intercooler so that the air produced will be cooled first. This makes combustion more complete.

Turbo Function on Car

Before discussing further about the turbo function, you must first know that there are 2 main elements for a car engine to work optimally, namely air (oxygen) and fuel.

If there is a shortage of fuel, of course you just need to fill it up at the nearest gas station, but not with air because it must be obtained from the surrounding environment.

Well, this is where the turbo comes into play. Turbo serves to put more air (oxygen) into the engine combustion chamber to increase power. The result, the power generated is much greater, can reach 50 percent of the standard engine capacity.

The function of the turbo on a car is to rotate the propeller by utilizing the exhaust gases from the engine, thereby producing large amounts of compressed air.

This air will later be supplied to the cylinder to support combustion. With the extra oxygen from the turbo this will make combustion even better.

For more details, here are the functions of the turbo on the car that you need to know.

1. Increase Engine Torque and Power

The main function of a turbo in a car is to increase torque and engine power from energy that is usually wasted.

With complete combustion due to a balanced combination of air and fuel, the power generated is higher, when the spark plug ignites the fire to burn the combination.

This makes the torque and power produced in one combustion cycle will increase. So, when driving a car, your vehicle will feel more powerful.

2. Improve Fuel Consumption Efficiency

If installed with precision, this turbo can make your car more efficient in consuming fuel. Why is that so?

Because the turbo works by recycling the waste energy produced by the engine. This energy is then fed back into the turbo through the turbine, which is converted into a bigger one and makes the engine power bigger so it can accelerate quickly and be more powerful.

This provides higher efficiency without consuming more fuel. This turbo function will be more pronounced if your car uses a diesel engine.

3. Reducing Harmful Engine Emissions

Not only for fuel efficiency, turbo technology can also reduce emissions and pollution levels. Although there is an assumption that high-speed engines emit more emissions, this is not the case.

Because the turbo works by recycling the energy that was wasted from the exhaust, the resulting CO2 emissions are less so it is more friendly to the environment.

4. Increase the Power of Small Capacity Engine

For a car with a small engine capacity, the turbo also has a function that is no less important. Installing a turbo can be a solution if you want to make the car's engine power bigger or more powerful.

Turbo can increase the power of a car with a small engine capacity to be larger. This will certainly increase the comfort of using the vehicle, right?

Don't let the cost of repairing your favorite car actually burden your expenses. Take advantage of all risk car insurance to get guaranteed compensation for the cost of repairing the car thoroughly at the best repair shop.

How the Turbo Works in the Car

Turbo in cars works with two main components, namely the turbine and compressor. Exhaust gas from the exhaust will flow into the turbine so that it will rotate the turbine which is connected to the compressor. This exhaust gas must have sufficient pressure to make the turbine spin.

The resulting rotation can reach 150 thousand rpm or up to 30 times faster than a regular car engine. The higher the engine RPM, the stronger the exhaust gas pressure. This will make the turbine rotation faster.

After the turbine side, on the compressor side, additional power will be generated because the rotating compressor will suck in more air and increase the volume of air to be brought into the engine.

However, the turbo is not without its weaknesses because there is also a turbo lag condition which is a pause that occurs because the exhaust gas from the engine is not enough to turn the turbine so that the power supply produced is not optimal. So, when you step on the gas pedal, the engine doesn't respond right away.

But, along with technological developments, now there is a VGT (variable geometry tube) which is usually already available in modern cars. This technology makes the turbo have less lag by making the turbine change according to the volume of air that passes through it. This way the lag will be reduced and the turbo function can be maximized.

How to Care for a Turbo in a Car

There's actually nothing special about turbo maintenance on cars, but you still have to pay attention. If your car uses a turbo, pay attention to the following maintenance methods. yes.

1. Regularly Change Oil

As long as you change engine oil regularly, the turbo will also last a long time. Because the engine oil that is pumped into the turbo becomes the turbine shaft lubricant so that the turbine's ability to rotate will remain maximal.

In addition to having to be routine, you have to use engine oil recommended by the car manufacturer, yes!

2. Use the Right Fuel

Using the right fuel for a car with a turbo is also very important. You need to use fuel according to the manufacturer's recommendations, namely fuel with an octane level above 92 as recommended for today's cars.

This is because the use of fuel with the right octane will make the internal combustion system more perfect, so engine performance will increase and fuel consumption will be more efficient.

3. Clean the Air Filter Frequently

Because the turbo's work is influenced by the supply of air that enters the engine, you need to keep the air filter clean. Do not let the condition is dirty and the turbo is not working optimally.

4. Regularly Check with the Official Workshop

Don't forget to check the overall condition of the car at the official workshop of your car manufacturer or a trusted repair shop in your neighborhood. This is important to keep the car in prime condition, including the engine and turbo parts.

Know What a Turbo Timer Is and Its Function

The turbo timer is an additional component that is installed to support the turbo function on the Fortuner. So, this is not an original component that is embedded from the car manufacturer, huh.

Then what is the function of this turbo timer?

So, the function of the turbo timer is to prevent a car engine with a turbo from experiencing drastic changes in engine temperature. This drastic change occurs when the car's engine temperature is high when used to drive to a low temperature when the car slows down and stops.

This drastic change in temperature can cause damage to the turbo device, while on the Fortuner it takes a few seconds to minutes to lower the temperature. So if you immediately turn the ignition off when the car stops while the engine is still hot, this can cause damage to the turbo.

This is where the turbo timer comes into play. This additional component makes it easier for you to hold the ignition on even if the key has been removed. With a capacitor, this turbo timer will hold the engine so that it stays on until the temperature drops. When the capacitor has started to run out of charge, the ignition will come off. So you don't have to wait manually until the engine temperature drops.

Anticipate Car Damage with the Right Car Insurance

Whatever type of car you have, car insurance is a very important thing to consider. This insurance acts as a protector for the condition of the car from things that are not desirable. For example, component damage to accidents.

Car insurance will generally cover the cost of repairing and maintaining the car that has been insured. There are two types of car insurance that you can choose from, namely:

• All risk car insurance will cover all costs arising from car maintenance or repair for a maximum of 12 years. This insurance includes if your car is scratched or damaged due to a collision or is lost to a thief.
• Total loss only or TLO insurance will cover part of the cost of repairs whose value is equal to or more than 75% of the price of the car before it was damaged or lost.

Check the amount of car insurance premiums with the following calculator. Buying car insurance at Auto Insurance Agencies can get discounts of up to 25%.

Tips from Auto Insurance Agencies! If you want to improve the performance of your car, you can use the turbo on your car. Turbo can be added to a car with a small engine capacity so that it can increase its performance.