Turbocharged Cars (2024)

FAQs

What is the main disadvantage of a turbocharged engine? ›

Cons of a turbocharged engine

Affordability: Cars with turbocharged engines are typically more expensive than vehicles with standard engines because may need to use premium gas in your car. Reliability: Turbocharged engines may not be as reliable as standard engines. Engines with more parts have more that can go wrong.

With proper maintenance and good driving habits, a turbocharged engine shouldn't have any significant reliability concerns compared to a naturally aspirated engine. If a turbo fails, it can send pieces of metal into the engine and require a costly and complete rebuild or replacement.

Still, some disregard turbo engines, swearing by naturally aspirated ones due to their perceived longevity. But, the truth is turbo engines may last as long as NA engines. This, of course, depends on proper maintenance. Turbo engines are highly reliable, especially with regular care.

“Generally speaking, turbocharging is a great idea. It's a smaller engine, but you're still getting a decent amount of power,” says Mike Quincy, autos editor at Consumer Reports. “The idea with a smaller engine, especially a four-cylinder, is that you're going to get decent fuel economy without giving up power.

The following are some common turbo problems and failures: - Cracked housings and/or worn seals allow air to escape and cause the turbocharger to work harder and wear down quicker. - A buildup of carbon deposits and contaminants traveling through the system can damage inner engine components.

Of course, the answer depends on how the truck is used, how the engine is maintained, and whether or not the engine is operating correctly, but a turbocharger on a diesel engine will usually last for at least 150,000 miles, but more often than not, the average turbo will still be functioning correctly at 200,000 miles, ...

A four-cylinder engine fits well in smaller cars and offers great fuel efficiency, but it lacks the power of a six-cylinder. Adding turbocharging improves fuel economy and performance without taking up the space of a larger engine. A six-cylinder has more power, but it also uses more gas.

Also, premium gas is more resistant to engine knock in luxury and performance vehicles with turbochargers or high-compression engines, so you can hit that horsepower smoothly. Remember that you see these benefits only in vehicles requiring premium gas and not necessarily in most other vehicles.

If you drive before the oil warms up and lubricates the turbo bearings, you can unnecessarily wear down your turbo. Additionally, since turbos run extremely hot, it's important to let the oil cool down before you turn the ignition off. Otherwise, the hot oil can damage the internal components of your turbocharger.

Do turbochargers need maintenance? ›

Turbocharged engines require more frequent oil changes than naturally aspirated engines. The oil in your turbocharger helps to lubricate the bearings and other moving parts, so it's important to keep it clean and fresh. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.

Less than 1% of turbos fail because of manufacturing defects.

Disadvantages of a Turbo Engine

Well, more power means more energy output per second. This means that you have to put more energy when you use it. So you must burn more fuel. In theory, that means an engine with a turbocharger is no more fuel efficient than one without.

Pressing the accelerator causes the rotating turbines in the turbo to spin; when the engine is switched off, the flow of oil lubricating these moving parts will stop, but the turbines won't stop spinning.

Turbo failure can cause engine damage to a severe extent. The longer you drive with a failed turbo, the more damage it causes to your engine.

Besides producing more power, a turbo engine in cars also increases torque, especially at low revs. The useful feature results in excellent initial acceleration in small petrol engines, which do not tend to produce more torque without a turbo.

Most failures are caused by the three 'turbo killers' of oil starvation, oil contamination and foreign object damage. More than 90% of turbocharger failures are caused oil related either by oil starvation or oil contamination.

Turbocharged engines require more frequent oil changes than naturally aspirated engines. The oil in your turbocharger helps to lubricate the bearings and other moving parts, so it's important to keep it clean and fresh. Most manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 5,000 miles or 3 months, whichever comes first.