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A turbocharger, or supercharger, can boost engine power up to 40%%.
The idea is to force the delivery of more air-fuel mixture to the
cylinders and get more power from the engine. A turbocharger is a
supercharger that operates on exhaust gas from the engine.
Although turbochargers and superchargers perform the same function,
the turbocharger is driven by exhaust gases, while the supercharger
is driven by belts and gears. The turbocharger has a turbine and a
compressor, and requires less power to be driven than a supercharger.
The pressure of the hot exhaust gases cause the turbine to spin.
Since the turbine is mounted on the same shaft as the compressor, the
compressor is forced to spin at the same time, drawing 50%% more air
into the cylinders than is drawn in without the turbocharger. This
creates more power when the air-fuel mixture explodes.
A turbocharged engine's compression ratio must be lowered by using a
lower compression piston, since an excessive amount of pressure will
wear on the piston, connecting rods, and crankshaft, and destroy the
engine. All of these parts then, as well as the transmission, must be
strengthened on a turbocharged engine or it will be torn apart by the
increased horsepower.
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