How To Check If Your Engine Can Handle A Turbo
There’s a fair bit of science behindhow engine turbochargers do what they do(air pressure, compression, fuel burn efficiency, etc.), but basically it will improve an engine’s power by around 30 to 40 percent. It’s a fairly common addition for people who want to get more out of their car’s performance without having to replace the engine itself.
Some modern vehicles already include a turbocharger, making the installation of your own somewhat redundant (unless you want to try replacing the turbocharger with one you believe offers even more of a boost), but plenty still leave the factory without. If it doesn’t have one — you can check by flipping through the owner’s manual, looking up your model online, or popping the hood and seeing if something that kind of looks like a snail attached to it — then you should be good to add one on your own. Just make sure you know what you’re looking for first.
Another thing to consider is the cost of installing a turbocharger, and not just the price of the hardware itself, which could be in the hundreds or even thousands of dollars, or the price of labor if you want a professional to do it for you. A turbocharged engine will likely require more regular maintenance, and depending on the setup you might have to switch to premium (i.e. more expensive) gas. Additionally, it may increase your insurance costs, or result in denied claims if you don’t let your provider know about it.
Can my car handle a turbo?
Pretty much any gasoline-powered car can manage a turbocharger, but figuring out approximate specs so as to not overtax the engine will take a fair bit of thinking and researching.
This is just the start, however. You still need to figure out your specific engine’s specs and compare them to any turbochargers that catch your eye.
Doing the literal math
Before you commit to a specific turbocharger, you’ll want to compare and contrast a number of values with your engine’s current capabilities.
Now that you have all the numbers you need, it’s time to put them to use.
Putting it all together
Once your various engine metrics and values are calculated, you need to compare them to what the turbo offers.
As always, if you’re not comfortable or confident with the idea of sourcing and (or) installing your own turbocharger, consult with a professional instead. Yes this will add to the costs, but it will also provide peace of mind — and a lot less manual labor and napkin math on your part.
