Automotive Basics Ep3 // HOW and WHY Does A Turbocharger WORK?

Automotive Basics Ep3 // HOW and WHY Does A Turbocharger WORK? If you are into cars you understand that a turbocharger can add power to your engine, but do you understand WHY this happens?

In this Automotive basics video I go over the essentials when it comes to a turbocharger for how it works and more importantly, why it works.

If you've got a suggestion for the next automotive basics video make sure to drop a comment below!
Appreciate all of you watching!

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[andrewtriumph]

Again, I'm not a Hemi guy but I like to learn. Great channel.
Great stuff. Keep the videos coming.
Oh, and don't change a thing. Your delivery is ideal.

[derickhorne]

Great tutorial video about how Turbos work. Now make one on each component that creates a turbocharged system in a vehicle and explain how to build one that are tailored to work together efficiently.

[FueledByRyan]

Unfortunately these videos are underviewed but I really enjoy the automotive basics videos. Your way of explaining shows you have a deep understanding of how these things work and you make it very easy to understand. Thank you!

[pierrepoitras]

Dude where's the next video!!! We miss the hemi god!

[heavenst.murgatroyd]

That's probably the best explanation I've heard, because it's exactly what I've been telling my friends for years! You're being pimped out to their inboxes, as we speak! 😁

[DependableAutoTruck]

a lot of people dont know that boost is unused air or back pressure thats why a hemi will make more hp on less boost than a wedge because it flows more so same amount of boost means different things to different engines 30 psi boost big block chevy will only be about 15 to 20 in a hemi. its unused air

[Thechordwonder]

Great video, but if I may, I have a few other things (That are far from basic though) to add. Technically speaking, there are some naturally aspirated engines which achieve >100% VE, however it is only at a tuned frequency/RPM using a tuned resonated frequency to literally pump in air and/or also things such as ram air. Between the two of them, there is an ever-so-small supercharging effect, however on a technical level, it is still naturally aspirated. Variable length intake manifold designs help with these things, and in some engines, you can see the two torque peaks occur at the two different resonated points.

Technically speaking, naturally aspirated is more fuel efficient than a supercharged or turbocharged engine - you can see this by looking at fuel injector calculators. e.g. 1000hp for NA might require 80 lb/hr, but turbocharger might need 90 and supercharged might need 100. So for a give torque target, NA is going to be more fuel efficient. That is strictly the engine itself though, and at maximum torque. Every 14.7 psi technically doubles the engine, so a 2.85L engine running 14.7 psi of boost technically is as powerful as a 5.7L NA engine. Because of inefficiencies in heating the air due to compression, energy lost due to turbo wheel friction, and exhaust backpressure, it would take more than 14.7 psi to be double. However, that is peak torque, and one must also consider the added weight of the larger engine.

Off idle, a non boost 2.85L is going to consume less fuel than a off-idle NA 5.7L engine. Also, because of the way you can regulate boost, you can generate a near-flat torque curve starting at a very low RPM all the way up to a medium-high RPM (Whence the turbo restriction starts to limit boost). You can see this on a number of vehicles that have switched from larger NA engines to smaller turbocharged engines. The torque curves are substantially better with the turbo car, and unless you're racing, you drive torque not horsepower.

The lb/hr ratings I spoke about above are relative, but correct as well. In that NA > Turbo > Supercharged. The amount of horsepower required to simply drive a supercharger on some of the hotter cars like the hellcat is over 100HP. So for example a 707HP hellcat engine is making more than 800HP at the piston tops, but by the time the crank drag from the supercharger is subtracted, you end up with "only" 700 at the front of the transmission. For my fellow gearheads that struggle with that, realize that to make 800HP at the top of the pistons, you need X amount of fuel. The piston top doesn't care if the air inside the cylinder comes from a turbo, supercharger, or ambient air. 800HP needs 800HP worth of fuel. So, if you look at those lb/hr ratings and also the duty cycle of the injectors, you can literally see how much more fuel you need to get 700HP from a supercharged car, than for example, a turbo car.

A real life example is the ford ecoboost engine in the F150's. Around town, little load, almost no boost, they get pretty good gas mileage, better so than a big dumb V8 engine. However, hitch up 8000 pounds, and the ecoboost is in boost most of the time to generate the same amount of torque as the NA big dumb v8 does, and the big dumb v8 will get better gas mileage.

From a bang for the buck though, you can easily add 50, 100 HP by just messing with wastegate springs or a simple tuner, costing you anything from $5 to perhaps $500. To get 50 HP on a NA engine, you're talking a cam and potentially heads, costing thousands of dollars. And even then, the turbo is going to make more torque under the curve since the NA engine won't have a flat tq curve.

I know you're a trans tech, and I'd love to get a advanced explanation of how an automatic works (Even though I can't live without the third pedal).

Keep them videos coming. Is that the turbo you're going to run on the Magnum?

[williamstone]

Native opinion getting ready to do my time and cover gasket tomorrow

[ScatPackRob]

Good video. More on turbskis would be great, waste gates, etc.

[deaflog]

these basics vids r great. im tryna get more into cars n builds n these vids r really helpin me understand better.

[Jordan.Dewit.]

I know you posted this a year ago, butnwould love to learn more about suspension. Stiff/soft. Pros cons. Or 4 wheel drive vs front wheel vs rear wheel.

[williamstone]

Is a 2006 Dodge Durango 5.7 l hemi timing cover easy gasket

[ShaneEstabrooks]

I'd like to understand more about the cam and how to go about choosing one. For example.. no MDS, still has vvt but still a truck cam so how do I understand lift at .050 and duration at so many degrees... etc

[joshuaalexander]

I put one of the milling oil pumps on my truck at idol it’s 37psi any gas goes to 90pis like 3000rpm it’s like 150pis I have a mechanical oil gauge and The factory one hooked up

[jmtofficial]

To Quote Jeremy Clarkson:

“A turbo: exhaust gasses go into the turbocharger and spin it, witchcraft happens and you go faster.”

[mrtschroder]

can a stock 5.7 lower assembly handle a turbo charger? and how big would you go?

[shonuff]

I have a couple of choo choo bois, that push hot Hong Kong air into my 392 Scat Pack Charger. …And I Love it !!!!

[michaeldominguez]

I've got a 11 Grand cherokee, with a hemi. I have a cylinder 5 misfire. I pulled the valve cover and I've got no oil coming out of cylinder 5 pushrod/rocker arm on the intake side... is this the beginning of lifter failure?

[chocolate_chip_cookies]

I have a 2005 Chrysler 300c 5.7l with 80k Miles. Ive been doing oil changes every 3k miles. Should I've worried about the valve seats. Coolant temps never go above 203.

[shugg]

Skyy I have plans to buy a 2014 Charger 5.7 police version engine blown. Saw your video on Magnum that you rebuilt the engine. Did you buy that engine lift plate or did you make it. Need one to pull the engine out of the Charger. If you bought it could give me the company you brought it from. Or if you made it would you make one for me and let me know how much if you will.