One of the most efficient ways to increase the power output of any engine, gasoline or diesel, without increasing the size and weight of the engine, is to add a turbocharger.
Turbochargers are used on all kinds of vehicles – racecars and big diesel truck engines both commonly employ them, because they’re often asked to provide maximum horsepower to get their jobs done.
Turbochargers improve engine performance by using the engine’s exhaust to power a compressor, which will force air into the cylinders of the engine, so that more fuel can be added while still maintaining the optimum ratio for efficient combustion. Because more air and fuel are in the cylinder, the explosion produced on the power stroke provides more energy. The performance improvement provided by a turbocharger far outweigh the increased load the system puts on the engine’s exhaust.
Turbochargers have been in use for a long time, and the systems are quite evolved. You can generally expect your turbo system to last as long as your engine does. There are, however, some considerations you need to make surrounding maintenance of a turbocharged engine.
The main problems that confront turbochargers are heat and lubrication related. Because of the extremely high speed that the turbo is required to spin at, conventional bearings would fail very quickly. Turbochargers use a fluid bearing – a thin layer of oil that separates the mechanical parts to prevent wear and keep the moving parts in the compressor or the turbine cool. Most turbocharger failures are caused by inadequate lubrication, or foreign particles in the oil. This means that the key maintenance requirements for a turbocharged engine are oil changes at prescribed intervals, oil and air filter system maintenance, and oil pressure control.
Western Turbo is your Winnipeg area turbocharger expert. In addition to maintenance and repair of turbo systems, we provide new equipment for the leading brands in the business – Holset, BorgWarner, and Garrett.
Your turbocharged engine is safe in the hands of our trained technicians. Conveniently located at 325 Eagle Drive in Winnipeg, we are standing by to keep your diesel powered in tip-top shape.