Turbo Charging

When it comes to increasing an engines power output, one of the first things that people turn to is turbo charging. Although turbochargers are rather hard to install, their benefits definitely outweigh their disadvantages. For one, unlike nitrous oxide systems, they create a permanent source of power that doesn’t have to be replenished every so often with use. Turbochargers work by compressing more air into the vehicle’s engine. More air being compressed means that more fuel can be burned; therefore you would get more power from each explosion of the cylinder. A turbocharged engine always produces more power than a similar non-charged engine. Another advantage to turbo charging is that it significantly improves the vehicle’s power to weight ratio. In other words, a large amount of power (usually around 50-75%) is added without having a huge negative effect on the vehicle’s weight and fuel consumption. Turbochargers can also prove to be useful in areas of higher elevation. This is because in these areas, oxygen supplies are rather low, and by adding a turbocharger, you would be able to force more air and oxygen into the vehicle’s cylinders; therefore allowing you to make the most out of your engines potential power. To get the full effect of a performance turbo, you would probably want to consider adding a performance air intake and fuel injection system to your engine.

Turbocharger and a Turbocharged Engine:

Nitrous Oxide (NOS)

One rather efficient, yet cost effective, way of boosting a car’s power output is by using nitrous oxide, or NOS as it is more commonly referred too. It has to be manufactured and is stored in a pressurized tank. When under pressure, the compound is in a non-combustible and liquid state. When the substance is removed from the tank, it loses its pressure and allows more oxygen to rush into the engine in order to help it burn more fuel. This creates a temporary, but powerful surge of power.

One of the major advantages of using NOS, as I have mentioned earlier, is that it is relatively cheap and cost effective. At the same time, the amount of work needed in order to install a full nitrous set is much lower than that needed to install high performance crankshafts, turbochargers, or fuel injectors. On the downside, however, is that although these modifications provide a permanent source of power, nitrous is only temporary, and the bottle has to be refilled every so often depending on how much you choose to use it.

Increasing Engine Power

For many car enthusiasts, increased engine power is the most important thing when it comes to a race ready car. Engines power is rated in terms of horsepower (1 hp=746 watts). A typical stock car (“stock” refers to the car being completely unmodified) has anywhere from 90 to 350 horsepower. You can increase the power of a car by using one or more of the following principles:
1) Increase the Engine’s Displacement Value: Ways to do this include adding more cylinders or enlarging the size of the engine’s cylinder heads and pistons
2) Increase the Engine’s Speed: By increasing the engines speed, power is being created at a quicker pace, therefore more horsepower is being produced
3) Improve the Volumetric Efficiency of the Engine: This can be achieved by turbo charging, super charging, or through a more advanced fuel injection system. This method pretty much involves pumping more air into the vehicle’s cylinder heads, therefore increasing the reaction between the fuel and air mixture. This ultimately creates more power, without having to deal with fuel efficiency problems.
4) Increase the Air Density: This principle can also be achieved by using a performance turbo charger and intercooler. By increasing the air density, you put more oxygen into the engine, and the increased explosive reaction can add up to around 80% of the engine’s original power.