which is better sc or turbo?

[caminsc5]

which is better overall for a car, a turo or a supercharger? i know the difference, but im nt really sure which is overall better. anybody got any comments?

[HisFrogness]

There's a lot of experienced guys on these boards that will have more insight but this is what I've been told. The only real difference is that superchargers have the ability to give you a boost that functions through the entire band of the engine, while turbos generally give you boost at a certain band or varied bands depending on how many stages there are. I just want to have more power over-all so I'm gonna go with a supercharger if I decide to do it at all.
If you mean "better" as safer for the cars mechanical parts, it would depend on what engine and what sc/turbocharger you were using.

I just found this really good article which has a lot of info. Read it HERE (http://www.fordvschevy.com/tech/tbsc/tbsc.html)

[celicachick92]

Turbo
Just becuase I'm crazy about the sound of it, and BOV.
Soooo sexy.

[2000 XYR]

There's pros and cons for both. I like superchargers myself. :D I've owned 2 s/c vehicles -- my truck and an '88 MR2. I enjoyed both thoroughly. I've never owned a t/c car so I'm biased but s/c'ers don't need to be rebuilt on occasion like t/c'ers do. Less maintenance and worry if you ask me. On the other end of the scale if you are looking for raw power get a t/c. I prefer the smooth even power of a s/c.

[2000REDGT]

I knew celicachick was going to say that. HaHa

<img src="http://www.j-body.org/registry/jodyq43/celsig2.jpg">

[larryd]

i agree with CelicaChick.. i mean both have their advantages and disadvantages but the sound of a BOV is a wonderous thing :)

[TheX-Man]

well, I'm addicted to my cousin's s/ced truck. It does a wwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee sound. Some might find it annoying but I love the whine of a s/c.

[celicachick92]

look at theis http://www.mazdaracing.com/turbo.jpg
then look at this http://www.toyotaparts4u.com/images/3.4supercharger.jpg
I mean come on the turbo just looks better!

[larryd]

haha.. good point ;)

[coOOlcelica]

nah i still like the

pssssssssshh

[Da Kine Guy]

Superchargers come in that lovely centrifugal variety as well. Just take a look at the one on celicauk's ride. I'd say if you just want some more power, but still want to drive the car daily, you should get the s/c. They are much easier to install/build and will improve everyday driving performance because of their ability to provide boost at low RPMs (unless you have a centrifugal one, then you have some lag due to the way the fan works). Drawbacks, takes power AWAY from the engine in order to GIVE more power to it. Since its driven from the crank shaft it will take away some of the energy from the wheel, but it more then makes up for this (and then some) with the added power it gives you. Think of it like minusing 6 but adding 15, the difference is positive.

Now, for guys wanting serious performance, get the turbo. It is a much more efficient system and I believe can deliver most boost. A turbo takes the otherwise wasted energy of the exhaust gas, uses its kinetic energy to spool one fan, which is then in turn connected to another fan in a different chamber which blows air into the cylinder. You are tapping into an unused powersource in your engine and converting that into something which gives you more horsepower. The drawback, as we all are well aware of, is the spool up time. Because it needs moving exhaust gas to spin, it can't do anything until the engine is shooting that exhaust out at high speeds, therefore creating the lag effect. Also, the bigger turbo you get, the larger the mass of the fan, which in turn means it takes even MORE exhaust force to spool the thing up and therefore you wait even longer. Unfortunately I don't know much about the ways of the blow off valve and wastegate. They both sound like they might do similar things, as in releasing excess pressure (boost). I will continue to read up on it.

Hope this helps out some :D

[S.Menchavez]

Oooooooh, thanks for the great input guys. I like the idea of more power in lower RPM's, but I am still leaning towards the turbo...if I were to do anything.

This may be dumb, but what do you guys think is better for a GT auto?

[oldster]

For all around streetability I would think the s/c would work well. It's going to be doing more for your low end than the t/c.

[Da Kine Guy]

Originally posted by S.Menchavez
This may be dumb, but what do you guys think is better for a GT auto?

Are you looking for everyday driving performance, or all out drag-strip monster?

For the everyday machine I'd get the s/c myself. It is easier to install, has less parts (should be less expensive:rolleyes:) and will provide power through the powerband.

For a drag machine get the turbo, it's easier to upgrade, provides more boost, and the BOV will scare a lotta ppl away :D

[celicachick92]

or it could attract alot of people.........hehehe:P

[F22-Raptor]

I think with the turbo that is going to be provided with DD Kit, it will be pretty streatable. Spooling up at 3k and going on from there is pretty sweet. S/c has more torque down low, but i like the boost when it hits on the t/c. IMOHO

[dfess1]

With a s/c, you have instant power. Especially in the low end torque curve. However, it does rob the engine of power in the upper limit of the power band. It only is beneficial to a point, and at that point, it takes power away without giving any.

With a t/c, you really don't have to worry about spool up time if you match the turbo to the engine, and pay the money for the good one. Spool up time is something that was common back in the 80's, the technology now virtually eliminates that. And Turbo's are not the end all be all of power. I mean the top fuel funny car's have blowers on them, not turbos, right?

And something I find interesting that people over look. I mean what good does a ton of hp/tq get you in a lightweight car. Your biggest problem is getting the traction to put the power down. Not to mention, I'd think the CV joints need to be beefed up to take the extra power. But these are just points that I would raise.

But back to your question, I think you'd be an idiot if you turboed a gt auto. Get the s/c, it'll be more reliable, and easier to maintain. It's not like you can turn it into a drag strip monster with the auto slushbox. Unless you are going to shell out the extra money and ship it off to Level 10.

And no, i'm not trying to flame/hate. I used to own a GT auto, loved the car to death, but life goes on.

[oldster]

Originally posted by dfess1
However, it does rob the engine of power in the upper limit of the power band. It only is beneficial to a point, and at that point, it takes power away without giving any.



It is still going to be inducting more air to redline than N/A so at what point is it going to be taking power away?

[Da Kine Guy]

Originally posted by oldster


It is still going to be inducting more air to redline than N/A so at what point is it going to be taking power away?

It's always taking power away, but at the same time it's also giving way more then it takes.

[oldster]

uhhh...yeah.....there will always be a NET power gain...

[Da Kine Guy]

oh, sorry, I thought you were asking when the net power would turn negetive, which I tried to explain why it would never be negetive. my bad :D

[oldster]

We are in agreement, NP. :) My original comment was for Dfess who said that at some point you were losing power with the S/C.

[2000 XYR]

He means that you gain HP, but you are running the s/c off a belt that it running off the engine, so you are working the engine which robs power, but you are gaining HP overall because the s/c produces a lot more than it robs.

[oldster]

That may be what he meant but it is not what he said:

" It only is beneficial to a point, and at that point, it takes power away without giving any."

[2000 XYR]

Hey, you're right. Guess I didn't read that part. My fault. I don't think what he said would happen. Superchargers aren't known for top end power but they don't make the car (or truck ;) ) slower at top end.

[oldster]

NP :)

[Mistrimeat]

Since we're comparing apples to oranges...some superchargers look just as good if not BETTER than turbos...

This is the ESS s/c for a BMW...
http://WWW.ESStuning.COM/img/mvc-484.jpg

http://WWW.ESStuning.COM/img/gallery/e46_328_04.jpg


Compared to:
http://www.mazdaracing.com/turbo.jpg

[2000 XYR]

That's the centrifugal style s/c right?

[larryd]

that is correct.. but come on now.. let me take pics of all my components too ;)