Automotive terms explained
Both a supercharger and a turbocharger force extra air into your engine to make more power, but they differ in where they get the energy to do it. A supercharger is belt-driven off the crankshaft, so it builds boost instantly from idle. A turbocharger is exhaust-driven, which creates a delay (turbo lag) but doesn’t steal…
A turbocharger uses exhaust gas to spin a turbine that forces extra air into the engine, letting it burn more fuel and make more power without increasing engine size. A 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a turbo can produce 250–300 hp instead of 150 hp, while still getting decent highway fuel economy when you stay out of…
Direct injection sprays fuel straight into the combustion chamber under high pressure. Port injection sprays fuel into the intake runner just ahead of the intake valve. Direct injection delivers better fuel economy and power, but it causes carbon buildup on intake valves because no fuel washes over them. Port injection is an older design that…