Things You Should Know About Turbocharger Lag

Turbocharger lag is defined as the time delay between stepping on the accelerator pedal and getting usable extra performance from the turbocharger unit. The delay happens because the turbocharger doesn’t work directly. The unit is powered by exhaust gas from the engine that passes through the turbine module of the turbocharger unit. The extra performance can obtained once the atmospheric pressure inside the turbocharger unit is way above the normal atmospheric pressure. In order to spin the turbocharger turbine, enough exhaust energy is needed. Once enough pressure accumulates, more fuel will be injected. As the engine works harder, more exhaust gas will be produced, making the turbocharger unit to spin faster.

Turbocharger unit can be installed on many car models to increase the overall performance. However, because the turbocharger unit requires enough pressure to work, there will be a noticeable lag. Just after you step on the accelerator pedal, the engine will have poor torque. This can be considered as a bad thing for many car owners. If you want to reduce lag, it is a good idea to choose smaller turbocharger that requires less pressure to work at optimum capacity. A smaller turbocharger also contains less metal components, which are lighter and easier to move. Even so, there will be a problem is the turbocharger is too small. This could make the engine to become much more responsive, but there’s a problem that you need to be aware of.

A very small turbocharger may still provide great low end torque, but you will get only meagre improvement in horsepower. If you want to know about the performance of a turbocharger unit, you should read the online review. Make sure that people testify about the unit’s proper response. It is even better if you can check cars that are equipped with specific turbocharger models. See whether the system is responsive enough and it should have barely noticeable lag. But in general, the turbocharged car may not perform as quickly. Even if the system is responsive enough, you need to adjust your driving style.

It is important to make sure that the peak torque can be achieved at about half the maximum rpm of the engine. As an example, if the redline of you engine is 6000 rpm, properly installed turbocharger could reach maximum torque at 3000 rpm. This will make the car more comfortable to drive. Experienced mechanics could further fine tune the system to make sure that the lag is further reduced. The flow of the exhaust gas to the turbocharger unit must be fully optimized, so the pressure build up can happen more quickly. Make sure that you choose the right model for the turbocharger unit, so you can get the best value of your money. It will be very nice to have a car that performs very responsively and this can be achieved if you have done proper research. A good pair of well maintained car and proper turbocharger unit should give you the best possible result.