Dodge, Mitsubishi, Audi and Subaru are a few of the automotive manufacturers who produce cars with turbochargers installed from the factory. For those car owners who would like to increase the horsepower of their ride, in excess of 40% in some cases, the aftermarket turbo parts industry provides turbocharger kits for many vehicles. There are several manufacturers that produce aftermarket turbocharger rebuild kits with many vehicle applications. There are some essential pieces any purchaser should make sure they have prior to attempting to install an aftermarket turbocharger kit on their car.
The turbocharger itself is the most essential piece of any turbocharger kit. Basically, the turbocharger, or turbo, works by compressing air from the exhaust manifold and returning it to the motor through the intake manifold. The compressed, dense air increases the power produced by the motor during combustion. Combustion is simply the ignition of an air/fuel mixture by the spark plug.
An aftermarket exhaust manifold is necessary for the exhaust gases to be redirected through the turbo and back into the motor. The exhaust gases cannot be expelled by the original exhaust manifold, as the turbocharger cannot run without the gases being redirected. Most aftermarket turbo kits will include the aftermarket exhaust manifold, because it is such a vital part of the system.
The next pieces found in a standard aftermarket turbo kit are the wastegate and blow-off valve. These essential parts are required to regulate the pressure inside the electric turbo charger itself. The wastegate works to regulate the pressure from the exhaust into the turbo and the blow-off valve regulates the pressure of the compressed air from the turbo back into the motor. Without these pieces, the turbo could build too much pressure and destroy itself. Most wastegates are built into the exhaust manifold as a specific part of the turbo kit and are engaged by a vacuum actuator set at a pre-determined level of pressure.
The blow-off valve specifically controls the pressure, or boost, of the compressed air running back into the motor from the turbo, as well as prevents the airflow from reversing direction. As the motor RPM increases, the flow of exhaust gases directed through the turbocharger increases, causing the turbine wheels to spin faster. Some turbocharger turbine wheels can spin in excess of 150,000 rpm. The faster the turbines spin, the more the exhaust gases are compressed prior to returning to the motor. Most engines have a set level of boost they can handle; the blow-off valve operates to relieve the pressure prior to this maximum safe level. Another purpose for the blow-off valve is to prevent the airflow from reversing direction when the rpm levels of the motor drop significantly. This drop can occur during transmission shifts or when the driver lets off the gas quickly.
One simple part of the turbocharger kit is the oil supply. This oil supply is vital to lubricate the moving parts of the turbocharger and keep the system from overheating. Most aftermarket turbocharger kits will provide a supply and return line which will are meant to be installed at specific points of the engine’s oil lines.
Some less expensive universal turbocharger kits will not include an intercooler. However, the intercooler is an essential part of the turbocharger system which works to engage as much horsepower boost as possible. In the rules of physics, the fast compression of any gas will produce significant heat. The essence of a turbocharger works to supply cool, dense air from the hot exhaust gases back into the motor for more horsepower. When a turbocharger kit is used without an intercooler, the gases dumped back into the motor can be in excess of 200 degrees. An intercooler, usually installed behind the front air dam of a car for free air flow, can cool the air being delivered back into the motor to within the range of outside ambient air.
Turbocharging kits can cost anywhere from just over a thousand dollars upwards of several thousand dollars. Depending on the vehicle’s specific application, turbochargers can be a relatively inexpensive horsepower upgrade. When looking for an aftermarket turbocharger kit, one should look for a kit that is complete with all the pieces required to make the kit work. A complete kit should include the turbocharger itself, the exhaust manifold, coolant lines, in incorporated wastegate and blow-off valve and intercooler. The only piece that may not come with a kit is the intercooler, which can usually be purchased separately or upgraded.
Tags: cheap turbocharger kits, turbocharger kits, turbocharger rebuild kits, turbocharger repair kits, turbocharging kits, universal turbocharger kits
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