Every car enthusiast looks forward to improving their vehicle’s power and performance. An effective way to accomplish this is by turbocharging your car. A turbocharged engine increases power output and promotes fuel efficiency.
But can you turbo an automatic car? While automatic cars have powerful engines, boosting their power and torque can be beneficial when towing or hauling. It’s also a great way to ensure your vehicle performs excellently in any driving condition.
This comprehensive guide provides a clear answer to your question. You’ll also learn how a turbo works, components in turbo systems, and more.
Question: Can You Put a Turbo in an Automatic Car?
Yes, you can put a turbo in your automatic car. Turbo systems work perfectly on manual and automatic transmission vehicles to boost engine power and performance. However, installing a turbo on automatic cars requires understanding the dynamics of an automatic transmission.
Check if the turbo suits your engine before adding it to your automatic car. It’s advisable to consult a professional to understand the best type of turbocharger for your vehicle.
Question: How Does a Turbocharger Work in Automatic Cars?
The turbo in automatic cars works by utilizing exhaust air in the combustion chamber. For a turbo to function, it must rely on a turbine and compressor to deliver more air into the cylinders.
The exhaust air enters the turbo through an inlet port at a higher pressure. This pressured air spins the turbine, causing the compressor to rotate faster. When the compressor rotates at high speed, it compresses more air into the internal combustion engine.
More air pumped into the cylinders means more fuel to ensure a proper air/fuel mixture. When the engine receives more air and fuel, it results in a more powerful combustion. Consequently, this combustion leads to increased horsepower and torque.
A turbocharged engine increases power output by up to 40% compared to unaided engines. As a result, this engine performs better than non-turbo engines in various driving conditions.
Answer: Types of Turbochargers for Automatic Cars
When selecting a turbo, you must find one that suits your automatic car. Turbos are available in different varieties to work with automatic vehicles. Understanding your vehicle’s power, speed, dimension, and volumetric efficiency can help you choose the right turbo.
Here are the different turbochargers you put in automatic cars:
- Single-turbo: A single turbocharger is ideal for smaller engines. It helps the engines to generate better low-end power.
- Twin-turbo: The twin-turbo engine has two turbochargers: a smaller one for low RPM (Revolutions per Minute) and a larger one for high RPM. Its wide range of operating RPM ensures more power and torque at low and high RPMs.
- Twin-scroll Turbo: This turbocharger allows better air delivery into specific engine cylinders. It ensures each cylinder gets denser and purer air to produce more power and torque.
- Variable geometry turbo (VGT): This is an exceptional turbocharger featuring aerodynamically shaped vanes. It’s ideal for light commercial and passenger cars. VGT turbocharging ensures a wide torque band and low turbo lag.
- Variable Twin Scroll Turbo (VTS): This turbo combines the variable geometry and twin-scroll turbos. It’s ideal for gasoline engines requiring a cost-efficient and more powerful alternative to VGT.
- Electric Turbocharger: This turbo uses an electric motor to spin the compressor until there’s enough exhaust volume power. It ensures an even distribution of torque throughout.
Answer: Components Needed to Turbo an Automatic Car
After answering the question, “Can you turbo an automatic car?” you may want to look into the turbo system in detail. A turbo system has several components that work in tandem to boost a car’s power and performance.
Below are the essential components needed when adding a turbo to your automatic vehicle:
Compressor
The compressor plays a significant role in a turbo system. It connects with the turbine and relies on the turbine’s rotation to function. The compressor compresses exhaust air from the turbine and pumps it into the cylinders.
A high-quality compressor compresses more air into the engine. More compressed air into the combustion chamber means more fuel supply and increased power and torque.
When selecting a compressor for your automatic car, it’s wise to contact a professional. A small compressor works best in low RPMs but creates too much heat in high RPMs. Conversely, a huge compressor produces remarkable results at high RPMs.
Turbine
The turbine is another essential component of a turbo system, comprising the turbine wheel and housing. Exhaust air spins the turbine wheel, causing the compressor to rotate. The turbine housing connects to the exhaust manifold, creating space for laminar airflow.
For a turbine to work effectively, it must be small enough to spool up quickly and provide sufficient RPMs. However, your turbine should be large enough to allow good airflow and endure high temperatures of exhaust gasses.
Intercooler
As its name suggests, the intercooler cools the turbo system. You’ll find this component between the compressor and the engine intake.
The exhaust air from the compressor comes at a high pressure and tends to heat up. Allowing extremely hot air into the engine can cause overheating problems or starting difficulties.
Thankfully, this is where the intercooler comes in. It cools down the compressed air before entering the engine. The cold air ensures optimal combustion and increased engine efficiency.
Bypass Valves and Wastegate
Bypass valves transfer the unused air in the turbo system to the exhaust pipe. On the other hand, the wastegate controls the air flowing through the turbo.
The turbo will keep recycling exhaust air to boost engine power. When there’s unused air in the turbo, pressure can increase, resulting in a compressor surge. The bypass valves and wastegate prevent a compressor surge by ensuring no excess air goes through the system to the engine.
Fuel System
The fuel and turbo systems must work in tandem to increase engine power and performance. Since the turbo supplies more air into cylinders, your engine will require more fuel to allow complete combustion. The fuel system comprises the following parts:
- Fuel pump
- Fuel injectors
- Fuel pressure regulator
When installing a turbocharger, you’ll need to consider the type of fuel system for your car. A professional mechanic can recommend the best fuel system parts to provide more fuel to the engine.
Answer: Pros & Cons of Putting Turbo in an Automatic Vehicle
Can you turbo an automatic car? Beware of these cons and pros.
Pros
- Turbochargers boost power, torque, and overall performance.
- Turbos improve fuel economy.
- Turbos recycle exhaust air in the engine, hence controlling air pollution.
- Turbocharged engines have a better resale value than the conventional engines.
Cons
- The turbocharger is susceptible to damage. This may happen when the engine or the transmission system fails to handle the additional power from the turbo.
- Some turbochargers don’t suit all automatic cars.
- Some turbochargers can create a turbo lag.
- Turbocharged engines are more expensive than the naturally aspirated engines.
Question: How Much Does it Cost to Turbo an Automatic Car?
The cost of installing a turbo will vary depending on the parts you’re installing and where you live. If it’s a DIY project, the total cost can range between $1,000 and $1,500. You can follow the manual’s instructions and install the turbo yourself.
However, if you’re not confident in your mechanical skills, take your car to a professional mechanic. A mechanic will charge between $1,500 and $5,000 depending on the parts installed. If installing a high-end turbo, expect to pay up to $10,000.
Wrapping Up
So, can you turbo an automatic car? You can put a turbo in an automatic vehicle and enjoy increased power and performance. You only need to know the best type of turbo suited for your car. If you can’t install a turbo in your car, take it to a mechanic for professional help.