The Benefits of Superchargers and Turbochargers: Types of Forced Induction

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The Advantages of Superchargers and Turbochargers: Types of Forced Induction

The light turns red and you slowly come to a stop driving your 1992 GMC Syclone equipped with a 280 horsepower 4.3 liter V-6 teamed up with a four speed automatic transmission. The GMC Syclone is basically a sporty run-off of GMC's Sonoma. In the next lane, a brand spanking new Ford Mustang equipped with a 320 horsepower 4.6 liter V-8 pulls up. You seem to be feeling pretty spunky today, so you rev your engine signaling to the driver of the Mustang that you want to race. The other driver looks over, gives a glance at your GMC Syclone and begins to laugh. However, he goes ahead and revs his engine giving the go-ahead for a race.

The light turns green and your foot sinks on the accelerator pedal. You hear the squeal of tires, but you know it's not from your truck because the Syclone is all wheel drive. The Mustang's 17 inch tires are spinning on dry pavement and struggling to regain their grip. After about half a second has gone by, your neck and neck with the Mustang. By this time the turbocharger in your truck has "spooled up" and is now compressing air into the intake manifold. Suddenly, your pushed back into your seat as the turbo goes to work. All the motion of the vehicle is forward and there is no "peeling out" from your truck because all of the power is being transmitted to all four of your 16 inch wheels. After two seconds, your ahead of the Mustang and just keep widening the gap on him. After 4.9 seconds your traveling at 60 mph. The Mustang will soon reach your velocity after another half a second.

At this velocity you know that you're the clear victor, so you let off of the accelerator pedal and let the Mustang catch up. When the Must...

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