In a single turbo system, only one turbocharger compresses the air before it enters the engine. This air is then forced into the cylinders, mixing it with fuel and igniting. A twin turbo engine has two turbochargers that work together to compress the air before entering the engine.
A twin-turbo setup also provides for the reduction of the lag. It helps produce power faster using 4 cylinders, while a single turbo requires all 8 cylinders for an optimal boost. This type of engine is excellent for regular driving in a city or a normal regime. Twin-turbo takes care of smooth engine functioning.
Both sequential and parallel dual turbochargers may be called either biturbo or twin turbos depending on the preference of the vehicle manufacturer. One term you need to look out for is “twin-scroll turbocharger” because twin-scroll turbochargers are not dual turbochargers at all.
The aim of using parallel twin-turbos is to reduce turbo lag by being able to use smaller turbochargers than if a single turbocharger was used for the engine. On engines with multiple cylinder banks (e.g. V engines and flat engines) use of parallel twin-turbos can also simplify the exhaust system.
The larger turbos are built to provide more top end power, as compared to the smaller turbos, which can spool faster and provide enhanced low-end power. By making the swap to a single turbo, the weight of your engine is reduced.
How much horsepower does a twin turbo add depends on various factors. Factors including the size of the turbos, the boost level, the engine's compression ratio, and other modifications to a twin turbo setup can add a significant amount of horsepower to an engine, ranging from 50 to 1000+ horsepower.
Supercharger or turbocharger
A turbocharger works with the exhaust system and can potentially give you gains of 70-150 horsepower. A supercharger is connected directly to the engine intake and could provide an extra 50-100 horsepower.
The High Output 3.5 L twin turbo EcoBoost V6 engine is suitable for towing and has a lower maintenance cost, better fuel efficiency, and reliability. On the other hand, the 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 has a higher payload, with better speed, acceleration, and stability.
Turbos are designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle (or around 150,000 miles); however, it's possible for them to wear out over time depending on how hard you drive the car and the original build quality of the turbo.
Supercharging Pros: Produces significantly more horsepower than turbocharging. A quick solution to boosting power in larger displacement engines with more cylinders. No power lag as is seen with turbocharging; power delivery is instantaneous.
Sequential twin-turbo engines have two turbochargers, but one is used for low speeds and one (or sometimes, both) is used for high speeds. A problem that you sometimes see in turbocharged cars is that it's difficult to get that boost of power if your RPMs are low.
Both turbochargers and superchargers are effective methods to increase the power and performance of an engine. However, turbochargers are preferred over superchargers, as they increase fuel economy, and reduce waste gas emission.
Yes, a turbo can be installed on a car that doesn't have one from the factory. However, there's much, much more to it than simply buying a turbo and bolting it into the exhaust.
Twin-scroll turbochargers are better in nearly every way than single-scroll turbos. By using two scrolls, the exhaust pulses are divided. For example, on four cylinder engines (firing order 1-3-4-2), cylinders 1 and 4 might feed to one scroll of the turbo, while cylinders 2 and 3 feed to a separate scroll.
This almost exclusively means turbochargers, although superchargers are not entirely phased out yet. High-performance cars in particular come with two turbochargers, which seems to be the standard. There are, however, a few exceptions that boast more than two turbochargers, and here they are.
V-6 engines have improved performance compared to V-8 engines, especially when timing acceleration properly because there's less tendency to drift to the outer edge. However, you can lose a little bit of the power ceiling with the weight advantage.
PARALLEL TWIN-TURBOS
The exhaust gasses recycled to the turbos are split equally between the two but usually combine again in a common inlet before entering the cylinders. The benefit of this simplistic system is the potential for much less turbo lag than from one large turbocharger doing all the work.
Over time this pressure can cause leaks and cracks, making the turbo work harder and increasing levels of fatigue. This can damage and wear out the turbo. Age and wear and tear – as you would expect, a turbo will not last forever.
No. today's turbochargers are designed to last the lifespan of the vehicle. The truth is, boosted engines require the same amount of maintenance and care that a naturally aspirated engine does. Does a turbocharger decrease the life of an engine?
A V12 engine is more powerful than V8, V10, and V6 engines. Similarly, V10 engines produce more power (HP) than V6 and V8s. From this graph, you can clearly see the difference in HP in V engines. Added cylinder means a larger and heavier engine that will burn more fuel.
A V6 engine can produce low RPM torque and power better than a turbocharged four-cylinder, because more air enters the pistons, which creates even bigger explosions.
Modern turbocharged four-cylinder engines, when engineered properly, will either beat or match a naturally aspirated V6 in almost every category. Turbo-fours are lighter, more efficient, and can be more powerful than a naturally aspirated V6. The only thing that a V6 will always do better is towing capacity.
One of the main advantages of twin turbocharging a 4 cylinder engine is the increased horsepower and torque. Twin turbocharging can also improve engine response, enhance fuel efficiency, and allow the engine to maintain boost pressure at high RPMs.
A turbocharged engine turns into a fuel-hog under hard acceleration, because the large volume of air being pumped into the cylinders must be matched by a larger volume of fuel.