Wondering what the difference is between turbochargers and superchargers? The two devices are very similar and share a common purpose—to boost engine power while simultaneously improving fuel efficiency. The main difference is how they are powered. A supercharger is powered by the engine’s crankshaft, while a turbocharger harnesses the car’s exhaust to power itself.

If you’re looking for ways to improve your car’s performance, increase its power, and reduce fuel consumption, consider getting a turbocharger or a supercharger. But what exactly are these devices? How do they work? And what makes one better than the other?

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Supercharger vs. turbocharger

When looking at superchargers vs. turbochargers, there is some confusion. Some people use the terms interchangeably, while others say they’re fundamentally different technologies, neither of which is entirely inaccurate.

The key difference between superchargers and turbochargers is how they’re powered. A traditional supercharger borrows power from the engine by way of the crankshaft. A turbocharger, rather ingeniously, uses the engine’s exhaust stream to spin a turbine, which then powers the turbocharger.

What is a supercharger?

A supercharger defines any component that increases induction air pressure to drive more air into the engine during the catalyzation of the fuel and air mixture.

That’s a bit of a dense definition, though—let’s break it down a bit. The process in question is called forced induction. As you might already know, an internal combustion engine—as the name suggests—is powered by a series of controlled explosions within the engine.

For an explosion, you need three ingredients: fire, fuel, and air. The fuel injectors spray a bit of gasoline mixed with air into the engine, where a spark ignites it, and the explosion is achieved. Without air, combustion could not occur. By the same token, if more air is present, the explosion becomes larger, resulting in more power without burning too much fuel.

So, that’s all a supercharger is—a device that forces more air into your engine, which increases its power. Nowadays, people mostly use the term supercharger to refer to just one style, sometimes called a conventional or traditional supercharger.

What is a turbocharger?

Technically, turbochargers area type of supercharger. In fact, the full name for turbochargers is turbo superchargers—though it has been many decades since the term was used regularly.

Turbochargers perform the same way as superchargers, but as previously mentioned, they use the engine’s exhaust stream for power.

MORE: Pump up your drive with the best turbocharged cars

Which is better, a supercharger or a turbocharger?

Now that we’ve learned what superchargers and turbochargers are, the question becomes, which one is better?

Depending on the type of driving you do, each has its own strengths. Here’s a quick look at the advantages of each.

Advantages of a supercharger

The transitional supercharger, invented in 1900, is a bit more rudimentary than the elegant turbocharger. However, the turbocharger requires more fine-tuned components and will require more maintenance, meaning superchargers are more reliable.

Additionally, the crankshaft-powered supercharger works well and delivers results from the moment of ignition.

The turbocharger, by contrast, needs a few minutes to “spool up” before it can kick in. Because of this, superchargers are more popular with professional racers since they give them immediate acceleration.

Advantages of a turbocharger

Turbochargers may take a minute or two to rev up, but once they kick in, they perform much better than superchargers at high speeds. On top of this, turbochargers are more efficient, better at reducing your environmental impact, and save you more money on gas. They’re also quieter for a less conspicuous style.

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Different types of turbochargers and superchargers

Turbochargers and superchargers can be subdivided into various types, each with unique offerings. Let’s take a look!

Types of turbochargers

There are a few styles of turbocharger that mainly deal with having more than one turbo installed at a time, such as the styles listed below:

Twin Turbos: A system of forced induction that uses two turbochargers simultaneously, a large turbo and a small turbo working together to minimize lag and maximize performance.

Biturbos: A system with two independent turbos working on the same engine.

Quad Turbos: A system that uses four turbos on the same engine.

Types of superchargers

The different styles of superchargers are less about improving results by adding additional units—they’re more about engineering redesigns, most of which are no longer widely used. Here are a few of the most notable supercharger styles manufacturers have used:

Sliding-Vane supercharger

G-Lader type

Belt-driven centrifugal superchargers

Variable-ratio centrifugal supercharger

Powerplus supercharger

There have been a lot of different supercharger designs over the years. Most failed to improve on the traditional design. Of the styles listed above, the variable-ratio and the belt-driven are the only two you’re likely to see much these days.

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Which vehicles can have turbo or superchargers added to them?

You can install an aftermarket supercharger on almost any naturally aspirated car. Their design is pretty simple and easy to work with. Now, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get great results supercharging any car, but you’ll be able to do it relatively easily.

Turbochargers, on the other hand, are trickier. You technically can turbo charge any naturally aspirated engine. Generally, though, it’s not often a great idea to try installing aftermarket turbochargers—especially not on cars that weren’t designed to have them by default.

Because turbos recycle the engine’s exhaust, they have to be balanced just right. If they’re too large for the engine, you can actually start to get overheating issues. To avoid serious problems, you’ll need to start making other modifications to your engine, like installing an intercooler.

Unless you already know what you’re doing, you should have a qualified mechanic you trust pick out the turbocharger you’ll use.

MORE: Illegal car modifications to avoid

Finding affordable car insurance

Both superchargers and turbochargers have their advantages, and both will save you a decent chunk of change at the gas pump—especially over time. But, you can always save more on your car expenses if you use

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Should I add a supercharger or a turbocharger to my car?

It depends. If the car already has a turbocharger, and you’re thinking of setting up a twin-turbo situation, that might be a good choice. But if your car isn't already designed to accommodate a turbo, you should probably stick to a supercharger.

Are turbochargers and superchargers the same thing?

Yes and no. Technically, turbochargers are a type of supercharger, though they’re not referred to as such often.

Today, most people consider them to be separate devices. Either way, they’re both forced air induction devices with the same function—just powered differently.

Is a supercharger better than a turbocharger?

In some respects, a supercharger is superior to a turbocharger, such as if you need to improve your 0-60mph acceleration time. In others, it’s just the opposite. Turbochargers accelerate more slowly but save you more money over time. It depends on your particular situation and needs.

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