Turbocharger vs. Supercharger

A turbocharger is simply a supercharger that is powered instead by a turbine in the exhaust stream. The first of these, dating to 1915, were ...

Turbochargers produce more power by making use of exhaust gas, whereas superchargers make more power by utilizing the rotation of the crankshaft.

Superchargers can deliver their boost at lower RPMs then a turbocharger, whereas the turbocharger works best at high engine speeds.

Turbochargers and superchargers are forced induction systems. These systems use compressors to push compressed air into the engine.

Turbochargers use the vehicle's exhaust gas; two fans – a turbine fan and a compressor fan – rotate from exhaust gas. Conversely, superchargers are powered directly by the engine; a belt pulley drives gears that cause a compressor fan to rotate.

Turbochargers are powered by the high-pressure exhaust from the engine's cylinders, whereas superchargers are mechanically driven by a pulley.

Superchargers don't make as much power as turbos, and are inefficient. If I had to chose? Turbocharger, just because you make more power (baby).

A turbo adds less strain on an engine because it can be on and off boost depending on how it's tuned. However, a supercharger is much simpler and has ...

... Supercharger types 02:30 How Turbochargers work 03:57 Turbo types 04:41 General comparisons 04:58 Boost 05:32 Efficiency 06:03 Conclusions.