The Turbo Performance Shop Dyno Tune-Up

Have you ever watched Fast and Furious or any movie related to cars? Chances are you have heard the term “boost” or “turbo chargers” thrown around. Turbo Chargers are a great way to increase extra power, and more boost often translates to more power. 

What is a turbocharger?

The turbocharger is a relatively simple device that can improve your engine's overall efficiency while increasing performance. It’s typically made up of two separate halves joined by a central shaft. On one side, exhaust gas spins a turbine, which draws air in from the atmosphere, compresses it and sends it into the combustion chamber. As more air is supplied, an increased amount of fuel can also be added to generate more power.

What does a turbo do?

Internal combustion engines have a maximum capacity based on the number of pistons and the size of each combustion chamber. Petrol or diesel is delivered using pressurised injectors, and the amount of fuel can be adjusted by the ECU (electronic control unit). However, it’s much more challenging to supply a variable amount of air as this depends on atmospheric pressure at the current location. This is why a turbo is essential if you want to improve performance, as it can markedly increase those pressure levels.

How to improve the performance of your turbo

There are several ways to modify your car to make better use of a turbocharger:

• Fitting an intercooler
  Think about buying a high-quality intercooler. This helps to cool the incoming air, which is far less dense and has lower oxygen content. If you send the air through an intercooler first, it will regulate its temperature, giving your engine more power.
• Adjusting the boost pressure
  When it comes to tuning, you can adjust the boost pressure. This will push more air into the engine, improving power and torque. Standard turbos typically have a lower amount of boost, but it is possible to improve this by buying a different ECU chip and making some other adjustments. However, this needs to be carefully regulated as too much boost can lead to a blown engine.
• Upgrading internal parts
  You may be able to upgrade parts of the turbo itself. Some models can deal with higher boost pressure without failing, while others may have a large exhaust housing, which could give more power as the exhaust gas can escape more easily.
• Modifying fuel delivery
  The role of a fuel pump is to deliver a steady supply of fuel to the engine under sufficient pressure to allow the engine to operate properly. You may need to buy some better injectors and a larger fuel pump to accommodate for more power, and its always best to check with a mechanic or your tuner to see which modifications to your fuel delivery are required. 
• Fitting a better air filter
  You might be able to get low-cost improvements by simply purchasing a higher-quality air filter. Make sure it is well positioned underneath the bonnet so it can “breathe” without restriction, making sure that it is away from heat and doesn't have any objects restricting flow. This is why some high-performance turbocharged cars have a vent or scoops to direct maximum airflow to the filter. 

Dealing with turbo problems

• Pre-detonation
  One of the biggest issues with a turbocharged engine is premature detonation. This happens when the pressure and heat within the combustion chamber are so high that the mixture ignites before the spark plug actually fires. In the long term, this can be dangerous and could lead to significant engine damage. 
• Lean mixtures
  Premature detonation may happen if the engine is not getting enough fuel based on the turbocharger boost level or the ignition advance setting. When you take your car in for a dyno tune, the technician will look closely at any potential pre-ignition problems. They will adjust the ignition and fuelling settings as they work to increase your boost.
• Incorrect valve settings
  You may also need to adjust or buy a new blow-off valve. This valve allows excess air to escape when the throttle closes, so the turbo does not stall in this situation. As the turbo can therefore keep spinning, it will stay on boost for longer periods, and you will have a better performance response. So, if you want to know “what is turbo engine blow-off,” understand that it will affect performance unless you improve your boost levels during a dyno tune.

What is a turbocharged engine management system upgrade?

Finally, don’t forget the engine management system itself. Whenever you make significant changes to a motor and ancillaries, you need to make adjustments to the management system. You can buy after-market management systems that can allow you to make additional adjustments to your turbo engine when it comes to boost control or anti-lag, such as Turbosmart products. In any case, careful tuning will help you get maximum power, 
usability and, crucially, reliability from your motor.

What is a turbocharger tune-up?

Now that you can see the benefits of a tune-up, you should always entrust this work to a specialist, but make sure that you buy the highest-quality parts as well. At Car Mods Australia, we go out of our way to supply premium parts for tuners and have all the components necessary as part of our engine, exhaust and cooling stock. We can also help you with brakes and drivetrains, suspension and interior and exterior parts.

Reach out to Car Mods Australia today if you intend to upgrade your turbo or are looking to make supporting modifications to help get extra power from your car.