Can a Naturally Aspirated Engine Be Modified with a Supercharger?
1 Answers
If the original vehicle is equipped with a naturally aspirated engine, it cannot be fitted with a supercharger. Here are the reasons why a naturally aspirated engine cannot be modified into a supercharged one: 1. Since it involves modifying a production vehicle, it is not only prohibited by law in China, but the modification process is also extremely labor-intensive, requiring numerous changes. Specifically, there is no installation space for a supercharger, no supporting components, and the engine control unit lacks the necessary programming for forced induction. 2. Turbocharged engines are not without flaws. While they offer improved fuel efficiency to some extent, they suffer from turbo lag during acceleration, resulting in less linear power delivery compared to naturally aspirated engines. Additionally, the maintenance costs of turbocharged engines are higher than those of naturally aspirated engines in the same class. 3. Turbocharged engines are used in racing, such as in F1, where a 1.5L engine can produce up to 1000 horsepower. However, this comes at the expense of fuel consumption, and when large turbos spool up to the engine's power band, the sudden surge of power can be difficult to control. Consequently, F1 eventually abandoned turbocharged engines. Nevertheless, turbocharged engines have found widespread adoption in civilian vehicles, and with advancements in automotive technology, modern turbocharged engines have significantly improved in terms of durability and smoothness. This trend is expected to continue as a major direction for future automotive engine development. 4. A supercharger is a type of turbocharger. It consists of two tightly meshed blades connected to the crankshaft via a belt. A typical supercharger is about the size of a standard toolbox and is usually mounted on top of the engine. The working principle of a supercharger is similar to that of a turbocharger, both relying on compressing air. However, since the supercharger is directly connected to the engine, there is no delay in power delivery.
