What are the disadvantages of turbocharging?
4 Answers
Turbocharging has the following disadvantages: 1. Acceleration issue: Due to the inertia of the impeller, there is a delayed response to sudden throttle changes. This means there is a time lag between the driver pressing the accelerator to increase power and the impeller rotating to force more air into the engine for greater power output, and this delay is not insignificant. 2. Higher maintenance costs: Turbocharging also comes with maintenance-related issues. 3. Limited activation opportunities: The turbo is not always in an active state. In fact, during daily driving, the turbocharger is rarely activated or even used, which affects the daily performance of turbocharged engines.
I've been driving turbocharged cars for several years, and to be honest, there are several annoying drawbacks that really give me a headache. First is the maintenance cost - last year my turbo broke down and the repair cost me over 3,000 yuan. The mechanic said this component wears out easily and needs replacement every few years. Then there's turbo lag - when accelerating from standstill, you have to wait about a second for power to kick in, which can be quite dangerous when overtaking or needing sudden acceleration. The official claims about fuel efficiency are exaggerated - in city traffic jams, fuel consumption actually increases, far less smooth than naturally aspirated engines. Another issue is overheating - after long summer drives, engine temperatures soar, requiring extra cooling system maintenance. Finally, the noise is louder than expected - you can hear a buzzing sound at highway speeds, affecting the driving experience. Overall, the fuel efficiency benefits are overstated, compromising practicality.
As someone who frequently works on these types of vehicles, I find the drawbacks of turbocharging systems quite evident. The most prominent issue is turbo lag – the sluggish response at low engine RPMs, with owners often complaining about jerky and unresponsive acceleration. Technically speaking, it increases engine complexity, as the turbocharger requires frequent maintenance of oil lines and cooling components. Neglecting these can easily lead to overheating and damage, with repair costs often running into thousands of yuan. Additionally, the high-pressure system demands premium oil quality; conventional oils won't suffice, and using inferior oil can cause carbon buildup, shortening the engine's lifespan. Long-term use also tends to trigger exhaust issues, such as catalytic converter clogging. Overall reliability pales in comparison to naturally aspirated engines. Customers often remark that sacrificing practicality and peace of mind for that extra bit of power simply isn't worth it.
I've only had my turbocharged car for a month and already noticed several issues. The most annoying is the turbo lag - there's always a delay after stepping on the gas before it surges forward, which feels particularly dangerous when starting from traffic lights or overtaking. I've nearly been rear-ended several times. Maintenance is also quite troublesome - the manual says you need to idle for cooling before turning off the engine, otherwise the turbo could get damaged, so I have to wait extra time every time I park. The actual fuel consumption isn't as low as expected either, it's even worse than naturally aspirated engines in city driving. Plus the car is somewhat noisy, making long drives uncomfortable. As a beginner, I regret not choosing a simpler car.
