What does turbo lag mean?

[Gail]

Turbo lag refers to the time difference between stepping on the accelerator and the turbocharger reaching maximum pressure, which is the process of the turbo building positive pressure. Here is additional information: Causes: The longer this process takes, the more noticeable the turbo lag becomes, resulting in delayed power output after pressing the accelerator. This phenomenon is particularly evident in small-displacement turbocharged engines. This is why you can't just lightly press and then press again. The more noticeable the turbo lag, the more it affects the driving experience. However, due to the working principle of turbocharging, it seems impossible to completely eliminate it; the best we can do is minimize it as much as possible to restore a linear power output to the greatest extent. Replacing with a small-inertia turbo: Replacing with a small-inertia turbo is actually the most common method, but small-inertia turbos are suitable for ordinary family cars. For high-end cars with large displacements, small-inertia turbos appear weak, making this not a perfect solution. Therefore, there are variable geometry turbos and electric turbos, among others. The former uses adjustable air guide vanes to work better at different times, while the latter relies on motor assistance to help the turbo build pressure as quickly as possible.