Why Shouldn't You Buy a Turbocharged Engine?

[LeColeman]

Turbocharged engines should not be purchased for the following reasons: 1. Complex maintenance and high maintenance costs. They employ new technology and have a more complex structure compared to naturally aspirated engines. 2. Turbocharged engines generally have a shorter lifespan than naturally aspirated engines. The increased engine power leads to more severe wear and tear, resulting in a shorter lifespan. 3. Typically, the turbocharger needs to be replaced around 100,000 kilometers, which can be a significant financial burden for car owners. Here is a brief introduction to turbocharging: 1. Turbocharging (Turbo-Boost) is a technology that uses exhaust gases generated by internal combustion engine (Internal-Combustion-Engine) operation to drive an air compressor (Air-compressor). 2. Regarding the negative effects of turbocharged engines, after being pressurized, the engine's operating pressure and temperature significantly increase. As a result, the engine's lifespan is shorter than that of a naturally aspirated engine of the same displacement. Additionally, mechanical performance and lubrication performance are affected, which to some extent limits the application of turbocharging technology in engines.

[PatrickAnn]

As a veteran driver with over a decade of experience, I believe turbocharged cars pose significant maintenance issues in the long run. Last time my friend's turbo failed, the repair cost shot up to around seven or eight thousand yuan – enough to replace parts multiple times on a naturally aspirated vehicle. Turbo engines operate at extremely high temperatures, enduring prolonged high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, which causes rapid aging of sealing rings and rubber components. Moreover, they're particularly demanding on engine oil, requiring full synthetic oil for maintenance, costing over 200 yuan more per service than naturally aspirated cars. Most crucially, in stop-and-go city driving, the turbo rarely engages, actually increasing fuel consumption instead. So unless you're particularly after that acceleration thrill, the maintenance costs really aren't worth it.

[OAlex]

My turbocharged car has given me a profound understanding of what turbo lag means. Every time I start from a traffic light, I have to wait over a second after stepping on the gas pedal before the power kicks in, which is particularly frustrating when following other cars. The dealership said it's an inherent flaw, especially noticeable in small-displacement turbo engines. During long traffic jams, the engine bay gets scorching hot, and the cooling system screams in protest. In just 4 years, I've experienced turbo solenoid valve failures twice, and the replacement costs were painful. Once on a high-altitude road trip at 4,000 meters, I clearly felt much more severe power loss compared to my friend's 2.0L naturally aspirated engine. If you ask me, it's really not worth sacrificing driving experience for those slight performance numbers in daily commuting.

[HaileyLynn]

An experienced car mechanic once told me that turbocharged engines are most afraid of aggressive driving. If you floor the throttle right after starting the engine, the oil hasn't yet lubricated the turbo bearings, causing direct metal-to-metal friction that generates iron shavings. These metal particles circulating with the oil can damage the engine and shorten its lifespan. Nowadays, many small-displacement three-cylinder turbo engines on the market are tuned to be extremely sensitive for fuel efficiency, making city driving jerky and uncomfortable. What's worse is their rapid depreciation in the used car market - dealers always lowball turbocharged vehicles, citing higher failure rates in later years. Considering most turbo engines now require 95-octane fuel, the actual fuel savings aren't that significant when you do the math.