Turbo Lover: Is A Turbo Diesel Engine Right For You?
Most of us would like to wring a little extra power out of our engines from time to time, whether you want extra acceleration to avoid nearby accidents or higher top speed to get you to work on time more often. For those of us with heavy, sluggish diesel-powered vehicles, this need for speed can be particularly acute; consequently, many diesel drivers eventually make the switch to turbo diesel engines, either by purchasing a dedicated turbo diesel vehicle or fitting a turbocharge to their existing diesel engine.
However, while taking the plunge into Turbo Town can be very rewarding, there are also a few disadvantages and pitfalls to turbo diesel engines that you may encounter. To ensure that turbo diesel engines are right for you before you invest in one, keep the following pros and cons in mind.
What are the advantages of turbo diesel engines?
More power
Naturally, the main advantage of adding a turbocharger to a diesel engine is the resulting power increase, and even a modest turbo can considerably improve your diesel engine's performance. Depending on the turbo you choose and the configuration of your engine, this power increase may manifest as higher top speeds, improved acceleration and/or increased torque, so turbocharging your work ute makes as much sense as turbocharging your track car.
Better fuel economy than alternatives
Turbocharging your diesel engine will naturally lead to diminished fuel economy due to the increase in power; however, this decrease in efficiency is modest compared to decreases caused by other ways to improve diesel engine performance, such as adding fuel injectors or boring out your cylinders. This makes turbo diesels a more practical and inexpensive option if you intend to use your turbo'd vehicle for everyday driving.
Decreased emissions
Diesel engines are hardly known for running clean, and with recent revelations about the true environmental impact of some diesel engines coming out of Europe, getting a handle on your diesel engine's emission levels is important. Adding certain turbocharger models to your engine can, surprisingly enough, reduce your vehicle's emissions despite the accompanying power increase. To achieve this, some turbos are fitted with extra filters to cleanse exhaust gases, while others are fitted with miniaturised catalytic converters.
What about the disadvantages of turbo diesel engines?
Limited engine bay room
Both turbochargers and the diesel engines they are fitted to can be rather bulky, and finding space to fit a substantial turbo to your engine can be very difficult, especially if your vehicle is relatively compact. Purchasing a dedicated turbo diesel vehicle is generally the only way to avoid this problem with certainty, but fitting a larger turbocharger to a smaller diesel engine can be a good compromise with surprisingly speedy results.
Increased maintenance costs
A problem common to both pre-designed turbo diesels and aftermarket conversions, the extra heat and pressure created by your turbocharger will contribute to increased engine wear as your vehicle racks up the mileage. This can make engine maintenance more difficult and expensive, especially if an improperly chosen turbo is fitted to the engine.