What’s the difference between a supercharger and a turbocharger?

Both superchargers & turbochargers use rapidly spinning rotors to suck extra air into the engine - how these chargers are powered is where they differ.

By Keiron Allen

Asked by: Anonymous

In cars and motorbikes, superchargers and turbochargers both use rapidly spinning impellors (rotors) to suck extra air into the engine, causing bigger explosions in the cylinder when the fuel is ignited. In a supercharger, the impellor is driven directly by the engine crankshaft. But in a turbocharger, the power is taken from the exhaust gasses leaving the engine.

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