How Do Superchargers Work? A Detailed Guide for Car Enthusiasts

A supercharger is a car part that increases a vehicle’s horsepower by increasing the amount of fuel the engine is able to burn. Superchargers work quickly and can be more affordable than other options for improving engine performance, but they can also have a negative impact on your car’s fuel economy.

Read below to learn about some of the major types of superchargers for cars and how they work with the engine to make an automobile stronger.

On This Page

• 

  What Is a Supercharger?

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  How Do Superchargers Work?

• 

  What Types of Superchargers Are There?

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  What’s the Difference Between Superchargers and Turbochargers?

• 

  What Are the Pros and Cons of Car Superchargers?

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  Are Superchargers Easy To Install and Maintain?

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  FAQs

What Is a Supercharger?

A supercharger is a device that can be connected to an internal combustion engine in order to make the engine more powerful. Some vehicle makes and models, such as the ones listed below, are sold by their manufacturers with supercharged engines.^[1][2] You may also be able to add a supercharger to an engine that was not originally designed with one.

• Dodge Challenger Hellcat
• Dodge Charger Hellcat
• Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
• Jaguar F-Type
• Land Rover Range Rover Sport
• Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk
• Volvo XC90
• Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

What Does a Supercharger Do?

Superchargers raise the air pressure inside of a car’s engine, thus compressing the air that is taken in and allowing more of it to enter the cylinders through the intake manifold. This enables the supercharged engine to burn more fuel, leading to an increase in the vehicle’s horsepower. As a result, using a forced induction system like a supercharger could be a cost-effective alternative to replacing your engine with a larger one if you want to make your car more powerful.

How Do Superchargers Work?

In general, a supercharger draws energy directly from the engine’s crankshaft via a belt pulley system, which turns gears that cause the supercharger’s compressor fan to rotate, producing dense air that is then funneled into the engine to improve its performance.^[3] This process can result in a 30% to 50% net increase in horsepower.^[2] Depending on the type of supercharger you get, you may be able to attach it directly to the top or front of your engine.

What Types of Superchargers Are There?

Below are some of the main types of superchargers you may be able to add to your vehicle:^[2]

1. Roots: Roots superchargers catch air using a pair of rotors, and then the air is pressurized and transferred into the intake manifold.
2. Twin-screw: Air pressurization occurs within a twin-screw supercharger itself, as it captures air and moves the air between two interwoven screws to build pressure.
3. Centrifugal: A centrifugal supercharger uses an impeller fan to draw in and pressurize air, and then the temperature of the air is lowered using an intercooler so that it remains dense as it moves to the engine.
4. Electric: The function of an electric supercharger is similar to that of a centrifugal variant, but an electric supercharger is powered by an electric motor rather than the crankshaft of the engine.

What’s the Difference Between Superchargers and Turbochargers?

While superchargers and turbochargers both use forced induction to raise air pressure within an engine and improve its performance, they differ in how they are powered and how quickly they activate. Rather than siphoning energy from the engine, a turbocharger is powered by a turbine that spins as it interacts with gases from the car’s exhaust stream.^[4]

Turbochargers are generally considered to be more efficient than superchargers because they take advantage of energy that would have otherwise been wasted. However, since a turbocharger relies on exhaust gases, it functions best when the crankshaft is already revolving quickly, which takes time. For this reason, a supercharger is generally better if you want your engine to have increased horsepower as soon as you start driving.^[4]

Because turbochargers reduce fuel consumption and emissions, vehicles are more commonly manufactured with turbochargers than superchargers.^[4] That said, some vehicles both supercharge and turbocharge their engines, with the supercharger taking effect as soon as the car is turned on and the turbocharger taking over once it has spooled up.^[1]

What Are the Pros and Cons of Car Superchargers?

Adding a car supercharger is a relatively accessible way to quickly improve engine performance, but it could also lead to extra costs due to the supercharger’s high fuel usage. Many people may not be able to afford a larger engine or may not have room for one in their vehicle, so a supercharger may be a more broadly available option for drivers looking for more horsepower.

In addition, superchargers not only provide extra power more quickly than turbochargers, but they also tend to be easier to install. While installing a turbocharger may require making mechanical adjustments to the engine’s exhaust and intake systems, you may be able to simply bolt a supercharger directly onto your engine.^[4]

Nevertheless, superchargers can hurt fuel economy by drawing power away from the engine. Additionally, supercharged and turbocharged engines may require high-octane premium gasoline, which means you may have to get gas more often and pay more each time you get gas if you opt to install a supercharger.^[5]

Are Superchargers Easy To Install and Maintain?

Since they can be directly attached to the outside of your engine, superchargers may be relatively easy to install and service if you have experience working on cars. Even so, installing a supercharger will require a bit of an upfront investment, as supercharger kit prices can range from as little as $2,000 to as much as $15,000, depending on the capabilities of the supercharger.^[6]