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Automotive vocabulary · Engine and Fuel Systems

Turbocharger

Meaning in automotive, with examples

/ˈtɜːrboʊˌtʃɑːrdʒər/nounCommon term

In automotive, turbocharger means: A device that uses the flow of exhaust gas to spin a turbine, which drives a compressor that pushes more air into the engine. More air allows more fuel to be burned and more power to be produced.

In Turkish: turbo, turbo şarj, turboşarjer

How it is used

Usually just called a turbo. People talk about boost pressure, turbo lag and the intercooler. Small turbocharged petrol engines replaced many larger engines to cut fuel use and emissions (downsizing).

Example sentences

  1. The turbocharger is whistling and the car has lost power, so check the intake hoses for leaks.

  2. Let the engine idle for a moment after hard driving so the turbocharger can cool down.

Common collocations

  • boost pressure
  • turbo lag
  • turbocharged engine
  • replace the turbocharger
  • engineThe machine that burns fuel, usually petrol or diesel, to produce the power that moves a vehicle. It turns the energy of burning fuel into rotation of the crankshaft.
  • horsepowerA unit of engine power. One mechanical horsepower is about 746 watts, and the metric horsepower (PS) used in Europe is about 735 watts. Many specifications also give power in kilowatts (kW).
  • emissionsThe gases and particles a vehicle releases, mainly from the exhaust, such as CO2, NOx and soot. Their limits are set by regulations such as the Euro 6 standard.
  • fuel economyHow much fuel a vehicle uses to travel a given distance. In Europe and Turkey it is given in liters per 100 km; in the US it is given in miles per gallon (mpg).

More terms: Engine and Fuel Systems

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