The resource of modern turbocharged and atmospheric engines. Turbocharged or naturally aspirated engine

The resource of modern turbocharged and atmospheric engines. Turbocharged or naturally aspirated engine

19.07.2019

Which engine is better: turbocharged or naturally aspirated? Before buying a new or used car, many drivers ask this question. But experts recommend making a choice in favor of one or another type of units in accordance with personal requirements and operating conditions of the car.

The thing is that it is impossible to unambiguously answer the question of which engine is better, turbo or aspirated. Both motors have their own advantages and some disadvantages. And of course, the features of the operation.

What are turbocharged and atmospheric units

Before choosing between two types of engines, you should understand the principle of their work. So:

atmospheric engine

This is a well-known engine internal combustion. Today, it is these motors that are installed on most cars, the principle of operation is that air enters the combustion chamber through a carburetor or injector. The proportion of air to petrol is 14:1. In the chamber, the fuel mixture ignites from a spark, which drives the valves. At first glance, everything is quite simple, although the work atmospheric motor has many nuances and complex moments.

turbocharged engine

The operation of such an engine has one significant feature: air is pumped through the operation of a turbine, which uses traffic fumes to generate forced air pressure. Air, as in a conventional naturally aspirated engine, mixes with fuel already in the cylinders, where the mixture ignites. IN this case the air pressure is greater than in the atmospheric, which affects the torque and power characteristics of the unit.

Important! Any owner of a car with a turbo engine should know some of the features of its operation. For example - the need after stopping for some time to hold the engine on idling to let the unit cool down a bit. Only then can it be completely silenced.

Advantages and disadvantages of a naturally aspirated engine

It is the aspirator that today is classic for motorists, and wide application turbo engines since the middle of the twentieth century has not yet changed the situation. The reason is that atmospheric engines have three main advantages over turbocharged units:

  1. Long term operation. The structure of the motors was originally designed for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. At normal conditions and proper care, this is a normal phenomenon, which makes it possible to list atmospheric engines among the so-called million-plus engines. This applies to both petrol and diesel engines.
  2. Reliability and ease of use. It is this type of motors that is the most trouble-free due to simple device. In addition, engines are less demanding on the quality of fuel and oils. This is a significant plus when considering the features domestic gasoline and consumables.
  3. Good maintainability. Again, given the quality of gasoline and diesel fuel sold at our own gas stations, this good news. Even if the unit fails, in most cases it can be "reanimated". Naturally, the car owner will have to pay a certain amount in this case, he will have fewer difficulties than when repairing a turbo engine.

The disadvantages include the following factors:

  1. Large motor weight.
  2. Less power compared to turbo engines of the same size.
  3. When driving in thin air conditions, power is significantly reduced.
  4. Less dynamic performance compared to turbo engines.

Advantages and disadvantages of turbocharged engines

The advantages of using turbo engines are as follows:

  1. Compared to aspirated, more significant power reserve and high torque.
  2. Increasing dynamics.
  3. Environmental friendliness.
  4. Works less noisy.

Nevertheless, you have to pay dearly for such indicators, both figuratively and literally. Turbo engines have the following disadvantages:

  1. Engines are more picky about the quality of fuel and engine oil. The result is the need to use more expensive products, which causes dissatisfaction among motorists in the face of a constant rise in the price of petroleum products.
  2. The life of lubricating and filtering elements in the motor is significantly reduced, as they operate at more high temperatures. Owners of cars equipped with turbocharged engines are forced to carefully monitor the oil level and the condition of the filters, otherwise the working components of the unit will quickly fail, for example, the compressor.
  3. The turbo engine consumes more fuel.
  4. Less resource compared to aspirated.
  5. High cost of repair and maintenance. Moreover, many specialists refuse to repair such units at all. But even after a quality repair, the units often work intermittently and soon fail again.

In conclusion, we can say that both types of motors have their drawbacks and advantages. But before installing a turbo engine on a car, which has become fashionable lately, it is worth considering whether such tuning will be justified. When choosing a car, you need to take into account driving conditions, the quality of gasoline in the region, the cost of fuel and many other factors.

Often, car buyers are faced with concepts such as " naturally aspirated engine" or "turbocharged engine" (sometimes there are "forced engines").

From this article you will learn:


It even happens that the buyer finds out about the type of motor immediately before himself, not realizing that each engine has its own operating characteristics, which it is important to know about even before the buyer gets behind the wheel.

Fundamental differences between engines

The atmospheric engine is a "normal" internal combustion engine, the design of which was developed a long time ago and brought to its perfection over many decades of operation.

A turbocharged engine is the same internal combustion engine, in the design of which a turbine has been added that pumps air into the cylinders under pressure, which significantly increases the power of the engine. A small turbocharged engine (eg 1.3 liter turbo - 140 hp) can have the same power as a noticeably larger aspirated engine (1.8 liter - 140 hp).

The forced engine is the same internal combustion engine, but having a rather complex design, often involving the use of racing technologies, expensive materials and all kinds of mechanisms for extracting maximum power. It can be equipped with a turbine or not. The design of a boosted engine often implies that high engine power is at the expense of a resource (forced engines do not last long).

Each type of engine has pros and cons that determine a number of requirements for the operation of such an engine.

atmospheric engines

The disadvantages of atmospheric engines usually include their "outdated" design, low power per unit volume, as well as relatively low efficiency (as a result of which harmful emissions increase).

However, the atmospheric engine has one very serious plus, which in Russian conditions operation, often outweighs all the disadvantages - this is high reliability.

The design of the aspirated engine is quite simple (in comparison with a turbocharged and forced engine), in such an engine, after many decades of improvements and improvements, there are practically no parts left that can break.

Latest significant changes in the design of atmospheric engines, which significantly increased power and reduced fuel consumption, occurred in the 80s and 90s of the last century. Since then almost all automotive manufacturers make changes to the design of their atmospheric engines only for the sake of reducing harmful emissions.

Due to its simplicity and reliability, the naturally aspirated engine has another significant advantage - unpretentiousness. An atmospheric engine is much easier to endure operation on poor gasoline (which is not uncommon in Russia) than a turbocharged or forced engine. This feature is very relevant for owners on whom such engines are most often installed.

turbocharged engines

As for the engine with a turbine, it has many disadvantages that the dealer does not talk about when selling the car.

The disadvantages often include the complexity of the engine design (as a result, breakdowns occur more often), the relatively short service life of the turbine (due to permanent job at high temperatures), a low resource of the engine itself (due to operation at increased loads).

Also, the disadvantages include high flow fuel (during intensive driving), exactingness to its quality, the presence of a "turbo hole" during acceleration, which many models of turbo engines have, a large number of difficulties in operating and maintaining the turbine (installing a turbo timer, using special oils etc.).

Another significant disadvantage is the high oil consumption, which is the norm for many turbo engines.

Among other things, a turbocharged engine requires highly skilled craftsmen for maintenance and repair. Many car owners neglect this fact, giving the car to "omnivorous" services, after which the engine life can be significantly reduced.

The advantages of a turbocharged engine, in turn, include quite high power with a relatively small volume. This allows manufacturers to:

  • - firstly - to achieve relatively low flow fuel in urban driving and reduce harmful emissions (which corresponds to environmental regulations Euro-4 and Euro-5 and others).
  • - secondly, to install small engines on a relatively heavy vehicles(business sedans and SUVs).

Connoisseurs also attribute the unique driving pleasure and characteristic whistling sounds during acceleration to the advantages of turbo engines.

Forced engines

The pros and cons of boosted engines are often similar to the pros and cons of turbo engines.

The disadvantages include the complexity of the design (as a result, breakdowns occur more often), the demands on fuel quality and the low overall engine life.

Forced engines are also demanding on quality repairs and can consume quite a lot of oil.

The advantages of a forced motor can also include a fairly high power with a relatively small volume, which allows manufacturers to achieve low fuel consumption in the city and reduce harmful emissions. Due to their high power, such engines can also be installed on heavy vehicles.

Exploitation

The cost of running an engine (and the entire vehicle) typically depends on the complexity of that engine's design.

If the engine has a complex design (turbocharged or forced), then for its normal operation high-quality fuel is needed (the risk of filling bad gasoline large in Russia), quality (fakes famous brands there are many on the market), as well as qualified service, which is quite expensive.

An engine with a complex design is more likely to break down, and spare parts for such an engine are quite expensive.

The opposite is also true - the simpler the design of the engine, the less money the owner has to spend to maintain its normal operation (cheaper spare parts, easier service less chance of breakage).

Progress and wallet

The recent trend is such that almost all automakers, in an effort to increase engine power and at the same time reduce its consumption, are switching to the production of cars with turbocharged or forced engines of small volume.

This approach makes it possible to produce sufficiently powerful and green cars, but at the same time quite complicates the design (which leads to more frequent breakdowns), and also reduces the resource.

For the buyer, this approach is a plus until he begins to deal directly with the repair - that is, until the end warranty period. After that, a car with a turbocharged or boosted engine may well become a headache for its owner.

Of course, most buyers of a new car tend to drive it just before the end of the warranty period, after which they sell it.

However, any buyer of a used car will calculate in advance their possible costs for this car and will not pay a lot of money for a car whose engine life will be in some doubt.

Therefore, in order to sell used a car with a turbocharged or boosted engine of a small volume, sellers will most likely have to lose more money in money than when selling the same car, but with a normal-volume naturally aspirated engine, the resource of which is initially longer.

Thus, technical progress for any car owner in Russia will have its own cost - for the owner new car it will be the amount of loss on a subsequent sale, and for the owner of a used car - the amount of maintenance costs and more expensive repairs.

Today, there are many types and modifications of engines, and recently there has been a tendency to increase power. Moreover, manufacturers are trying to do this without increasing the working volume of the engine. For this purpose, but is it worth buying such cars, or is it better to buy an old, proven “aspirated”? This is a highly controversial issue. What is the difference between a naturally aspirated engine and a turbocharged one, we will consider in our today's article.

Characteristics of the atmospheric internal combustion engine

He is Classic System Its power supply is based on a distributed injector. So, combustible mixture It is formed from 14 parts of air and one part of gasoline. ECU if necessary modern cars can adjust this value up or down. After the mixture enters the cylinder, the system ignites it and ignition occurs, and then the piston stroke. Due to this, it rotates crankshaft, flywheel and, accordingly, the wheels of the machine.

Pressure is the main difference between a naturally aspirated engine and a turbocharged one. The pressure of the air that enters the engine is small - about one atmosphere (hence the characteristic name). There is no forced injection here.

Advantages of a naturally aspirated engine

Which is better - naturally aspirated or turbocharged? Among the advantages of the first motor, experts distinguish:

Resource

What to choose - atmospheric engine or turbocharged? On average, engines without a turbine have a resource of 300, or even more than a thousand kilometers to overhaul. And if it is an atmospheric diesel engine, then it is completely capable of traveling a million kilometers. A vivid example of this is the diesel engines of the old 124 Mercedes. Also, these engines are easier to repair, since their design is extremely simple.

Regarding the reliability of atmospheric engines, there are no questions. Such engines can feel good even when running on low-quality gasoline. They are also not so demanding on oil. Among the special advantages should be noted their maintainability. Repair will be very cheap and will not take much time.

Disadvantages of atmospheric engines

The difference between naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines is power. Such motors will always develop less power and produce limited torque. Therefore, you should think about dynamic driving only when the engine displacement is above 2.5 liters. Most cars with naturally aspirated engines accelerate slowly.

Turbocharged engine: characteristics and advantages

Many believe that these motors were developed recently. But for the first time turbocharged unit was installed on the car back in the 50s of the last century. Its principle of operation is somewhat different from atmospheric. So, in the design there is a special pumping mechanism. This is a turbine. She uses energy exhaust gases and thus blows air into intake manifold.

An artificial pressure is created, which is many times higher than atmospheric pressure. This increases the power and torque of the motor without increasing its working volume. These indicators can be higher by 20-40 percent, which, of course, affects the dynamics of acceleration of the car. High torque allows you to pick up speed faster. Besides turbocharged engine makes less noise and is more environmentally friendly. In terms of fuel consumption, it practically does not differ from its atmospheric counterparts. Such engines will excellent choice for those who want to enjoy driving. Overtaking on such a motor can be done with complete confidence.

Disadvantages of a turbocharged engine

When making a choice between a naturally aspirated engine or a turbocharged one, it is worth considering the fact that the latter type is more picky about fuel quality. Most engines prefer high octane gasoline. And if it's about turbo diesel, you need to buy fuel only at proven gas stations. When choosing between a naturally aspirated engine or a turbocharged one, you need to understand that the latter engine requires better lubricants. Oil must be expensive and original. It needs to be changed every 10 thousand kilometers. This applies to both gasoline and diesel turbocharged engines. In addition, attention should be paid to the filter. The oil filter must be of high quality. It depends on resource and wear. important details engine.

About reliability

Which engine is more reliable - atmospheric or turbocharged? Compared to the first, the turbocharged engine is less reliable. This is due to the more complex design. You also need to understand that all parts in such a motor are subjected to high loads. Indeed, with the same volume and design, this unit produces great features. This clearly affects the overall resource. You should be aware that a turbocharged engine operates at elevated temperatures. Therefore, you need to check the oil more often and monitor the condition of all filters. The slightest problem with them affects performance and fuel consumption.

Unfortunately, the resource of such motors will always be lower. Especially it concerns gasoline engines. bright volume an example is turbocharged engines from the Volkswagen-Audi concern.

The resource of such motors, even with timely service does not exceed two hundred thousand kilometers. Can be purchased and diesel engines. They last a little longer. But the turbine will make itself felt anyway earlier. And then the owner will have to prepare for serious investments.

Now about the repair. It is not so easy to repair the most critical node (turbine). If she submits characteristics should be diagnosed and troubleshooted. This is best left to qualified professionals. The repair itself consists in replacing the turbine cartridge. This is the most popular recovery method. You can go the other way - install an already used turbine from disassembly. Although this option is dangerous, because no one gives a guarantee of how long it will last, what is its real mileage and in what conditions it was operated. However, all operations related to repair and diagnostics given element have their own difficulties. This is reflected in the final cost. Atmospheric motors in this case are much simpler. Since there is no turbine, there is nothing to repair here.

Also note that the operation of a turbocharged car has its own characteristics. For example, after aggressive driving, you should not immediately turn off the engine. It is necessary to give him the opportunity to work at idle, so that the turbine cools down.

Summing up

Which engine is better - naturally aspirated or turbocharged? As you can see, both motors have their own characteristics. But I must say that a turbocharged engine will definitely be more expensive to repair and maintain. It is demanding on fuel and consumables. Atmospheric in this case is easier. But do not forget that a turbocharged engine gives acceleration dynamics that even modern “aspirated” with direct injection.

There is no definite answer to the question of which is better - a turbocharged or naturally aspirated engine. But practice has shown that the content of the last motor is three times cheaper. Therefore, if dynamics is not important to you, but you need a simple car for everyday use, you should consider buying a car without a turbine. If you are a fan of speed and want to enjoy the ride, you need to put up with spending and choose a turbocharged engine. Some want to beat fate and thus buy a larger, but atmospheric engine (if there is such an option in the line of power units). In this case, do not forget about fuel consumption. The larger the volume, the more gasoline required for the operation of the cylinder. Therefore, sometimes it makes sense to buy some small-capacity, but turbocharged engine than a voracious atmospheric one.

A very topical issue around which there is a lot of controversy and conversation. Some argue that there is nothing better than a proven classic in the form of no. Others are sure that aspirated engines are already in the past, and turbocharged engines are the present and the future. When choosing between a naturally aspirated engine and a turbocharged one, you need to rely not on the opinions of other motorists, but on your own preferences, needs and capabilities. Engines are really different in design, characteristics and capabilities. But this does not make one of them unequivocally the best, and the other the worst. It is necessary to disassemble the features of the motors, which will allow us to draw the appropriate conclusions.

Engine choice: turbocharged or naturally aspirated.

Features of atmospheric internal combustion engines

Everyone has heard about atmospheric engines, but not everyone understands exactly what this means. In the classical sense, this is internal combustion, the design of which provides for the injection of air from environment. For this, special carburetor pistons are used. When oxygen penetrating inside the engine mixes with fuel particles sprayed by nozzles, a so-called fuel mixture is formed. It is needed for combustion inside the combustion chamber. Aspirators work like this:

  • air is sucked in from the atmosphere;
  • fuel and oxygen are mixed in the required proportions (usually 1 to 14);
  • a mixture of fuel and oxygen enters the combustion chamber;
  • volume expands;
  • there is pressure on the piston;
  • rotation is transmitted to the crankshaft;
  • car rides.

Moreover, in the case of atmospheric engines, the process of suction or suction of air occurs due to the fact that a rarefied atmosphere is created in the intake manifold. When choosing an aspirated or turbocharged engine, it will not be superfluous to know about the principles of their operation and design features. This will allow you to understand in advance what you will encounter, as well as how difficult it will be to repair in a given situation.


Characteristic differences of a turbo engine

Since we are comparing a naturally aspirated and a turbo engine, you should also learn about ICE features, . It is known that the quality of combustion automotive fuel and the amount of power generated to push the pistons depend on how much air is supplied to the cylinders. The larger the volume of the internal combustion engine, the more power and torque the aspirator is able to give out. So we came to what is the main difference between a naturally aspirated and a turbocharged engine. Turbo differs in that it is equipped with a system of forced air intake, which occurs under pressure. The aspirator, which differs from it, does not have such a system.

The main objective when creating a turbo was to increase power while maintaining a relatively small engine size. On atmospheric internal combustion engines, this directly depends on the size of the engine, since this is the only way to increase power and increase torque. Turbocharged engines, using forced injection, managed to do without increasing the volume.

It is important to consider that atmospheric motors are characterized by increased reliability and resistance to detonation. High-quality and efficient lubricants, as well as competent gas distribution adjustment, allow for the most accurate injection of the fuel mixture. Gradual development has improved the efficiency of aspirated. But still, they are inferior to turbo engines in the component of the proportion of power per unit of engine volume. So that, for aspirated engines, they began to increase the size and number of cylinders. But such measures cannot be considered effective and expedient, since this significantly increases the weight of the structure. Turbo allows you to get high power without increasing working volumes.


Strengths and weaknesses of atmospheric internal combustion engines

The atmospheric engine has been around for a long time, but its turbocharged competitor has appeared relatively recently. Largely because of this, motorists do not even try to look for a difference and some key difference, but simply choose what they trust. No one argues that aspirated really have whole line benefits. The main ones are:

  • long service life;
  • simplified design and simple device;
  • affordable repair;
  • the possibility of self-service;
  • adequate oil consumption;
  • absence of global problems during operation.

Such motors are capable of overcoming a huge number of kilometers. Their mileage, with adequate care and operation, exceeds 1 million. It is only necessary to change the oil on time, to carry out proper care and remove old filters in a timely manner. With such an attitude, even after 500 - 600 thousand kilometers of run, you won’t have to think about any major repairs. Parts and assemblies of the atmospheric type engine are very resistant to wear, they for a long time retain their functionality. Most reliable aspirated able to survive more than one body. That is, there were cases when the engine was removed from one car and put on another, since the body itself had already exhausted its resource, but the internal combustion engine did not.


Reliability and ease of operation are the main trump cards of atmospheric engines. They do not require maximum quality fuel or unique high quality lubricants. Even if the machine is operated on bad fuel something breaks down, it will not be difficult to bring the aspirated to life. More serious requirements are imposed with regard to the competent choice and use of engine oil. Usually it is changed after 15 - 20 thousand kilometers. For atmospherics, high-quality synthetics and semi-synthetics that meet the requirements of the automaker are considered the best solution.

An interesting fact is that in atmospheric internal combustion engines, the use of mineral oils is quite acceptable in the absence of a synthetic or semi-synthetic analogue. With engines that have a turbocharger, this number will not work. It is absolutely impossible to pour mineral water into them. Due to the simplified design, many car owners are independently engaged in preventive and repair work in their garage. And if you had to contact a car service, be sure that service stations when working with an atmospheric engine will be much cheaper than with a turbo engine with similar malfunctions. But do not think that atmospheric engines are so ideal, and they have no drawbacks. When compared with turbocharged power units, the following appear weak sides:

  • quite impressive weight of the whole structure;
  • lower power settings;
  • less torque;
  • inability to work under heavy load;
  • problems with operation at high altitudes (there is rarefied air, due to which oxygen does not penetrate well into the cylinders);
  • at low speeds, effective suction does not always occur, because the engine behaves unstable.

The global auto industry knows many examples of how companies create high-performance engines without the use of a turbocharger. A turbine is not always a necessary element to create a truly productive engine.


Pros and cons of turbo engines

Comparing a turbocharged and naturally aspirated engine, one cannot help but consider the advantages and disadvantages of engines that use a turbocharger. A turbocharged power unit has its undeniable advantages over aspirated. But in some respects, it is noticeably inferior to its competitor. Please note that when comparing a turbocharged and naturally aspirated engine, you need to draw your own conclusions. Everyone expects certain characteristics and capabilities from the purchased car. One needs a measured and economical ride. Others want to get the maximum speed and adrenaline. In many ways, it depends on which engine specifically for you will be the best. The main advantages of an internal combustion engine with a turbocharger are only 3. Namely:

  • increased power indicators;
  • excellent torque;
  • low noise level (with an adequate exhaust system).

If we talk purely about quantity, then the superiority in advantages is clearly on the side of the aspirated. But if you want to get high level power, then all the advantages of an atmospheric engine will no longer play a special significant role.


In addition to the advantages, turbo engines have their drawbacks. They appear as follows:

  1. Requirements to quality characteristics working fluids. If you have a car with a turbocharger, then you will have to choose only the highest quality engine oils, refuel on expensive petrol stations. This entails increased costs for the maintenance and operation of a car with a turbocharged power unit.
  2. Work at elevated temperatures. Under such operating conditions, the service life of the internal combustion engine gradually begins to decrease. To be more precise, the faster the fuel and oil filters. It is necessary to regularly monitor the level and condition of lubricating fluids, the degree of contamination of the filters. Otherwise, you can miss the moment when the compressor or other expensive engine components fail.
  3. Fuel consumption. For high power and increased torque, you have to pay with high consumption. Even with a measured ride, consumption will still be higher than that of an aspirated engine with a similar volume of power plant.
  4. Operating period. It is unlikely that you will be able to meet a millionaire turbo engine. Turbocharged engines are not designed for continuous operation. Compared to atmospheric engines, turbocharger units have noticeably less engine life.
  5. Repair and service. As mentioned earlier, with approximately similar malfunctions, the cost of repairing an engine with a turbocharger will be much higher. The same can be said about scheduled maintenance. Consumables for turbo engines are more expensive.
  6. Specialists. Since the era of turbocharged engines is only at its dawn, it is quite difficult to find competent specialists in our country. Not every auto mechanic, even from a large car service, is ready to take on the repair of a turbocharger. Working with such a node requires certain knowledge and skills. Handicraft repairs often lead to even more unfortunate consequences.

Agree that the list of shortcomings is really impressive. Turbo engines require increased attention, careful maintenance and impressive financial costs. But even under such conditions, it will not be possible to significantly extend the engine life and reach the values ​​​​of conventional classical atmospheric engines.


Summing up

We looked at a turbocharged and naturally aspirated engine. Therefore, we can draw certain conclusions as to which one is better. Turbine is good for those who need high performance, increased power, excellent dynamics and speed. But you have to pay for all this. If you are ready, and the listed shortcomings do not stop you, then really the best choice specifically for you will be a turbocharged power unit.

Aspirated is more adequate in terms of fuel and oil consumption, care, maintenance and operating costs than a turbocharged engine. But atmospheric engines can also be quite productive and powerful, which is clearly demonstrated in the automakers BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Infiniti, Porsche and Lexus. It is impossible to say unequivocally which is better. This is a very individual question, which directly depends on the needs and capabilities of each individual motorist.

Those who need reliability, efficiency and adequate cost of operation, but who are not chasing high rates power and torque, opt for atmospheric power units. If the main goal of purchasing a car is to obtain excellent dynamics and maximum speeds no matter what, then an engine with a turbocharger will definitely suit you.

Each of the considered motors has its own strengths and weaknesses. You need to correctly prioritize, understand the goals and objectives that are set for the car, and also realistically assess your own capabilities. This is the only way you will decide whether to buy a car with a turbocharger, or to stick with a proven classic naturally aspirated engine.

The best prices and conditions for the purchase of new cars

Loan 6.5% / Installment / Trade-in / 98% approval / Gifts in the salon

Mas Motors

Choosing new car, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the technical specifications and operational features offered well-known manufacturers. The article presents a naturally aspirated engine, which is very popular among motorists due to its many advantages. The design of the power unit does not have a turbocharger, air-fuel mixtures formed using a pressure equal to one atmosphere.

What is a naturally aspirated engine

Not all car owners understand what a naturally aspirated car engine means. This gasoline engines classic design, which pump air from the surrounding space with the help of carburetor pistons. When oxygen is mixed uniformly with atomized gasoline particles, fuel mixtures. They are used for combustion in the combustion chamber of a gasoline engine.

The principle of operation of the atmospheric engine:

  1. The suction of air from the atmosphere.
  2. Mixing with gasoline vapors in the proportion: gasoline - 1 part, oxygen - 14.
  3. Feeding the mixture into the combustion chamber.
  4. Volume expansion.
  5. Piston pressure.
  6. Transmission of rotation to the crankshaft.

The effect of suction of air masses occurs due to the creation of a rarefied atmosphere in the cavity of the intake manifold.

What is the difference between a naturally aspirated engine and a turbocharged engine?

It is known that the quality of fuel combustion and the amount of energy pushing the pistons depend on the volume of air supplied to the cylinders. The larger the motor, the more power and develops the atmosphere.

Unlike turbocharged engines, naturally aspirated engines do not have forced retraction. air currents under pressure. Atmospherics are characterized by reliability, they are resistant to detonation. Thanks to the use of lubricating fluids made on synthetic basis, losses to overcome friction forces are significantly reduced. Due to the improvement of the valve timing adjustments, ultra-precise fuel injection is carried out under the control of an electronic system.


In order to improve specifications engine, models with cylinders of large working volumes in the amount of 6 to 12 pieces are used. However, an increase in volume in the engine building industry is not always considered appropriate, since this leads to a heavier structure.

Pros and cons of naturally aspirated engines

With the advent of powertrains equipped with a turbocharger, many drivers began to give preference to turbocharged vehicles. However, there are many motorists who, when asked which engine is better naturally aspirated or turbocharged, choose the familiar classic option, based on the following advantages:

  1. Long service life.
  2. The simplicity of the device.
  3. Absence serious problems during operation.
  4. Availability of repair and Maintenance with your own hands.
  5. Reduced engine oil consumption.

Atmospheric internal combustion engines differ most long run. There are cases when cars with installed atmospherics work without major repairs along the way, more than 500 thousand kilometers. The only condition is timely care and regular replacement engine oil with filters. Their parts and assemblies are resistant to wear. The reliable naturally aspirated motor has an increased motor resource and continues to work even after repeated replacements of the car body.

Thanks to uptime atmospheric engine and its ease of operation, it is unpretentious to the quality of fuel and lubricants. With regular use of low-quality gasoline, such engines, if they fail, restore their performance faster. The main requirement for engine oil is to provide required level. Replacement lubricating fluid should be carried out every 15 - 20,000 km. When choosing the most suitable brand engine oil for an atmospheric engine, it is recommended to give preference to synthetics or semi-synthetics.

Interesting: Unlike a turbocharged engine, here you can fill in and mineral oils if it was not possible to purchase better lubricants.

The simplicity of the design of the aspirator makes it possible to produce some repair work even in garage conditions. When contacting a car service, the cost of services is several times lower compared to repairing similar malfunctions of turbocharged engines.

Atmospheric internal combustion engines have some disadvantages:

  1. Relatively large weight of the mechanism.
  2. Reduced power and developed torque in comparison with a motor equipped with a turbine.
  3. Aspirators are not designed to work under heavy loads.
  4. Difficulties in operating high altitude under rarefied air conditions.
  5. When the atmospheric engine is running at low speeds, it is not always absorbed enough air, which affects the stability of work.

Examples of vehicles with powerful naturally aspirated engines

  • Mercedes C 63 FMG Coupe Edition 507.
  • Chevrolet Corvette C 7 Stingray.
  • Jeep Grand Cherokee S.R.T.
  • Audi RS5.
  • Audi RS4 Avant.
  • Chevrolet Camaro.
  • Mercedes SLK 55 AMG.
  • Porsche Cayenne GTS.
  • Infiniti QX70.
  • Lexus LS460.
  • Mercedes-Benz OM 602.
  • OM 612.
  • OM 647.
  • BMW M57.

What is better naturally aspirated or turbocharged engine

There is no single answer to this question. Each of the presented motors has its advantages and disadvantages. To understand whether a naturally aspirated or turbocharged engine is more suitable for you, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the features of their operation.

Unlike atmospheric, turbocharged power units have an essential feature: the air is not sucked in here, but is forcibly pumped with the help of installed turbine. At the same time, such characteristics of the motor as torque and power are significantly improved.

Many drivers want to improve dynamics vehicle, as a result, they have a logical question whether it is possible to put a turbine on an existing naturally aspirated engine, and if so, how to do it.


This possibility exists, it all depends on the model of your car. There are situations when it is more profitable to get a new car than to purchase expensive parts for chipping and pay for the work of masters. To install a turbine on a naturally aspirated engine, it is necessary to invite a qualified mechanic with experience in such work.

Diesel engines equipped with turbocharging are called turbodiesels. The composition of the turbocharged power unit includes a turbocharger, which pumps air into the diesel intake manifold under high pressure.

Interesting: Unlike diesel engines atmospheric type, when operating in high-mountain conditions, turbodiesels provide the most complete combustion fuel. Among experts, this effect is known as the "altitude of the car."

Strengths and weaknesses of turbocharged engines

These power units are usually compared with conventional aspirated. The main advantages of engines equipped with a turbocharger:

  1. Such motors are characterized by increased power characteristics.
  2. Develop increased torque.
  3. They don't make a lot of noise while working.

Along with the advantages, motors with turbines also have disadvantages:

  • increased requirements for the quality of gasoline, diesel fuel, engine oils, which makes it necessary to buy products of expensive brands;
  • operation at elevated temperatures leads to a reduction in the service life of fuel, oil filters, drivers have to regularly check the level of lubricants, monitor the degree of contamination of the filter elements in order to prevent the failure of expensive units (compressor, etc.);
  • increased fuel consumption;
  • relatively short service life;
  • high cost of repair and maintenance;
  • difficulties in choosing an auto mechanic with the necessary knowledge and experience.

atmospheric and turbocharged engines have both positive and negative qualities. Before installing a fashionable turbo engine on a car, it is recommended to make sure that such tuning is appropriate. When making a decision, it is necessary to assess the condition of the roads, the cost quality gasoline etc.

© 2023 globusks.ru - Car repair and maintenance for beginners