Special Agent wrote:
If you don't like Turbo Lag, would a supercharger be the answer to it?
Isn't the difference that the supercharger is an electric compressor that runs up when you first start the car?
Versus a turbo that runs off a belt on the engine?
Or am I confusing technologies here?
In any case, down the line (post-warranty), would replacing the turbo with a supercharger provide instant performance at the pedal w/out turbo lag?
Would it be possible with off-the-shelf supers, or would this be a custom application?
Thanks!
You are a bit confused. Turbo operates off the engine exhaust; as the engine runs faster and more exhaust exits the engine, the exhaust gases spin the turbo faster, which increases the amount of air compressed and drawn (forced) into the engine. Supercharging is run off of a belt connected to the engine. Since superchargers depend on engine speed and pulley ratio and not exhaust flow, there is no "lag" waiting for the supercharger to spool up; the boost is "there".
I don't know of any supercharged commercial diesel applications, but I'm sure others more knowledgeable than me will inform you of applications where superchargers are used instead of turbos. The only supercharged diesels I know of were the units I worked on when I was in the military which were 6-71 and 3-53 Detroit Diesels.
A supercharger would probably be a custom application where you would have to secure pulleys to drive it, not to mention space and brackets to mount it under the hood. Turbos and superchargers do the same thing; they are forced air induction, they just use different methods to achieve the same goal.
At first glance, the supercharger appears to be a better option when you look at the cost of a turbo itself vs. the cost of a Paxton super charger for example, not to mention all the extra things you have to incorporate (which we already have) with the turbo to an engine; modification to the exhaust, plumbing for cooling and oiling, cooling of the turbo unit before shutting down the engine, etc. You don't have these issues with superchargers. After market sell ready made kits for some engines but there is a reason why millions of trucks and autos use turbochargers instead of superchargers. My guess would be because diesels typically run at lower engine speeds the supercharger isn't as efficient and would require changing pulleys to achieve usable boost. The turbo is more efficient because it isn't dependent on a mechanical connection, so the turbo provides more usable (albeit variable) boost at lower rpm. Someone more versed in the virtues of turbos can elaborate further.
It seems you would be better off focusing your efforts on minimizing the turbo lag instead of trying to adopt a supercharger. There have been other discussion threads about turbo lag; seems maybe a chip might help. Look around the threads, there may even be newer ideas on how to limit or remove turbo lag completely.
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As RFCRD has explained they're holding back on the fuel till the turbo gets wound up good to keep the smoke level low 
I think it happens lower then 20 mph though, more like just get it moving then then push the peddle, BAMB 
Could also be "torque managment" to protect our ginger tc's 
