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Turbo cars.... more efficient than NA on short trips?

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 12:56 pm
by RomanV
I was thinking about this the other day.
A lot of people have commented, that if you do a lot of short trips, your fuel economy goes out the window.
Due to the engine running cold, and therefore rich.

Well, would a turbo engine be more efficient, on short trips?
As I would imagine that the extra heat generated by the turbo, which is cooled by athe same water/oil that the engine uses, would help expedite the warming up process.

Is there any truth to this?
I only live about 5 mins drive* from work, so I'm pretty much making the entire journey there and back 'cold'.
Unless I warm the car up first, but that pretty much never happens. :P

*When I have a car, that is.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:07 pm
by Silent Knight
I Vote no.

The Soarer is sux gas like there's no tomorrow whether it's Hot or Cold. :P

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:16 pm
by RomanV
Yeah, but that's because its a whale. :P

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:19 pm
by Silent Knight
RomanV wrote:Yeah, but that's because its a whale. :P


An FI whale... :P

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:45 pm
by RomanV
Yeah, but the question is whether or not an NA whale would be just as greedy when it's cold. 8)

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 1:53 pm
by Silent Knight
RomanV wrote:Yeah, but the question is whether or not an NA whale would be just as greedy when it's cold. 8)


Soarer compared to Soarer....no.
FI Soarer uses far more gas than N/A whether it be hot or cold.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:01 pm
by MrOizo
my JZA70 supra was easier on the gas than the AW11 going to plamy.

Easily get 600km/tank in the supra. filled up twice in the AW11 (1.5 tanks) 8)

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:23 pm
by fivebob
At the same HP levels a turbo engine is more efficient, because it makes it's power lower down in the rev range so therefore has more torque. However when you're not using that torque to good effect (e.g. round town driving), then the NA would likely be more efficient, as it can be run leaner without reliability issues.

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:10 pm
by Mr.Phreak
Silent Knight wrote:Soarer compared to Soarer....no.
FI Soarer uses far more gas than N/A whether it be hot or cold.

If that's the case, I feel really sorry for you :D

PostPosted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 8:38 pm
by Bling
MrOizo wrote:my JZA70 supra was easier on the gas than the AW11 going to plamy.

Easily get 600km/tank in the supra. filled up twice in the AW11 (1.5 tanks) 8)


so ya aw11 has same size tank as ya supra? :?

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:04 am
by Silent Knight
Mr.Phreak wrote:
Silent Knight wrote:Soarer compared to Soarer....no.
FI Soarer uses far more gas than N/A whether it be hot or cold.

If that's the case, I feel really sorry for you :D


I was more referring to the Z32 but I guess if we compare mine to yours I'd probably eat more gas either way... :P

PostPosted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:29 am
by barryogen
fivebob wrote:At the same HP levels a turbo engine is more efficient, because it makes it's power lower down in the rev range so therefore has more torque. However when you're not using that torque to good effect (e.g. round town driving), then the NA would likely be more efficient, as it can be run leaner without reliability issues.


yeah, what (s?)he said.

I voted no, but there are conditions like the ones above.
Also, efficiency depends on what you're talking about, as in...

For simply using less gas, no a turbo wont.
For getting more power out of an engine the same size, yes it is.


I could almost guarantee that if you gave an EVO to my dad, and a 1600 NA Mirage to me for a week, doing the same milage, he would use less gas... he is phenominal at saving gas.

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 4:55 pm
by dragon_girl
Hmmm.... So what if turbos aren't fuel efficient... No one gets a turbo if they're looking to save fuel... They get a turbo so they can waste it!! Gotta boost your turbo hard or it's just a waste of fun.... :lol:

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 5:00 pm
by Silent Knight
No No No dragon_gurl you've got it all wrong.

There's a saying which I think will explain why people buy turbo cars which is:

"More Boost More Bitches"

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:08 pm
by dragon_girl
"More Boost More Bitches"


coz yeah, i reall want more bitches oi....

PostPosted: Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:19 pm
by no_8wire
MrOizo wrote:my JZA70 supra was easier on the gas than the AW11 going to plamy.

Easily get 600km/tank in the supra. filled up twice in the AW11 (1.5 tanks) 8)

yeah oh cousre you would! the AW11 has a 41 L tank...with 10L still in when the light goes on!...I would be very surprised if the Supra only had a 60L tank!( 1.5 AW11 tanks)

PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 2:37 pm
by cat007
A turbo straight into the T/B will have an atomizing and swirling effect on the air/fuel which will help with fuel economy and performance.

PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:32 pm
by solitaire
cat007 wrote:A turbo straight into the T/B will have an atomizing and swirling effect on the air/fuel which will help with fuel economy and performance.
:D Dont you start :lol: :D

PostPosted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 5:59 pm
by Adamal
You wouldn't really want the engine warming up too fast anyway, because some parts would warm faster than others which could mean warping and breaking stuff!
The water temp only really gives an idea of how warm the whole engine is in general, and not the individual bits and peices. EG the pistons would probably warm up a lot quicker than the block, and the bores of the block would warm up a lot quicker than the outside of it.
I think its best to warm it slowly, so that everything warms evenly.

Of course, I could be talking out my arse, but thats somewhat of an educated guess.

Re: Turbo cars.... more efficient than NA on short trips?

PostPosted: Wed Apr 16, 2008 11:07 pm
by MrBob
RomanV wrote:Well, would a turbo engine be more efficient, on short trips?
As I would imagine that the extra heat generated by the turbo, which is cooled by athe same water/oil that the engine uses, would help expedite the warming up process.

Is there any truth to this?

*When I have a car, that is.


i dont think this is really a factor, but just for arguments sake, the oil cooler on my turbo car means it takes a fair bit longer then the n/a car to heat up (oil temp). Too many other factors to try and contribute it to the extra heat produced by the turbo, which, unless youre giving it death on a cold engine, I cant imagine makes much difference to the water temp at idle / cold.