Superchargers offer a few advantages over turbochargers.
- The biggest advantage of having a supercharger is the increased horsepower.
- Attach a supercharger to an otherwise normal car or truck, and it will behave like a vehicle with a larger, more powerful engine.
- Superchargers do not suffer lag -- a term used to describe how much time passes between the driver depressing the gas pedal and the engine's response.
- Superchargers have no lag time because they are driven directly by the crankshaft.
- Certain superchargers are more efficient at lower RPM, while others are more efficient at higher RPM.
- Centrifugal superchargers, which become more efficient as the impeller spins faster, provide more power at higher RPM.
The biggest disadvantage of superchargers is also their defining characteristic: Because the crankshaft drives them, they must steal some of the engine's horsepower.
- A supercharger can consume as much as 20 percent of an engine's total power output. But because a supercharger can generate as much as 46 percent additional horsepower, most think the trade-off is worth it.
- Supercharging puts an added strain on the engine, which needs to be strong to handle the extra boost and bigger explosions. Most manufacturers account for this by specifying heavy-duty components when they design an engine intended for supercharged use. This makes the vehicle more expensive.
- Superchargers also cost more to maintain, and most manufacturers suggest high-octane premium-grade gas.
Despite their disadvantages, superchargers are still the most cost-effective way to increase horsepower. Superchargers can result in power increases of 50 to 100 percent, making them great for racing, towing heavy loads or just adding excitement to the typical driving experience
