Engine Performance: System: Turbocharger: Operation: Notes

With the 1.8L turbo, air is drawn through an air inlet duct, into the compressor, then forced into the plenum chamber, throttle body, and intake manifold. On 3.8L turbo, air is drawn through the air inlet duct, throttle body, and into the compressor, then forced through a plenum chamber into the intake manifold.

As engine load increases and throttle is opened, a denser air charge flows into combustion chambers. As this mixture is burned, a greater volume of hot exhaust gas enters exhaust system. This gas is directed into turbocharger turbine housing.

Some energy contained in exhaust gas is used to increase speed of the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel is connected by a shaft to the compressor wheel. As compressor wheel spins faster, it compresses the incoming air/fuel mixture and forces a denser charge into combustion chambers. Higher power output is the result.