How not to be disappointed by your turbocharged car’s fuel economy
Turbo charging is rapidly growing, from a niche feature designed to make cars go fast, to mainstream technology for saving fuel. That’s because turbocharging allows an automaker to substitute a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine for a bigger engine, without sacrificing power.
The addition of turbo tech has allowed smaller engines, like 1.2- to 1.4-liter I4s to generate the same power as larger 2.0- and 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engines. And when the additional boost of the turbo is not required, the smaller displacement of these engines delivers far better fuel economy, especially on the city cycle.
In theory, these new power plants offer the best of both worlds, offering at least as much power as a larger engine, but with lower fuel consumption. At least that’s the theory. The real world is another matter. Let’s have a look at a recent example.
Consumer Reports, for example, concluded that downsized, turbocharged engines typically achieve worse mileage than larger engines without turbochargers. In their tests, Ecoboost Ford Fusions using turbocharged, four-cylinder engines burned more fuel than their larger, naturally-aspirated counterparts. Ford is particularly very guilty when it comes to real-world fuel efficiency, and their turbo charged engines do not live up to the promise
What you need to know about owning a turbo
As turbochargers become more common across the board, there are several things you should keep in mind about the technology. Because of the higher operating temperature and pressures of a turbocharged engine, it’s important to keep up with regularly scheduled oil changes, per the manufacturer’s recommendation. A turbocharged engine’s higher heat and pressure can more quickly break down the protective additives in the oil used to protect your engine from premature wear.
Also, turbocharged engines may require the use of more expensive synthetic oil. Again, consult your owner’s manual for the recommended weight and composition of replacement oil. Turbocharged engines also may require (or at least recommend) premium fuel for maximum output and efficiency.
