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jdemaris
03-06-2004 06:37:30
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Re: Anyone ever added a turbo to a tractor? in reply to Hound, 03-05-2004 18:24:55
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You could get into trouble if installing it on a gas engine. It will effective raise the compression ratio, that's why turbos used to be called "altitude compensators." Many gas engines, if factory equipped with a turbo, have lower compression pistons installed then a non-turbo engine. So, these turbocharged engines - when compared to a non-turbo - tend to have less horsepower at low speed, but more at high speeds. The over high compression problems that occur are due to detonation. In modern engines that have electronic engine management, detonation is monitored and computer controlled, so it's not a big issue anymore. With a diesel, the story is a little different. Detonation is not a problem, since the Rudolph Diesel principle is that of "detonation ignition." But, as stated by others, the fuel delivery needs to be increased to benefit. Also, you'll be squeezing more horsepower out of the engine and creating more heat. So, often a better cooling system is needed to compensate, and some engines aren't built heavy/durable enough to handle the extra power. E.g., some engines use conventional square-cut piston rings for naturally aspirated engines, but with turbos they used Keystone rings. As far as lubrication goes, the turbo needs to be tapped into engine full-pressure lubrication. Some applications allow for lubrication even after the engine is shut down. That's because, if you shut off a turbo'd engine, especially if it's running fast, the turbo spins for a long time after the engine stops - so the turbo can burn out from lack of lube. We had some turbos burn out on brand new tractors just from trucking them. Put the tractor on a truck, go down the highway at 70 m.p.h., and the wind blows down the exhaust pipe and spins the turbo and ruins it. That's why the exhaust pipe on a turbo'd engine needs some sort of protection or cover when the machine is being trucked.
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