Can you Turbo an Automatic Car?
How does a turbo work? Or What is a turbo? It’s a unique device used to increase output power. Turbocharger technology makes installing the device on any car.
The car’s engine takes in air and fuel from the atmosphere and then compresses it in a cylinder before igniting it with spark plugs to get power. The fuel/air mixture is compressed, which raises its temperature.
Can you Turbo an automatic car? Yes, you can add a turbo to an automatic car. The turbocharger would help the car to increase its performance and power.
The hotter it gets, the more molecules are excited and pushed into motion; power results when these molecules hit the piston and move it forward, and your car moves.
This reaction creates exhaust gases that create force by pushing down the piston head, making the engine move. Heat is required for this process to happen.
In simple words, the Turbo uses the compressed air delivered to the car’s engine to increase the pressure with fuel. This enables the vehicle to burn fuel quickly, giving you more power and better efficiency.
Table of Contents
- Can you add a turbo to an automatic car? This is what you need
- Pros and cons of turbocharger
- How Much Does It Cost To Install A Turbo In An Automatic Car?
Can you add a turbo to an automatic car? This is what you need
You can add a turbocharger to an automatic car by following these steps: Get the necessary components a compressor, intercooler, turbine, get an exhaust system upgrade if you need one to feed more air into the system.
A turbocharger is a turbine that compresses air to improve engine efficiency. A turbo compressor does not increase power, but it can allow an engine to produce more torque while using less fuel for the same performance level.
Also, get the actual Turbo and make sure all of these parts are compatible with your vehicle. You also might need upgraded fuel systems like larger injectors or even a fueling chip for your computer.
If you are thinking of doing any upgrades, look online to see what others have done in the past and how they’ve done it. Also, find out if companies sell these parts or build turbo kits.
- Turbine: Make sure that you buy a small turbine to increase the performance. It is the part that spins in the compressor wheel and supplies the power needed.
- Compressor: It has compressor wheels connected with other parts such as the turbine etc. The gases sent from the turbine are compressed here. Buy the best compressor in the market to have the best efficiency of the car.
- An intercooler is a device that handles the heat produced by the waste gases. It is an essential component as excessive heat inside the engine can damage it.
- The Turbo: Now comes buying the actual Turbo to install it in your car. The Turbo you buy must be lightweight and prevent oil leaks inside the vehicle.
Pros and cons of turbocharger
Pros
The advantages of a turbocharger include: Turbo lag is reduced, throttle response time is increased, increased power to weight ratios are achieved, and high altitudes are no longer a problem for engines.
By compressing air, there is less lag in power to the vehicle. This allows for more torque at lower RPMs. The gains in horsepower are due to the amount of air pushed through an engine. In a naturally aspirated engine, the air pushed into it does not have enough power to get it through.
This extra power allows more air to be pumped into the engine in a turbocharged engine, increasing horsepower.
Cons
The turbocharger is directly connected to the intake manifold and will cause engine damage if it fails due to incorrect installation. It also requires more attention because of its central location on the drive train.
Overall installing a turbo is a smart and safe option for your automatic cars. This is because the driver thrives on increasing their car performance’s output, and hence turbocharging can give that to you.
A word to the wise, don’t exceed factory horsepower limits. The engine will not be able to handle it and will fail prematurely.
Don’t even think about turbo-ing an automatic if your car is not equipped with a factory computer chip; the vehicle does not know how to work with the additional power increase, so all of your time and money will be wasted.
Please do some research about turbo-ing your auto before you start working on it. Before adding extra parts, know-how turbocharging works and what you’re getting into.
Engine Diary
How Much Does It Cost To Install A Turbo In An Automatic Car?

A turbocharger, or Turbo, is a device that forces air into the engine, increasing power. Unless you have an automatic transmission, installing a turbo will cost about $1,000 in your car.
To install a turbo in a manual transmission car, a mechanic will need to remove the exhaust manifold from the engine and weld it in an adapter to allow the Turbo to fit.
A few other modifications may be required depending on your vehicle’s exact needs. In total, installation should take between four and eight hours.
The manual is very detailed with pictures, so it is easy to follow and understand what you are doing. Installing a turbo on an automatic transmission car is similar but takes less time because fewer parts need to be removed and modified.
For those that are not confident in their mechanical skills, you can take the car to a mechanic and pay them to install it for you.
You will spend more money, but your vehicle will be done correctly, and you won’t have to worry about making mistakes. For many people, installing the Turbo themselves is a fun project that they enjoy doing as a hobby.
The installation cost will depend on where you live and what specific parts you need to install. If you purchase all of the parts yourself, the total cost should be $1,000 and $1,500.
However, if you search for deals or ask for discounts on certain parts, then your total could be much lower than this. But if you want a high-end turbo in your car, then the cost can get high as $10,000.