What powers a turbocharger?

The turbocharger operates by utilizing the engine's exhaust gases to drive its turbine. When the engine runs, it produces exhaust that is expelled through the exhaust manifold. This exhaust gas enters the turbocharger, where it passes through the turbine section, causing the turbine to spin. This spinning turbine then turns a compressor, which draws in ambient air and compresses it before sending it into the engine's intake manifold.

This process enhances engine performance by increasing the amount of air (and subsequently fuel) that can be combusted, leading to greater power output without significantly increasing engine size. The reliance on exhaust gases makes the turbocharger an efficient way to improve engine performance without the need for additional power sources like coolant or electrical motors.

Other options, such as engine coolant or electrical motors, do not play a role in the operation of a turbocharger, and compressed air tanks are not a standard power source for this type of forced induction. Thus, the mechanism of the turbocharger being driven by engine exhaust gases is the foundational principle of its operation and performance enhancement.