Will adding a turbo to my car increase my mileage?

Question

Let me elaborate on that question
I really want to turbo a car but nothing big though, a little turbo works for me. But I was wondering what sort of impact it will have on my mileage? Lets say its a little 2.4L $cyl engine, what would a little turbo do to its mileage? Common sense tells me it will decrease in mileage, but, lets say its a small turbo? 
Is it possible, that IF tuned right, it wont have a really nasty affect on my mileage? 
Please provide as many examples as you can :(!! 
Thanks a ton! 
PS: IF you know a thing or two about cold air intakes, can you tell me if they actually provide a gain in HP? Yes I understand that the cold air intake will allow for more dirty air to get into the engine, but anything else?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If the engine is properly set up and tuned it should be able to get a similar mileage. Reason that  most don't is because they are cars that are tuned for higher performance, rather than economy, and people tend to drive them faster, because they can.

There are economical cars fitted with factory turbocharging. Being able to run a smaller lighter engine  allows them to get better economy. The 4 cyl ecoboost Mustang for example. It's lighter so gets better economy than the non turbo 6 or 8 cyl models.

Most cold air intakes are a con. The idea is actually valid. Many older cars just sucked air in from on top of the engine, where it had been warmed by the radiator, exhaust manifold and engine block. Warm air is less dense, so you get less actual oxygen into the engine.

So some bright spark thought, why don't we run a pips down to the front of the engine bay, and suck in some cooler air, and get a couple more HP, for free. In this respect, they do work, and most modern cars actually have factory fitted CAIs. Just they are boring black plastic things, that don't look shiny and "tuned".

But my 97 Corolla had one, as does my 07 Blade. Ripping that out and putting in a shiny chrome one would only be for show. Fitting a poorly designed intake can actually make things worse than factory, and some will LOOSE you a couple of HP.

Anonymous · Answer

deep sigh...

"Love your answer, thanks for trying to help me out, reallly shows the type of person you are"

Sorry, really I am. It's just that this topic gets beat to death over and over and over, there must be better resources on the net that have already put this one to bed.

WRG · Answer

No.

Will adding a turbo to my car increase my mileage?

3 Answers