Supercharger / Turbo - which is easier to drive in the wet

[ZenArcher]

OK
Supercharger vs Turbo debate aside.

I am wondering which form of forced induction is easier to drive in the wet?

I have heard many times that some turbo MX5's are quite a handfull to control in the wet in certain conditions, tyres brand / suspension / boost levels etc not withstanding.

But haven't really heard much from the supercharged fraternity.

Also, am I wrong in saying that driving a supercharged MX is like having a big 6 cylinder under the bonnet, vs turbo which until on boost feels like a normal MX and then have boost coming on, where all heck breaks loose?

Also - and here is a debate - which form of forced induction is easier on the drivetrain?

I am hunting down parts to go forced induction now. Hence the questions.

[Matty]

I would guess that a turbo's easier, provided you drive at low revs and only hit the accelerator in short bursts (so that it doesn't have time to spool up and hit boost). A supercharger on the other hand will have full torque available as soon as you hit it.

[rhysk]

It is actually a non issue, provided you're sensible and have an LSD.

If I were to choose one, I would take the supercharged, it is very progressive and predictable in throttle response. I have owned both.

[irwin83r]

driving a large turbo around under boost in the wet is like sitting on a bomb.. if your not carefull it will come onto boost and yeah.. all hell breaks loose.

trying to stay under boost isnt as easy as you think. i mean even if you drive the care every day we are all human and will make a stuff up from time to time. if this happens mid corner or on a round about then things might get hairy.

not totaly relevant but afew of my brothers friends in the soarer club have had similar problems with the auto box twin turbos.. little too much throttle on a round about in the wet, it drops back a gear and.. your facing the other way

a better option is to get a boost controler and when its wet or you want to save some petrol wind the boost right down till its pretty much a N/A again

a super chargers power dosnt really have the power band like a turbo so can see how this would be easier to deal with.
but then theres the cow SC or Turbo..

[Garry]

I've only ever dríven one supercharged car, a Cooper S, and that had a bit more go than my car way down in the rev range....like below 2500rpm but then seemed to stop making power at around 4000rpm so like Matty said, it might be a bit of a handful getting off the line, but probably better once you get moving. I'm not sure if it had traction control to smooth everything out though.

My SP is a real handful in the wet. Doesn't matter what tyres you have on it, if you give it enough throttle in the lower gears it will spin up the back wheels. Going sideways trying to move off from the traffic lights isn't really socially acceptable. My car doesn't have an LSD so that could be part of my problem.

A proper modern factory turbo car would be a lot better though as the power comes on a lot smoother and most would be fitted with some form of traction control to limit wheel spin.

[Fatty]

as irwin said some kind of boost controller would surely make this a non issue on a turbo car . for example the jaycar boost controller has 2 boost curves. you could set one up for wet weather with a very low boost that comes on very progressively, and the other for normal dry conditions.

[SuperMazdaKart]

well according to Initial D 4th Stage, a supercharged Trueno had a much easier time in the rain then the twin turboed RX-7 FD.

[Juffa]

While we are on the subject of about boost contollers. While researching in preparation for my turbo install I now have a better understanding how most boost contollers work. On a turbo the maximum boost is controlled by an internal or external wastegate. When the wastegate opens the 'boost' is diverted into the exhaust system, rather than the intake manifold. The point at which the wastegate opens is usually controlled by a wastegate actuator. These have a pre-defined pressure level at which they open. Mine is 9lbs of boost. A boost controller (mine does this) sits between the turbo and the wastegate actuator and fools the actuator into seeing less boost than there actually is. It does this by venting some of the boost prior to the actuator seeing it. This means that a boost controller can only increase the level of boost above the level set by the wastegate actuator. If you have traction issues in the wet, one way to control this (besides throttle control, LSD....and so on) would be to install a wastegae actuator that opens at a lower boost, or adjust your current one if it is adjustable (mine isn't) and then install a boost controller. In normal conditions use the boost controller to raise boost, in wet conditions let the wastegate actuator do the work.

Just my 2.2 cents worth.

J

[sabretooth]

IMHO if you're that ham-footed that you can 'accidentally' floor it and spin the wheels, then perhaps a high-powered car isn't for you.

On a turbo the maximum boost is controlled by an internal or external wastegate. When the wastegate opens the 'boost' is diverted into the exhaust system, rather than the intake manifold.

I thought that it was actually a case of diverting the exhaust gases past the exhaust side of the wheel so that it doesn't spin it up any further.

[ZenArcher]

Not ham footed sabretooth, just wanting to know different people's opinions and asking the question has opened up some very interesting answers to the question.

The big one I think most are eluding to is simple throttle control , but also the question of how the system is tuned also equates to every day driveability in all street/road conditions when not all of us have the MX5 as a \"weekend cruiser/warrior come what ever\" and have it as a daily driver.

keep the comments coming as I think this has turned into a very interesting topic with great answers and discussions.

[Techno]

Having both turbo and supercharged cars I would say that the supercharged one is easier to control.

This is not so much on initial take of ... one can regulate the right foot .... but rather on gear change where the change lands you at a rpm that is making good boost. Any moderate accelleration will see the boost peak in.

Since my turbo mods I get a much harder kick at about 4,500 rpm.

To wheel spin in 4th at 130kph on a wet road with no LSD certainly wakes you up.

I agree with Jeff, an in cabin variable boost controller (swap between 5 and 8psi) would be the way to go if you are a bit \"scaredy pants\" about high boost, wet roads (and add cool moist air).

[Okibi]

I think the stoopercharger would win out because the power is a bit more steady and predicable.

That said you don't need to put in a \"OMG PH33R ME, MY CAR IZ TEH DYNO QUEEN, ALL YOUR TURBO BELONG ME\" huge turbo on an MX-5. You're much better off putting on a tiny well designed turbo that spools up quickly. That way you'd have less lag and more predicable power (than a larger turbo).

[Blue94t]

I had my ~160rwkw MX5 out in the wet last night.
At no time did I have any loss of traction that was not intentional. By limiting the boost on the throttle I could easily run 3 - 5psi and accelerate smoothly without wheelspin.
I could also nail it, let it hit 15psi and wheelspin up the road in 4th if I wanted to.
I don't think it matters whether you go super or turbo charged, Wheelspin is always controlled by the right foot.
Jake

[Boags]

I had my ~160rwkw MX5 out in the wet last night.
At no time did I have any loss of traction that was not intentional. By limiting the boost on the throttle I could easily run 3 - 5psi and accelerate smoothly without wheelspin.
I could also nail it, let it hit 15psi and wheelspin up the road in 4th if I wanted to.
I don't think it matters whether you go super or turbo charged, Wheelspin is always controlled by the right foot.
Jake

^ What Jake said.

Boags

[Blue94t]

Warpspeed,
Sorry mate but it does not depend on anything but the right foot.
If you do not push the throttle the car will not wheelspin.
If you have a big turbo or high boost supercharger you should still be able to drive without wheelspin. If you can't you probably do not have the throttle control required to drive a car with a big turbo/supercharger anyway.


I consider my car a mild/well matched turbo with a GT25 on it, On 15psi it makes heaps more power than any of the supercharger kits/cars I considered before I bought it.

Jake