Engine Turbochargers and Intercoolers. The power output of an automobile engine is directly proportional to the mass of air that can be forced into the volume of the engine's cylinders to react chemically with gasoline. Many cars have a turbocharger, which compresses the air before it enters the engine, giving a greater mass of air per volume. This rapid, essentially adiabatic compression also heats the air. To compress it further, the air then passes through an intercooler in which the air exch

What Is a Turbo and How Does It Work? - Knowledge Guide