Turbocharged car or horse?

I've noticed that today, most mid to large petrol cars now have turbo assistance for better fuel economy. I need such a car to replace my Mondeo, but would I encounter problems with an annual mileage of about 6000, consisting mainly of low-speed, five mile trips? Should I just buy a horse instead?

Asked on 22 September 2012 by AH, via email

Answered by Honest John

You're mixing problems with diesel DPFs with problems with turbos. Actually, because the turbos in petrol engined cars run hotter than in diesels they have to be water-cooled by the engine coolant. This turns the turbo into a heat exchanger which heats the engine and the passenger compartment faster, so petrol turbos offer an advantage rather than a disadvantage for relatively short runs.

Tags: fuel economy low mileage petrol engines turbo engines

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