Turbo Kit FAQ

Let's get right to the point. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet. Finding a source you can trust can be difficult and adding forced induction to your car can be both costly and stressful. That is why we are creating this FAQ to help disseminate knowledge directly from the source.

Myth #1: Superchargers are more reliable than turbochargers.

You've probably heard this a million times, mostly from people who have never installed or lived with either a supercharger or a turbocharger kit. Fact of the matter is, superchargers are mechanically limited. They can only spin so fast, and the power potential of simple bolt on kits are much lower than that of competing turbocharger setups. A lot of people who have issues with their turbo kits are people who decide to turn up the boost beyond what is advisable on a stock motor and transmission. The problem here is in the driver and owner, not in the turbocharger kit itself.

Besides, look at the science of it. When a turbocharger setup puts down 400whp, we can safely guesstimate the actual horsepower created at the motor. With a supercharger, there are uncomputable losses due to parasitic losses. Not only do you lose power to the wheels due to the drivetrain, but the blower itself is eating up valuable horsepower just to spin itself. This means that if we took two cars, both with 400whp (one turbocharger car, one supercharger), the supercharged car is actually exerting more forces on wear items such as your motor's bearings.

Myth #2: The Makspeed turbo kit is a budget kit.

If you've visited one of many internet forums, you've probably heard rumors that our Makspeed Performance Fabrication kit is cheaply made. This simply isn't true. If you teleport back in time to the inception of our 12-15 Civic Si kit, there were many ways in which the potential of the kit was lesser than competitors. But fast forward to today, and we've taken all necessary steps to produce a premium kit without raising our prices. Our competitors have actually continued to lower their prices in an attempt to better align themselves with where we feel kits should be sold at.

Aside from this, no other kit on the market comes standard with a made in America Comp Turbo turbocharger. Many competing kits actually cost more money than ours, while including foreign built turbos. Your turbocharger is the heart of your kit and there is no reason to skimp out on which unit is a part of your build. You've worked hard to afford your build, and you deserve nothing but the best.

Myth #3: The Makspeed turbo kit does not include an IAT sensor conversion.

This is completely false, and it was commonly used as a way to discredit our kit. All new versions of our kit include a welded on OBD1 IAT bung as well as an IAT sensor conversion package.

Myth #4: Your manifold and end tanks are cast, therefore they are not as good as billet alternatives.

While it is true that in an ideal world we could include aesthetically pleasing billet pieces with our kit, they are unnecessary to making power. If any benefit exists, it is not quantifiable. Besides, wouldn't you rather your turbo kit included an American made turbo with an investment cast manifold, versus an aesthetically pleasing (albeit, not visible once installed) billet manifold attached to a foreign turbocharger?

Myth #5: A turbocharger is going to make too much power for me.

This is the beauty of a turbocharger kit. Our kit can make a conservative 330-340whp on base pressure of 7 psi without breaking a sweat. If you decide you want to make 400+whp, simply turn up the boost with a controller. Try having that much control over your power with a supercharged setup.

Disclaimer:

Many Makspeed Performance Fabrication parts, are sold for off-road use only. All performance modifications and installations are at the customers own risk. Makspeed Performance Fabrication or www.mak-speed.com hold no responsibility either implied or otherwise for mechanical, electrical or other failure when using any aftermarket performance products. Items sold for off-road use only are illegal in many states and provinces and are intended for racing vehicles which may never be used on a public road.

By purchasing any aftermarket performance product, the customer takes full responsibility for any use, and/or misuse of the product and agrees that Makspeed Performance Fabrication or www.mak-speed.com holds no responsibility for any consequences, legal, or other, of such use and/or misuse.