Whether you're a professional racer or simply an avid driver who likes to take part in the occasional track day, you'll want to squeeze every last drop of performance you can out of your track car, and installing a turbocharger is one of the most efficient and cost-effective ways to do this. However, the performance of the turbocharger itself can also be improved with the right equipment and accessories, and more and more turbo drivers are turning to turbo blankets to get the most from their upgraded vehicles.

What are turbo blankets?

At first glance, a turbo blanket may appear very similar to a conventional blanket wrapped around the bulk of a turbocharger. However, these blankets are made from much more robust and heat-insulating materials, such as synthetic fabrics, flexible metals and ceramics and even volcanic rock. When attached properly to a turbocharger, the blanket effectively prevents the heat you turbo generates from escaping into your engine bay; this insulation can have a number of benefits that can improve the performance of your vehicle significantly.

What are the benefits of installing a turbo blanket on the turbocharger?

Protection for vital engine bay components

The turbocharger fitted to your average road-going SUV or sedan doesn't generate nearly enough heat to affect the other components within the engine bay -- however, the turbochargers of track cars can generate massive amounts of heat, especially when attached to highly-tuned vehicles or used for long periods during endurance races. As you can imagine, this intense heat can have a deleterious effect on many engine bay components, particularly vulnerable plastic and rubber components such as air hoses and radiator parts.

By installing a turbo blanket, you can effectively protect your more vulnerable engine bay components from the heat generated by your turbo, extending their working lifespans and preventing dangerous failures occurring at speed. They are especially popular for low-budget race cars such as rallycross vehicles, where every component must be preserved for as long as possible to keep running costs down.

Increased performance

Turbo blankets aren't just there to benefit the other components in your engine bay, however, and when properly they can provide small but significant improvements for the turbocharger itself. By keeping the turbo warm during periods of low-intensity driving, they allow the turbo to spool up to full speed more quickly, reducing power lag and the characteristic 'lurching' of a cold turbocharger activating at high revs.

Cheaper and easier to fit than heat shields

Turbo blankets aren't the only way to insulate your turbocharger, and many professional race vehicles are fitted with solid heat shields to protect their engines and keep their turbos hot. However, these heat shields can be remarkably expensive and generally require extensive modifications to be made to the engine bay before they can be fitted. By contrast, turbo blankets can be securely fitted to your turbo in a matter of minutes using simple tools. This also makes removing the blanket easy if you need to quickly access your turbo for inspection or repairs.

Visit a local auto parts shop if you have more questions about turbo blankets or other turbo accessories.

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