The blog & portfolio of Matthew J. Rogers

Your engine does not run in reverse. Ever.

July 3, 2008

I realize this is the Internet, but this is a whole new kind of stupid.

Someone over on the CobaltSS.net forums, a web site for car tuning enthusiasts, posted the following:

So we all know that the supercharged engines need the intake bypass valve so they work in reverse. Otherwise the supercharger would just suck all the air out of the cylinder. So knowing that, how does the turbocharged version work in reverse? The engine is trying to suck air backwards, yet the turbo wants to spin forward so I don’t see how it works. Is there some sort of exhausting intake bypass valve on the turbo version? Also, if it does have the valve, does that also mean that it can make boost in reverse? Like how much boost? Like 5 psi or does it go over 20?

Can anyone help me sort this out?

For real entertainment, feel free to read some of the replies on the subsequent 20 pages of comments.

2 comments ›
Posted in Automotive

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2 comments

  • Josh September 5th, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    You know, hearing stuff like that I just want to slap those people in the face. Sure he might not know but do some research before you ask a completely dumb question.

  • Julien September 16th, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Ya know, oddly enough some snowmobile engines do run in reverse! (specifically SkiDoo) It’s a reverse without any gears, works like a charm, engine stops and starts the other way round. However it should be noted that they are 2 strokes, a 4 stroke would never work.

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