1. What is the Surbo used for?
A: The Surbo is for driving fun. It pulls in air more quickly into the engine, to match rapidly increasing fuel pressures during acceleration. The result is that the rpm limit is achieved with just half throttle! Fuel consumption is reduced by 10% on average, and exhaust emissions including CO2 and diesel smoke are lowered.
2. Can the Surbo be fixed for diesel engines?
A: Yes, please refer to diesels regarding advantages of Surbo for diesel vehicles.
3. Can the Surbo be installed for fuel injection engines?
A: Yes, it works for most engines, EFI or carbureted.
4. Can the Surbo be installed in a very old car?
A: Yes, as long as it does not have any major problem and the Surbo installation is airtight. Let us check your engine and replace any broken air tubes around the manifold or engine oil compartment before fixing the Surbo.
5. Is it easy for the Surbo to be fixed?
A: Yes, with our experience, the time taken for Surbo installation is around 1 hour per car.
6. Which parts of my engine will be removed before installing Surbo?
A: The air filter and the main air pipe after it will be taken off first. The Surbo will be installed in a suitable cylindrical section in that, and after that as far as possible, all parts taken off will be reassembled like the original. We will inform you beforehand of the visible changes if any, before starting the job.
7. Will the Surbo replace my air filter?
A: No, the Surbo normally does not replace any original part. It may be inserted in the main air pipe after the air filter, or in the filter box outlet, or inlet, with suitable rubber adaptors.
8. Can the Surbo be installed with an open cone filter?
A: Yes, if there is a pipe section in the air intake and the original oil breather is still connected.
9. Do I have to modify my engine for Surbo installation?
A: No, normally no cutting or mods are necessary for Surbo installation. In most cases it is better to keep it all original as the materials are of better quality, and it may also be easier to fit the Surbo on original equipment. However, if some parts of your engine has been changed by a third party, and there is any rectification necessary, we will inform you before the job commences.
10. Can I install the Surbo myself?
A: Yes, with a guide from us, if there is no Surbo dealer in your area. After that, if you like, you can apply to become a dealer in your area.
11. Can the Surbo be put on a motorcycle?
A: Yes, please refer to Surbo for motorcycles.
12. How can I remove the Surbo?
A: The Surbo is easily removed in ten minutes with simple tools like a screwdriver. You might WhatsApp us at +65 98572661 if you need help doing so.
13. Before servicing, should I remove the Surbo?
A: Usually the Surbo's installation spot is untouched by the mechanic, so you might keep the Surbo there.
14. Will I be able to feel the improvement immediately?
A: Sure! No feel, no sale! With the Surbo, your engine will reach the red line on the rpm meter with half throttle if your car is manual. If your car is automatic, you will get instant acceleration from standstill, higher revs if desired, and easier gear kickdown.
15. Can the Surbo give better performance, and a smooth sail?
A: Yes, click here for examples of better acceleration and higher top speed. The latter means easier cruising.
16. Is there anything else that I have to add to enhance the Surbo's performance?
A: There is probably no need, as the Surbo is able to deliver adequate performance on its own.
17. My car is already modified with added power. Can the Surbo increase the power further?
A: Yes, the Surbo will amplify whatever torque your engine has. Please refer to "The Real Thing".
18. How much acceleration power can the Surbo add?
A: Around 30%. For example, the owner of a 125 bhp Civic ESi (with Surbo) said it overtook his friend's 160bhp Civic VTi, by half a car up to gear 3. This shows that at low gears, the Surbo effectively raises acceleration power by 30% (=160/125). In terms of torque, the Surbo can raise it by up to 18% as shown by the Dynamometer Test. In terms of 0-100 kph timing, a Proton 1.5 EFI takes 8 seconds to 100 kph, down from 11 originally (this result was achieved two times, once by our dealer Ah Tee in Kuala Lumpur and another time by a customer). For top speed, a typical 1.6 litre sedan will reach 220 kph vs 190 in original form, and that is a significant increase in power.
19. Can 2 Surbos be installed in 1 vehicle?
A: Yes, that's called the Twin Surbo, that delivers 10% more torque than the single Surbo in the 2500-3000 rpm band, and thereby an advantage of 5% in fuel saving. This comprises of two aligned Surbos joined together with no more than 1.25 inches of space in between, totalling 11 inches in a straight line only. If you already have one Surbo and are satisfied with it, you can add another to form a Twin if space allows.
20. Does the Surbo require electricity?
A: No, it is worked by engine back pressure from slight closure of the throttle during acceleration.
21. Is there a switch to turn the Surbo on or off?
A: Your right foot is the only control. Please refer to How Surbo Works
22. What principle is the Surbo based on?
A: Please refer to How Surbo Works
23. How does the Surbo force air into the engine, and from where does it get the power?
A: Engine vacuum is initially used to pull air straight through the Surbo during acceleration, until at around 2500 rpm or at half throttle,
the accelerator is released slightly to back pressure the Surbo to produce pressurizing jets, and a vortex. Upon subsequent acceleration on half throttle, the jets and vortex are maintained by the resultant pressure ahead, for added air flow.
The two following pages can also help answer this question.
1. Energy Analysis of Surbo System.
2. How Surbo Works
24. Will the Surbo damage the pistons?
A: No, this page shows that the ultimate pressure in the cylinders is actually lower with Surbo, as half throttle (moderate air compression) already brings the engine to the rpm red line.
25. Can the Surbo damage the engine?
A: No. The engine with Surbo does not have to work as hard as before, as it is aided by the air pressure from the Surbo. The increased torque means that the accelerator does not have to be pressed as much as before, so the fuel injected and heat created in the engine is less, and the likelihood of engine knocking is reduced. Therefore, with the Surbo the engine is likely to have a longer life.
Further reading:
26. Do I need to use 98 octane, or 92/95 octane after Surbo installation?
A: Normally, petrol with octane number (RON) that is too low can't be used in high compression engines, because the petrol under pressure can ignite itself, which can cause a flame coming down at the piston that is still going up. This is called engine knocking and can damage the engine. However, with Surbo, you can use petrol with a lower octane than recommended by the car manufacturer, because the accelerator is often pressed less, resulting in less fuel injected, so the chance of knocking is reduced.
27. Can the ECU override the Surbo? What happens when more air than usual goes into the engine, so that the air-fuel ratio goes up? Isn't there supposed to be a constant air-fuel ratio?
A: During acceleration, the air-fuel ratio is lower than desired, because fuel is pressured by the fuel pump but air is not pressured. Emissions are highest during acceleration, for example, visible black smoke from diesels. The increased air flow from the Surbo compensates for this shortfall of air then, so power, emissions and fuel economy are improved. The Surbo works mainly during acceleration. The fuel input, in the event of excess air from the Surbo, will be managed by the ECU, and it is not our intention to lean out the mixture.
28. Is there a difference if the Surbo is fitted before or after the air filter? If it is fitted before the filter, how is the air going to spin into the engine?
A: The answer is the Surbo is activated by a back pressure from the engine, which is the same whether the position is before or after the air filter. This backward air pressure makes the Surbo jet and pressurize the air at its outlet, and that forms a vortex within the Surbo itself, which increases air suction. The driving feel of a Surbo fitted before or after the air filter cannot be easily differentiated.
Above: video of Volvo XC90 T8 with Surbo, sprinting to 130 kph.
Above: video of Volvo XC90 T8 with Surbo, sprinting to 211 kph.
Above: video of Volvo XC90 T8 with Surbo, sprinting to 224 kph.
Less knock (allows lower octane)
