automotive

"Maximum Boost" is very readable, covers most aspects of turbo charging, and contains many simple-to-follow rules of do and don't regarding turbos and turbo installations. It is oriented at the less technical reader, and contains little theory - So far so good. Sadly, the book also contains a lot of misleading and simply incorrect information; I would estimate that about 50% of the technical recommendations in the book are wrong. The 'hard and fast' rules are particularly to be avoided - my own car, an average 80's turbo car, violates quite a few of them, in it's unmodified form. As an example, it is the author's opinion that water injection is 'worthless'. Anyone with any experience with turbos can appreciate just how ludicrous this claim really is.

Despite it's downfalls, the book does cover most topics, and explains some difficulties in turbo installations. The recommendations for selecting kits are quite good. If you don't know anything about turbos, this book might be good to show the broad picture. If you want high quality technical information, look elsewhere ("Turbochargers" by Hugh MacInnes would be a good start).

Danny Halamish

For years I have heard about turbos and what they do. People often have suggestions about what to do if you have a turbocharged engine, or if you're planning to turbocharge a N/A engine. What alot of them cannot tell you is why you should or shouldn't do these things.

'Maximum Boost' gives these reasons and also exposes some of the false logics that you may have heard. It didn't just teach me about turbos, but a whole lot about modern engines in general.

At the end of the day, I feel alot more confident about designing a turbocharger system to fulfill my personal needs in a safe and reliable manner.

The only thing I would have added to this book (probably in one short chapter), is some more information on diesel engines. But for now I am satisfied.

Bottom line: If you are into high-performance autos, get this book. Get Maximum Boost.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in turbocharging, both factory turbo cars and aftermarket kits on non turbo cars. It covers pretty much every aspect of turbocharging from manifold design, to turbo selection to fueling. I feel having read this book has better equipped me to work with turbochargers.