Turbocharger Basics - Choosing The Right Turbo

If you're really looking to...        read full caption If you're really looking to step up, High Tech Turbo offers such niceties as this internally wastegated stainless steel exhaust housing. Not only does it look great, it can also withstand 2,000-degree EGTs.

If you're on a budget, you...        read full caption If you're on a budget, you can get a compressor housing upgrade such as this one we acquired from High Tech Turbo for our own 5.9L-powered Project Rust Bucket. A new compressor housing and impeller increased the compressor-side inducer by a whopping 20 percent--from 50 mm to 60 mm.

Due to the V-nature of the...        read full caption Due to the V-nature of the Duramax and Power Stroke engines, turbochargers for these models are often a bit more expensive because they require a turbo pedestal and other associated hardware. Pictured here is a K-series turbocharger from Wide Open performance that can help 7.3L Power Strokes make in excess of 500 hp.

Note: All numbers diesel fuel only *= denotes a compound setup

Since many diesel owners shoot for a certain power level with their rigs, we've included this handy-dandy chart as a guideline to choosing the correct turbo. There are many factors that contribute to how a turbocharger will react, including gearing, weight, torque converter stall speed, and engine speed, as well as driving style. If you expect a quick spool-up and good street manners, go smaller rather than larger on the chart. If you want to spin the engine faster and are looking for power at the sacrifice of some drivability, go larger rather than smaller. And finally, if you're towing all the time or looking for lots of horsepower, nothing beats a set of twin turbos.