The engine sucks air in through the air filter, mixes it with fuel and ignites it to produce power. The combustion process creates waste gases which escape through the exhaust system. The turbo takes those gases and spins a turbine that uses them to push more air into the engine, thus creating more power and less emissions. Obviously, it’s important to have a functioning turbo so your truck can get to work and burn fuel to move you down the road. A blown turbo can be devastating to your vehicle’s performance as well as the environment.

A blown or Turbo replacement is no fun to deal with, but there are options for a replacement. New, re-manufactured or rebuilt turbos are available from the aftermarket that offer better than OEM quality at a lower cost. The key is to have the turbo diagnosed properly before you decide which option works best for your situation. A visual inspection can help determine what is wrong with the turbo (the compressor wheel may be rounded off, there might be cracks in the turbine or compressor housing, etc.).

Turbocharged Transformation: The What, Why, and How of Diesel Turbo Replacement

Once the diagnosis is made, removing the old turbo is relatively simple. The air intake tube and charge air cooler tubes can be disconnected and the turbo mouthpiece and oil feed and drain lines can be removed from the turbo. It’s a good idea to have a few containers for small fasteners and to place them in the order they were removed as this will speed up reassembly. It is also a good idea to drain the engine oil and replace it with fresh clean engine oil that is type-appropriate for your truck.