Installing a turbocharger is a great way to get more power from your vehicle without resorting to a costly new engine. However, not all turbochargers will meet your specific requirements.
You want to choose the right forced-induction device because a turbocharger is pricey and takes time and effort to install in your vehicle. Still, the performance boost is worth the labor and investment, so getting the best turbocharger is crucial.
Factors in Selecting the Most Suitable Turbocharger
When you browse any selection of turbocharger products, you must consider three factors. These are the emission levels, the condition of the turbocharger, and the quantity of the parts in the product.
Turbocharger Emissions Level
Your vehicle must comply with federal and state emission laws that regulate smog, soot, and toxic pollutants. Unfortunately, adding a turbocharger increases the emission levels produced by the engine. If the emission levels rise too much, your vehicle will fail the annual emission tests.
If you’re going to drive your turbocharged vehicle on the road, you must choose a turbocharger that stays within the legal limits for vehicle emission levels.
46-State Legal Turbochargers
These turbochargers minimize the increase in emissions while enabling the engine to generate significantly more power. Not only can you use them in 46 states, but you can also have them shipped to those states.
However, these turbochargers aren’t legal in California, Colorado, New York, and Maine. You can’t install and use the forced-induction devices in those four states. It’s also illegal to get the turbochargers delivered to those states.
Our Top Picks
- aFe 46-60072 Power BladeRunner GT Series Turbocharger
- aFe 46-60222 New Power BladeRunner GT Series Turbocharger
- aFe 46-60100 Power BladeRunner Street Series Turbocharger
- BD Diesel 1045820 New Screamer Stage 1 Series Turbocharger
50-State Legal Turbochargers
These “green” turbochargers meet the stricter emission control standards in California, Colorado, New York, and Maine. They keep emission levels below the limit without sacrificing engine boost.
50-state legal turbochargers are rarer and more expensive than their 46-state counterparts. They use costlier components to control emission levels and boost engine power. However, they’re worth the cost if you wish to drive a turbocharged vehicle on the streets.
Top Picks
Turbocharger Condition
Turbochargers are either new-built or remanufactured. Their condition doesn’t make them superior or inferior to other turbochargers, although it will affect their price tags.
New Turbocharger
New turbochargers come fresh from the manufacturer’s factory. They usually cost more than remanufactured turbochargers because each component is new-built. These turbochargers usually have the most modern components and capabilities, making them well worth their higher cost.
Our Top Picks
- Dorman 667-203 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- Standard TBC524 New Turbocharger
- A1 Cardone 2N-750 New New Series Turbocharger
- Replacement REPS290104 New Turbocharger
- Mahle 286TC25004000 New OE Replacement Turbocharger
Remanufactured Turbocharger
A remanufactured turbocharger is an older forced-induction device modernized to current standards. Older components were removed and replaced with modern counterparts.
While remanufactured turbochargers are older parts, they are not worn-out parts that got repaired for reuse. Instead, these turbochargers sat on shelves, collecting dust, before they returned to their maker for remanufacture.
If the remanufactured turbochargers were used before the modernization, they usually didn’t go through heavy usage. The remanufacturing process removed any worn components and replaced them with new ones. Essentially, remanufactured turbochargers deliver like-new performance using a combination of older and newer parts.
Our Top Picks
- A1 Cardone 2T-855 Remanufactured Reman Series Turbocharger
- Mahle 627TC20002100 Remanufactured Turbocharger
- A1 Cardone 2T-750 Remanufactured Reman Series Turbocharger
- Standard TBC669 Remanufactured Turbocharger
- Motorcraft TC-17-RM Remanufactured Motorcraft OE Replacement Turbocharger
Quantity
Quantity-wise, you can go for an individual turbocharger or choose the one that’s part of a kit.
Individual Turbochargers
As their name indicates, individual turbochargers are the forced-induction devices themselves. They’re offered without other parts, such as gaskets that seal their joints and fasteners that attach them to their mounting spots.
If you only need to replace a faulty turbocharger, you can make do with an individual turbocharger. However, you might have to buy other parts for major repairs that involve parts other than the turbocharger.
Top Picks
- GPD 2511331 Turbocharger
- Replacement Turbocharger, 4 Cyl., 2.8L Engine
- A1 Cardone 2N-848 New New Series Turbocharger
- Dorman 917-160 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- AC Delco 25201066 GM Original Equipment Series Turbocharger
Turbocharger Kits
A turbocharger kit contains additional parts aside from its namesake forced-induction device. These parts can include coolant seal washers, exhaust clamps, exhaust gaskets, hose clamps, installation studs, and O-rings.
Some turbocharger kits also have a gasket kit for easy replacement of bad gaskets. The extra parts enable repairs beyond simply replacing the turbocharger.
Our Top Picks
- Dorman 667-203 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- Dorman 667-218 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- Dorman 667-231 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- Dorman 917-155 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
- Dorman 667-210 New OE Solutions Series Turbocharger
Turbocharger Service Kits
If you’re getting a turbocharger, consider adding a turbocharger service kit to your repertoire of tools and replacement parts.
These kits contain the wear items needed to rebuild a damaged or worn turbocharger with intact internal parts. They allow you to keep the existing turbocharger instead of getting an expensive replacement for the whole assembly.
Turbocharger service kits contain a wide selection of related parts. They include bearings, bolts, collars, o-rings, piston seal rings, shaft nuts, tabs, and thrust bearings.
- A1 Cardone 2N-3042SKT Turbocharger Service Kit
- A1 Cardone 2N-3004SKT Turbocharger Service Kit
- A1 Cardone 2N-3009SKT Turbocharger Service Kit
- Mahle 479TS20176000 Turbocharger Service Kit
- Mahle 479TS20175000 Turbocharger Service Kit
- Mahle 015TS21006100 Turbocharger Service Kit
Keep Reading: Related Posts
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
