Modifications: Turbos and intercoolers

Advice on the best upgrades.

Turbocharged engines have become an expected standard for many vehicles, particularly diesels. Consequently, the interest in modifying the turbo and its ancillaries to increase performance has created a large and varied market of specialists and manufacturers.

As with all forms of performance modifications, the more you want, the more you will need to change – and, as a general rule, the more money you will need to spend. A good starting point is to fit a performance air filter, upgrade the boost pipes and, if the actuator is adjustable, turn up the boost a little. If you want still more performance, depending on what’s already fitted, it may be possible to increase the boost through a remap or by fitting a bleed valve. A larger turbo will also help. And it’s essential to cool the air that’s forced into the engine, because the colder it is, the greater its density, which means a greater amount of oxygen for combustion.

The sky appears to be the limit as to how far you go with turbo mods. Most reach a point where they realise that engine preservation is a must, so a full rebuild with uprated internals is the next stage.