3 Ways You Can Fix Diesel Engine Turbo Lag

Posted on September 14 2021

3 Ways You Can Fix Diesel Engine Turbo Lag

3 Ways You Can Fix Diesel Engine Turbo Lag

“Turbo lag” is a term that describes the time in a turbocharged engine between mashing the throttle and experiencing the rush from the torque. This lag comes from the time it takes for the engine to produce the right amount of exhaust pressure to spin the turbo and send compressed intake air into the engine.

All diesel truck owners should explore the three ways you can fix diesel engine turbo lag. The advice in this article will give you new ideas for approaching age-old problems. Hopefully, you’ll walk away with some practical advice for the next time you have issues with diesel engine turbo lags. At the very least, you’ll learn more about how your engine functions and the ways it can malfunction.

Use Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide can cure your turbo lag problems like magic. Just a shot of nitrous can make cylinder pressure go crazy. That energy then moves out of the exhaust, which spools a turbo in no time. A nitrous system can eliminate spooling times by about a factor of four. However, you must be careful with this technique. An air/fuel ratio that’s incorrect for extra oxygen during spooling will backfire and damage the entire engine.

Add a Wastegate

Some turbos have tinier exhaust housings that spool the turbo faster. One of the three ways you can fix diesel engine turbo lag is to add an exhaust wastegate. This will bleed off the extra exhaust pressure when the engine is at a high rpm. The change is relatively easy because a turbo frame typically contains three or four engine exhaust housings. As you look for ways to fix your turbo lag, explore the many diesel performance products that may help you.

Narrow the Powerband

Turbochargers offer the most value when they supplement an engine that has constant airflow. That’s why owning a narrow powerband will reduce turbo lag. Multispeed transmissions and larger displacement engines maintain turbo lags at a minimum because the turbocharger always operates close to its peak power-producing range.

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