A turbocharger is a great way to make an engine more efficient and provides a pretty significant performance boost when compared to natural aspiration. The idea behind a turbo for 5.9 Cummins is pretty simple. Exhaust gasses are routed through a turbine, which runs a compressor. This compressor forces a significant amount of air into the engine, which allows more fuel to be burned and increases engine power as a result. +Read more
Unfortunately, turbochargers have a limited service life, and eventually, you’ll either need to consider a 5.9 Cummins turbo replacement or extend the component’s lifespan by refurbishing it with a 5.9 Cummins turbo rebuild kit. Choosing the latter option is the cheapest, but most labor-intensive fix for a failing Cummins 5.9 turbo. The rebuild kit should contain everything you need to get a turbo for 5.9 Cummins 24 valve running like new once you’ve disassembled it, cleaned it out, and replaced the old parts with the ones from the kit.
If you’re opting for a replacement instead, then a 5.9 Cummins turbo upgrade may be something to consider. Upgrading and replacing the turbocharger requires the same amount of work, and a Cummins turbo upgrade can have a major impact on your vehicle’s performance and efficiency. So it might make sense to opt for a better aftermarket turbocharger.
The price difference may not be that significant, and the impact on your truck could be huge. You also don’t need to wait for an old turbocharger to fail before you perform a 24V Cummins turbo upgrade either. So if you want a notable performance increase right away, it could be a simple way to give your truck a significant boost.