Drivers who opt for cheap copy turbos could pay the price when it comes to performance, as BTN Turbo explains.
A series of independent tests carried out by the Millbrook Group in the UK has shown that some non-original remanufactured and copy turbos can be as much as 40% down on performance, with higher NOx and CO2 emissions, when compared to OE remanufactured units.
The tests compared Garrett’s 100% OE spec Original Remanufactured turbochargers with remanufactured and new turbos from three separate brands, including copy units imported into the UK. The results revealed:
1. Low-end torque with the non-OE turbos was 15% – 40% lower than the 100% OE Garrett Original Remanufactured turbo.
2. NOx emissions from the non-OE turbos were 8% – 28% higher than the 100% OE turbochargers.
3. CO2 emissions from the non-OE turbochargers were nearly 3% greater than the 100% OE turbochargers, increased by 2.0g/km to 4.5g/km.
Non-OE issues
Drivers whose cars are fitted with the nonoriginal replacement turbos that were tested could be frustrated by poor performance, warning lights due to a mismatch with the engine management ECU or MOT failure because of increased emissions.
The results validate the approach taken by German, Spanish and Italian regulations, which can impose penalties on drivers with cars whose parts don’t meet Type Approval regulations. These regulations include turbochargers, because they’re considered as critical to environmental targets. As the
research confirms, using non-genuine aftermarket parts in a turbo could seriously compromise its performance.
How were the tests performed?
Millbrook carried out the tests under strictly controlled laboratory conditions. Two Garrett Original Remanufactured turbochargers were compared with non-OE replacements widely sold in the UK. Of the turbos tested, only the Garrett components were remanufactured using entirely OE parts – a guarantee that they’ll match the original manufacturer’s specifications and tolerances.
Buy peace of mind
“These tests emphatically confirm to us some of the drawbacks that can be associated with using copy turbos,” says Mark Dickinson, Managing Director of BTN Turbo, the UK’s largest independent turbocharger distributors. “Garrett doesn’t supply spare parts for its turbos, so some replacement turbochargers on the market will use non-original parts that may have been produced in factories without the necessary specialised calibration and testing equipment, or are quite simply counterfeits masquerading as the real thing,” he continues.
“Although the attractive pricing can prove a temptation for many motorists, especially those on a budget, these independent tests show that fitting a non-OE turbo can be a false economy, which the motorist pays for in lower efficiency, high fuel consumption, recurring engine management faults or an MOT fail.”
Two year warranty
BTN Turbo keeps over 18,000 turbos in stock for immediate despatch, all of them 100% OE. All the new turbos they sell come directly from the original manufacturers – Garrett, BorgWarner, Holset, Mitsubishi, IHI, Holset and Schwitzer. The remanufactured turbos range are also 100% OE and direct
from the original manufacturers, such as Garrett’s Original Remanufactured range. Both new and remanufactured turbos from BTN Turbo are supported by a two year warranty, demonstrating the company’s confidence in the turbos it supplies.
