BorgWarner K31 Turbocharger: MAN, Mercedes-Benz & Volvo Penta Application Guide

The BorgWarner K31 turbocharger is a large fixed geometry turbo from the K-series that BorgWarner inherited from the German maker KKK. It is a European heavy-engine turbo: MAN truck, marine and generator engines, the Mercedes-Benz OM501LA in the Actros, Volvo Penta marine engines and others. This guide covers what the K31 fits, how to match the right version, how it fails and what a replacement or rebuild costs.

One correction first: the K31 is not the Volvo D13 or Mack MP8 turbo, and it is not a variable geometry turbo. Those truck engines use Holset turbochargers. If that is what you are working on, see our Volvo D13 turbocharger guide or the Volvo D12 turbocharger guide.

What the BorgWarner K31 Turbocharger Fits

The K31 was built in dozens of versions, each with its own housings, wheel trims and part number, so the number on the tag is what matters. These are the engines PT Turbo’s K31 listings are for.

Engine	Typical use	K31 part numbers
MAN D2842, D2848, D2862 (V8 and V12)	Marine engines and generator sets	53319886707, 53319886721, 53319886908
MAN D0836 and D2876	Trucks and marine	53319886701, 53319887507
MAN E3262 (gas engine)	Power generation	53319886729
Mercedes-Benz OM501LA	Actros trucks	53319886911, 53319887147
Volvo Penta TAMD74P and D9	Marine	53319986719, 53319987130
DAF XE280C	Trucks	53319887146
MTU 6R183	Rail	53319886904

The full list, with CHRA cartridges, is on the BorgWarner K31 model page. Many of these engines are V8s and V12s that carry two turbos, one per bank, and the left and right units can have different part numbers. Check both tags.

How the K31 Is Built

The K31 is a conventional turbocharger: a radial turbine and compressor on one shaft, running in oil-fed journal bearings, with no moving vanes. Boost is set by how the turbine housing and wheels are matched to the engine, and some versions add a wastegate. In BorgWarner’s K-series the number tracks size, so the K31 sits above the K27 and K29. It is sized for large engines, from 7-liter sixes to V8s and V12s that share their air between two turbos.

That simplicity is the K31’s strength. There is no vane mechanism to seize and no electronic actuator to calibrate. What it asks for is clean oil, clean air and a sound exhaust manifold. For the basics, see the turbocharger overview.

Common K31 Failure Symptoms

Symptom	Likely cause	Check first
Low power, black smoke, high exhaust temperature	Boost leak, dirty air filter or charge cooler, worn turbo	Charge air system for leaks and restriction
Blue smoke, oil in the charge piping	Worn bearings and seals, restricted oil drain, high crankcase pressure	Shaft play, drain line, crankcase breather
Whine, rumble or grinding	Bearing wear, wheel rub, or imbalance from a damaged wheel	Both wheels for contact marks and blade damage
One bank of a V engine running hotter or smokier than the other	One of the two turbos failing	Compare boost and shaft play side to side

On marine and generator engines, add two causes to the usual list: salt-laden air attacking the compressor side, and long hours at steady load with oil that is past its change interval. Our pages on shaft play and turbo oil leaks walk through the checks.

Replacement and Rebuild Options

Option	Price	Best for
New BorgWarner K31	$881 to $3,084 (24 listings) at PT Turbo	A direct replacement by part number
Rebuild your own turbo	From $575 at PT Turbo (price list)	A unit with sound housings and wheels, or a version that is hard to source new

Price ranges in this article are general estimates to help with budgeting, not PT Turbo quotes. Our current prices are on each product listing, and our rebuild prices are on the turbo rebuild price list.

A rebuild makes particular sense on the K31, because some versions are slow to source. Our turbocharger rebuild service is a mail-in service: we inspect the turbo and confirm the price before any work starts, VSR balance every rebuild, and back it with a 12-month unlimited-mileage warranty. Turnaround is 3 to 5 business days after inspection. PT Turbo has been in the turbocharger business since 1978 and stocks both new and remanufactured turbochargers.

When the new or rebuilt turbo goes on, change the oil and filter, replace or clean the oil feed and drain lines, clean the charge air cooler if the old unit passed oil or metal, and prime the turbo with clean oil before the first start. On a twin-turbo engine, look hard at the second turbo too: it has done the same hours on the same oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engines use the BorgWarner K31 turbocharger?

PT Turbo lists K31 turbos for MAN engines (D0836, D2842, D2848, D2862, D2876 and the E3262 gas engine), the Mercedes-Benz OM501LA, Volvo Penta marine engines, DAF and MTU. It is not the Volvo D13 or Mack MP8 turbo.

Is the BorgWarner K31 a variable geometry turbo?

No. The K31 is a fixed geometry turbocharger with journal bearings. Some versions have a wastegate; none has moving vanes.

Can a BorgWarner K31 be rebuilt?

Yes, when the housings and wheels are sound. A rebuild renews the bearings and seals and balances the rotating assembly. Rebuild prices are on PT Turbo’s price list, and the price is confirmed after inspection, before any work starts.

Further reading: Learn more about BorgWarner.