Turbocharger Tech Explained

The Holset HX40 turbocharger is one of the most recognized names in medium and heavy-duty diesel performance, and for good reason. Bolted to countless Cummins ISC 8.3L engines, box trucks, RVs, and marine applications, the HX40 built its reputation on a simple, rugged design that keeps making boost long after fancier variable-geometry units grenade themselves.

The Holset HX35 turbocharger is the workhorse that put the 5.9L Cummins on the map. If you own a Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 from the mid-’90s through the early 2000s, chances are there’s an HX35 or its close cousin bolted to the exhaust manifold right now. It’s a fixed-geometry, wastegated turbo built to move

The Holset HE300VG is the variable geometry turbocharger bolted to the 6.7L Cummins in Ram pickups since 2013 and to many medium-duty ISB engines, and if you turn wrenches on Ram 2500/3500 trucks or medium-duty Cummins ISB platforms, you already know it lives and dies by that sliding nozzle assembly. When the variable geometry mechanism

If you run a 6.7L Cummins in a Ram 2500 or 3500, the Holset HE351VE is the variable geometry turbocharger bolted to your exhaust manifold, and when it fails it takes your power, your fuel economy, and sometimes your whole workday with it. This is the turbo Cummins used from 2007.5 through 2012, and it’s

What actually happens when you send a turbocharger to PT Turbo for rebuild? Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough of the process that has been refined over 45 years.

A core exchange program gets you a rebuilt turbo immediately without waiting for a send-in rebuild. Here’s how the process works, what a core charge is, and what to expect.

What boost pressure should your diesel truck be making? Learn the normal ranges for common platforms, what causes low or high boost readings, and when to be concerned.

Facing a failed turbo? Learn the real cost difference between a professional rebuild, a remanufactured unit, and an OEM replacement — and how to choose the right option for your application.

Variable geometry turbochargers use adjustable vanes to control boost across the entire RPM range. Learn how VGT works, how it compares to fixed geometry, and what goes wrong.

If you’ve turned a wrench on a 6.7L Cummins, you already know the HE351VE vs HE300VG debate isn’t academic. These two Holset variable geometry turbos define two distinct generations of the Ram 2500 and 3500, and knowing which one bolts to your engine, how it fails, and what it costs to replace can save you