How to select a turbocharger? Turbocharger OEM and Part numbers

Selecting parts for a turbine or purchasing a turbocharger - is a rather complex task requiring a certain level of professionalism. When ordering, you should focus on the official catalog numbers of the turbine or the vehicle's VIN, and not rely on appearance, because such an approach cannot guarantee compatibility. In this article, we will discuss how to choose a turbine for an engine, considering the main parameters of your engine and the specifics of the car. We will also tell you how to select a turbine as accurately as possible so that the purchase can be made directly, without the intermediary services of a service station.

Identification number options on turbines

Turbochargers, like most auto parts, are manufactured by specialized companies independent of automotive corporations such as BMW, Audi, Toyota, and others. Each manufacturer assigns several unique numbers to their products, which are used for identification by the automotive corporations themselves, while each number performs its function.

On the nameplate of each turbocharger, you can find several designations, but in practice, service stations or official distributors most often use only two numbers.

OEM number when choosing a turbocharger

Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) assign unique numbers to parts to precisely determine their correspondence to specific car models. These numbers help in the identification and selection of spare parts. To clearly understand what an OEM number is, let's provide an example.

The number FW93-6K682-AC refers to a turbocharger for 3.0L SDV6 engines used in JAGUAR XF, XJ, and F-Pace models from 2015 onwards.

Each car manufacturer uses its own numbering system and assigns its own OEM part number. Each OEM number contains an encrypted unique part code. For Mercedes-Benz vehicles, these are typically markings that begin with the letter "A", for example, A2700901880, A4710907180, or A9360907480. Let's break down the code A2700901880: A270 - engine code; 090 - part designation (turbine); 1880 - unique part identifier.

The VAG (Volkswagen AG) group uses coding that looks like 06K145721G or 03N253020B, where: 06K - platform code; 145 or 253 - part type (turbine); 721G - unique part number.

BMW's OEM number has an exclusively numerical format, for example, 1165763448704, 11657823257, or 11652245901.

Using original OEM parts guarantees their full compatibility and compliance with the manufacturer's quality standards. However, the cost of such turbochargers will be at the maximum. Today, the market also offers analog parts manufactured by factories such as TurboCentras, which meet OEM requirements. In this case, turbochargers cost 30-40% less, while their quality always corresponds to the original parts.

Turbocharger Part number: what is it?

A turbine Part Number is a unique identifier that the manufacturer assigns directly, such as Garrett, BorgWarner, IHI, or Mitsubishi. The Part Number format will vary depending on the company.

For example, Garrett numbers often consist of six digits followed by a hyphen and four additional digits or the letter 'S' at the end, such as 454083-0001 or 720244-5004S.

The turbocharger manufacturer IHI assigns its turbines' internal numbers in a format similar to F31CEG-SR004B, which may correspond to several OEM turbocharger numbers used by different automotive corporations. In practice, an IHI turbocharger with the number F31CEG-SR004B is used in Volkswagen, Audi, and Skoda vehicles with 1.2 TSI engines, corresponding to three separate OEM numbers:

• 03F145701H;
• 03F145701K;
• 03F145701R.

However, IHI often does not indicate its internal number identifying the turbine type on the nameplate (highlighted in the photo - 9V202, which is rare). Usually, such numbers are used only by official dealers, such as Wiatreo.pl, authorized services, and OEM manufacturer distributors, while ordinary car owners or mechanics see only the standard OEM number and Part Number.

How and where to buy a new turbocharger: what do auto services offer?

When selecting a turbocharger through a service station, customers often face limited access to information about the removed part. Mechanics do not always provide complete data about the turbine, including its number, which makes it difficult to independently search for replacements or spare parts. This behavior is because auto services receive additional income from selling components. Many service stations do not have their own stores and receive commissions from parts sellers, so they are not interested in providing the customer with serial numbers and other detailed information.

In such cases, auto services most often tell the customer the OEM number - namely, the internal number of the car manufacturer. And, as a rule, searching for parts by these numbers does not yield results because they are internal to the manufacturer's system and not always available in open catalogs. In practice, auto services complicate the task as much as possible for a customer seeking to independently select a turbine or other components for their car's engine.

The Wiatreo online store regularly encounters customers who have had negative experiences in similar situations. For example, one customer provided us with the OEM number of his turbine, by which a corresponding cartridge was selected. However, it turned out that two different turbines from different manufacturers could be installed in his car: Garrett and BorgWarner. As a result, the customer received a part for a Garrett turbine, whereas he had a BorgWarner installed, and the part did not fit.

Before selecting a turbine for an engine, it's important to understand that there are different sellers of turbines and components in the market:

• official auto services - use OEM numbers, which can make it difficult to select parts without access to specific catalogs;
• official distributors and intermediary companies - have broader access to part numbers, using catalogs from both car manufacturers and turbocharger manufacturers.

These numbers are often unavailable to the average buyer since manufacturers and distributors restrict access to their databases. This is done to control service quality and prevent the distribution of counterfeit parts. To avoid such situations, and understand how to choose a turbine for a car, it is recommended to contact specialized sellers (official distributors) such as Wiatreo.pl or TurboCentras, who will help you correctly select a turbocharger for your car, taking into account all nuances and ensuring quality service.

Features of searching for turbines by number in ASO and distributor catalogs

The differences between the ASO (authorized service center) catalog and the turbocharger distributor catalog are related to the features of the data structure and the approach to selecting spare parts.

ASO catalogs are predominantly oriented towards original spare parts that meet the specifications of car manufacturers. They use OEM numbers, which are assigned to each part by the car manufacturer. These numbers are internal to the car manufacturer and reflect the standards of a specific brand. However, the OEM number may not contain detailed information about the turbocharger manufacturer or its parameters. For example, two turbines for one engine may have different internal constructions but a common OEM number.

On the other hand, Turbocharger distributor catalogs are based on data from the turbines' manufacturers, such as Garrett, BorgWarner, IHI, and others. When searching, they use Part numbers and detailed turbine specifications, which include information about dimensions, ball bearing, materials, and compatibility with specific engines. These data are more accurate, especially for selecting repair kits or replacing individual parts.

Specificity of searching for IHI turbochargers

IHI has its own specificity in turbine production. They are widely used in Japanese and some European cars. An important feature is their unique construction: IHI turbines often have a smaller size but high performance. OEM numbers relating to these turbines may be less informative for distributors, as original information about construction and parameters is available only in IHI catalogs.

Incorrect selection of turbine and spare parts: what can be the consequences?

An error in selecting a turbocharger or its components can lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire internal combustion engine system. Even a small discrepancy in construction can cause serious malfunctions. An experienced mechanic at a service station will quickly determine that the parts are selected incorrectly, but if the error is not noticed immediately, it will definitely affect the first start of the engine.

Unsuitable turbines manifest themselves already at the installation stage. The turbocharger may simply not fit in the standard place, the mounts will not match, and the flanges and pipes will be incompatible with the intake and exhaust system. Even if the part can be secured, after starting the engine, the errors will fully manifest themselves.

Situations where it is possible to install an unsuitable turbine are extremely rare, but if this happens, the electronic engine control system (ECU) will immediately issue many errors. In diagnostic codes, you can see:

• Check Engine error - indicates a general system failure;
• MAF (Mass Air Flow Sensor) error - the mass air flow sensor detects a discrepancy in the amount of air supplied;
• MAP (Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor) error - shows problems with pressure in the intake manifold;
• ECU (Electronic Control Unit) error - the engine control unit records violations in the turbine operation and may limit the engine power.

Also, the manner of engine sound and the general behavior of the internal combustion engine system will change:

• the engine demonstrates unstable operation, revs "float" due to inconsistency in the air-fuel mixture;
• incorrect operation of the turbine can lead to oil leakage and intercooler clogging;
• excessive pressure in the system can lead to damage to connecting elements;
• emergency increased wear and overheating of the engine begin due to incorrect regulation of air flows.

Much more often, errors occur with unqualified selection of turbocharger parts. Most often this concerns gaskets and sealing rings, which may be visually similar but do not meet the requirements of working pressure and temperature characteristics. The turbine vacuum actuator must also be selected precisely, as it differs in working pressure and rod travel, which directly affects the boost operation. The exhaust gas recirculation valve (EGR) in almost all cases has different parameters depending on the car model, and its inconsistency can lead to incorrect operation of the recirculation system. That is why Wiatreo always clarifies the turbine number with its customers to avoid errors and guarantee correct selection of components.

How to select a turbocharger if access to the turbine is impossible?

Sometimes car owners face a situation where it is not possible to remove the turbocharger before buying a new one or when the turbine does not have a plate with a number. In such a case, turbine selection is carried out by alternative methods, allowing to determine the exact model and compatible spare parts.

The most reliable way is to use the car's VIN number.

This unique identifier allows determining the factory configuration of the vehicle. For this, you can use specialized services such as exist.ua or partslink24.com. It is enough to search for a turbine by VIN number, and the system will automatically provide the OEM number, which can be used to search for the necessary part.

Selecting a turbocharger by VIN number allows avoiding errors and getting the most accurate recommendations for compatibility. However, in some cases, difficulties may arise, for example, if the car has undergone modifications or tuning. In such situations, it is best to consult specialists to ensure the correct choice. If assistance in selection is required, you can always contact representatives of the Wiatreo online store.

What to do if there are no turbocharger numbers and car VIN?

In case the turbine number is unavailable, our company recommends using a free service such as motoremo.pl. For searching, it is enough to enter data from the car registration card in the appropriate catalog fields. Among them:

• car brand;
• model;
• year of manufacture;
• engine volume and model;
• number of horsepower (HP).

The service will provide the exact turbine number that is compatible with your car's turbocharger, which significantly simplifies the selection of parts in general.

How to select a turbine for an engine in a standard case?

In most cases, for a successful purchase, it is enough to follow a proven algorithm:

1. Find the OEM number on the turbocharger plate, which is usually located on the part housing.
2. Go to wiatreo.pl or turbocentras.com and enter the OEM number or part of it in the search bar.
3. Compare the found product with the characteristics of the original turbine. The parameters of the engine and the type of boost should match in the description of the proposed option.
4. If questions arise, you can always ask for help using the store's contact numbers.

After verification, you can proceed to place the order and install the new part on the vehicle. Now you can drive peacefully without worrying about the turbocharger's functionality. 🚗💨