Buy Or Rebuild? 6.0-Liter Turbochargers With Prosource Diesel

Recently on the Prosource Diesel blog, we saw their latest piece on 6.0-Liter Power Stroke turbochargers and it brought up some great points. I am here to share these points and offer their expertise on whether or not you should buy new or rebuild the turbo on your Power Stroke. ProSource Diesel’s Andrew Sokol points out, “The 6.0-Liter engine is in hundreds of thousands of vehicles so this pertains to a lot of people.”

The turbocharger is really the heart of the 6.0-Liter Power Stroke-powered truck. From acceleration to towing power, having a turbo that is functioning correctly and efficiently is everything. But, if something goes wrong with it, is it better to rebuild or replace it?

Advancements in technology over the years have led to modern turbos that are more powerful, more reliable, and longer-lasting than ever before. New designs in wheels, bearings, shafts, housings, vanes and other components have all contributed to turbos that run more efficiently, while producing greater output than they have in the past.

Despite these advancements, a turbo is still a mechanical component which, no matter how well designed and built, has the potential for malfunction or failure due to damage, wear-and-tear, improper maintenance and other factors. A 6.0-Liter Powerstroke rebuild kit might be the right solution for these kinds of problems.

What Could Go Wrong?

There are a few common issues with 6.0-Liter turbochargers. Clogged vanes, bearing failure, and simply oiling issues. Let’s dive into these a little more.

Clogged Vanes

One of the most impressive aspects of the 6.0L Powerstroke is its Variable Geometry Turbo (VGT) which changes the effective volume of the turbo housing by way of moving internal vanes. When functioning correctly, VGT reduces spool time, improves turbo efficiency, and reliably increases or decreases turbo power.

However, eventually, these vanes can get clogged with soot. In addition, because they’re moving parts, the vanes can simply wear out over time. This can cause serious damage and even failure of your 6.0L Powerstroke turbo. An increase in turbo lag is one symptom of clogged vanes. You may also get a P0299 under-boost trouble code on your dash when the issue gets worse.

Bearing Failure

Bearing failure can result in shrapnel being violently propelled into the turbo assembly. Needless to say, the damage can be extensive. If this happens, turbo failure will be immediately apparent.

Oil Issues

Oil is the lifeblood of your turbo. If there isn’t enough oil, or if it doesn’t circulate properly, increased temperatures due to friction can literally cook the inside of your turbo resulting in total failure. This is often caused by an inefficient factory oil drain tube. While this problem was reduced with changes to engine design in 2006 and 2007 models, keeping an eye on your oil levels and circulation is critical to turbo maintenance in your truck.

Buying A Rebuild Kit Versus New

If you should run into any of the issues described above or any others that cause poor performance or failure of your turbo, you have two options. You can completely replace your turbo, or you can purchase a 6.0L Powerstroke turbo rebuild kit.

While simply buying a turbo may sound easy enough, it may not be as straightforward as it seems. With the growth of the diesel truck market over the years, more and more companies have started producing turbos, and those companies are constantly coming out with new models and versions of those turbos. That can make choosing the right turbo for your truck difficult and confusing.

What’s more, the turbos can be expensive. Depending on the specs, a replacement turbo can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the expense involved with the installation.

However, another option has recently become available. Companies like Spoologic Turbo Systems now offer 6.0L Powerstroke Turbo Rebuild Kits. These kits can solve most turbo issues while saving you hundreds of dollars.

These rebuild kits come in multiple configurations allowing you to buy only those essential parts you want to change, or complete kits with billet wheels, shafts, bearings, rods, and more. In the case of Spoologic rebuild kits, each part is produced to their exact specifications. They don’t buy third-party components. That’s because, as their brand states, data from the lab, the strip, and the street drive the design and manufacture of all Spoologic Turbo Systems components.

Turbo rebuild kits are growing in popularity due to their ease of installation and low cost compared to turbo replacements. In addition, many of these kits are built to give you a boost in performance over OEM specs. Sokol says, “We think these rebuild kits are a great alternative to buying a new turbo.  Based on how popular the kits have become and the great reviews they’re getting, a lot of people seem to agree!”

Closing Thoughts

In my opinion, purchasing a new turbo may be easier but it is simply way more expensive. If it was me, I would buy the rebuild kit and spend the day tearing into it myself and fixing it up. A new turbo is going to be a few thousand dollars and not everyone just has that lying around, you know? If you aren’t able to perform this task, that is a whole other issue.

You’d have to take the truck into a shop and have the turbo removed and replaced which is now two labor bills. If you’re removing the turbo but can’t rebuild it, rebuilding it should be quicker for labor purposes and would inevitably save you money.

You may experience turbo performance issues or failure of your Ford turbo for a number of reasons. Installing a 6.0L Powerstroke Turbo Rebuild Kit is a popular alternative to buying an entire turbo replacement. Check out Spoologic Turbo Rebuild Kits here, along with other diesel truck upgrades that will help you fix – or fix up – your truck.

For more information about your diesel truck needs, be sure and check out the Prosource Diesel website here. Stay tuned to Diesel Army for the latest on tech articles, part reviews, event coverage, and more.

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About the author

Artie Maupin

Artie Maupin is from Southeast Missouri and has an extreme passion for anything diesel. He loves drag racing of all kinds, as well as sled pulling competitions.
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