Turbocharger System: Turbocharger: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different variant/trim than selected.

The turbine housing collects exhaust gases from the engine and directs it to the turbine wheel. The turbine wheel converts exhaust energy into shaft power to drive the compressor. The compressor wheel pumps air into the compressor housing. The compressor housing collects compressed air and directs it to the engine.

Turbocharger speed, and thus boost, is regulated with a wastegate that bypasses exhaust around the turbine. The wastegate is actuated by air pressure controlled by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with the wastegate solenoid. The wastegate is held in the opened (bypass) position by an internal spring.

The Turbocharger Surge Valve is used to vent the boost pressure trapped between the turbocharger and throttle body when the throttle plate is closed suddenly.

If the engine is switched off when the temperature of the coolant is above a given threshold, the PCM activates the turbocharger cooling electric pump to continue coolant flow through the turbine even with engine off, thus allowing it to cool and protect the turbocharger.