The no BS guide to Holset turbos. The reasons I use them, and maybe so should you...

[@TurbineResearch]

If someone actually has used a Holset and is not satisfied with it or talks down on it probably has the wrong turbo for the application. Turbos were designed for a specific application and when its used outside of that application it will have tradeoffs like you said. Everyone in the BMW world im in would say a Holset is " an old technology diesel turbo" But like you said there are 100s of variants and getting the right one for your application is the most important part of having a system that works. Also, compressor technology has been about the same for 20+ years. Its only recently that people have figured out that the turbine size and design is the limitation. So really you dont gain much buy getting the latest greatest turbo out on the market. You get the most out of getting a turbo to suit your application and the intended rev range of the engine. I have been following you for years and appreciate your info sharing ! cheers

[@StavTech]

Spot on!

[@RHBTurbochargers]

As a turbo engineer, I can confirm. All turbos make boost.

[@StavTech]

Facts

[@Superb_Owl80]

WAY back in the day, I started a “Holset users unite” thread on Honda-tech, because I believed they were the best and most affordable turbos at the time. I’m glad to see they’re still popular!

[@StavTech]

Haha I think I remember reading that thread! The Holset ones on the DSM forum too, they used to push the absolute shit out of them all the time

[@Superb_Owl80]

@@StavTech hell yeah! I miss those days when forums ruled, and Honda-tech was actually good

[@mcgherkinstudios]

@@StavTechHoLsEtS aRe LaGgY Yeah here’s a 2 litre DSM with a HX35 getting on boost at 3000rpm 😂😂😂😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqqUZGmdia9qoLssi=8Bg_i8U1t3B7p7ay

[@braydonsnell8791]

Stav you're a legend man! Your Holset guide on Stav tech was my bible when it came to sizing a turbo for my TD42 Nissan diesel. Finding out what compressor would be suitable for my hp goal with more left in the tank if i want to turn it up, and then sizing the turbine side to suit the boost level. And your overall knowledge of the brand and how different changes in spec react has been a great learning curve ane I've been able to apply this to a few mates diesel builds with great results Thankyou for sharing this info at no cost, it's been amazing Regards from down under 🇦🇺🤙

[@StavTech]

Thank you 🙏

[@NecromancerGarage]

After watching your videos on Holset turbos for a few years, I'm constantly on the look out for used Holsets on Marketplace. I picked up a HE351W with a 9cm housing (👀) for $100. No shaft play or anything. I'm going to try something goofy with it. It's probably on the small side for this but, I have a 1968 GMC C15 with a 5L V6 engine. They're crazy overbuilt engines and spin at max 3500rpm. So figured, a "diesel" turbo for a diesel like big block V6 engine, maybe it'd be fine. Love your videos on turbos!

[@davidwilkinson4382]

Great video as always. I read your Holset guide a good few years ago when selecting my turbo. I have a he341ve on my OM606, goes like a train and the exhaust brake is useful for long downhills. Can controlled with original controller.

[@Triicks111]

i have a hx35 twinscroll with a 16cm on my 2litre and it comes on so quick - one of the best turbos ive ever used

[@StavTech]

Yeah, I’m running a 16cm HX40 on a 1.8 and it out-spools most peoples far far smaller setups. People should spend more money optimising stuff than mega bucks on a turbo and thinking it’s magic

[@Triicks111]

@@StavTech agreed, unfortunately there's lots of ignorance and snobbery when it comes to turbos

[@xrafaello]

What engine and how fast spool

[@Triicks111]

@@xrafaello 206 gti 180

[@MV-ri7zu]

​​@@StavTech What kind of holset would you run on a 2.5 (stroked 2.3) 16v 940?

[@NavajoandMooney]

I'm a turbo newbie and struggled to find the right sort of guidance without getting too technical and mathsy, but i found your website really helpful, thanks. Just picked up a HX35 with 10cm housing. It's for my 2.1 aircooled drag engine, Hoping to make around 350hp

[@junkyarddawgfixit8970]

Great information here, thanks for that, been running HX35 on my 2.8VR6 for a while now and it spools great with the twin scroll 12cm turbine housing but seemed like the drive pressure was a little high at the top end of the rev range so I scored an HX40 unit with 58mm billet wheel and machined the 12cm 35 housing to fit the bigger turbine wheel and man what a difference, everywhere. Keep Rolling.....

[@StavTech]

Nice, how much boost you running?

[@junkyarddawgfixit8970]

21-24# on pump gas with meth injection Car went 12.3 in the 1/4 mile first time out. Running an off the shelf UM tune, not dialed in yet, but just now scored a 3.2VR out of a Porsche and wanting to do a swap on my Benz, from 2.8VR 12valve.@@StavTech

[@ВиталийГончаров-ж2у]

Thank you, this is the most useful hour of information about holset

[@kenblackmotorsports5441]

I’m definitely gonna save this video to listen to the whole thing. Have a holset myself and a fan of these turbos.

[@woznaldo]

I have an HE200 7cm waiting to go on my R5 GT Turbo. It is a thing of beauty! I cannot wait to get this thing spooling!

[@confused47]

Thanks Stav! A very useful video - though about 3 days too late - thankfully, I already knew (via you) all about Compressor Racing, and have one on its way, based upon their recommendations and expertise!

[@StavTech]

Ah quality, job done then lol

[@danielferraro59]

ah i love these tec vids mate…. you gave me advice on a twin scroll hx35 for my 1987 944turbo and it’s only been tuned to 11psi so far (it’s all forged ect ready to go ) and it is a weapon - when it hits boost its a bloody misile, it need even larger injectors now to get the full potential but it’s bloody mental ,,,, it was very hard work doing all the twin scroll pie cuts on my back with a mig ,…. took a year , but it’s proper mental … i remember the tuner was in shock how much torque in built so low down , he looked at me like WTF ,… i would like badger 5 to tune it for the final time i did call them but them but they never got back to me , but i hope to try them again for the summer when i have larger injectors 🤞 when it was being tuned i was already at 270bhp at 10 psi i’m around the low 300 s at min hoping to go to at least 21-24 then it will be double shot yr pants which i live for 😜😜😜

[@StavTech]

Awesome! I had a feeling what you was building was going to turn out awesome, and sounds like so far it’s spot on! The fact the tuner was impressed says a lot as they usually the most sceptical lol

[@danielferraro59]

yea i had to mention this mate as it proves what your telling everyone ,… he obviously needed to input what mods i was running and when it came to the turbo he said that’s the one a iveco lorry uses you sure it’s gonna work…. i said yes Stav recommended it so i know it will 😂😂😂 been watching you far too long to know your bloody amazing at this stuff , and if it were wrong i would have questioned my work in the rest of the build … it’s bloody awesome mate thanks so much for your help when i needed it … appreciate it allot mate 👌🏼👍🏻👍🏻 Dan Ferraro when we go

[@hshonda2368]

Ive just fitted a hx30 on my 1.6 single cam honda will be sending it off for a map February/March hopefully will just about crack 300bhp. Will report the findings here. Thanks for your all your videos and findings. The main reason (apart from saving money) for using hx30 was to try and get some data. If not will use something bigger.

[@StavTech]

You might just about crack 300, depending on the exact spec of the 30. They spool great but tend to only make 300 or so

[@hshonda2368]

@@StavTech Compressor 44mm. -Turbine 52mm. -Turbine housing 6 cm², T3 (single entry) thats all the specs that where listed i got it from a company in Sweden, i should have opened it up myself and measured really i realise now how vague hx30 or hx35 ect is now. Nevermind can always check after if it doesn't make the power and is replaced lol wont be saving money then though 😅 🤷. Thanks for the reply 👍

[@boostbaby-m4f]

​@@hshonda2368gtx2871r would do that easy.

[@AshGTE]

Great Video! Thank you for your info. I'm using a Holset HX35 with a 10cm housing on my Mercedes OM606. I'm hoping it doesn't make too much smoke and is capable of 350 bhp. The pump can make a lot more than that.

[@StavTech]

Should be fine! If you wanted even faster spool you could always go to the 8cm but I’ve driven them with much bigger than a 10cm 35 and spool was plenty for me

[@AshGTE]

Thanks Stav. I appreciate the feedback.

[@MillersMotors]

I appreciate your page and info on them!! helped me get my little isuzu out of the slow lane

[@Tony7190GR]

I've got 2 hx55's with 19cm rear housings on my ls1, the rear housings cut down like you advised me and I can't wait to see what they do.

[@neonalon]

HY35 on a daily driven Volvo redblock. Spools great (at about 2k rpm), internal WG ported and bigger flapper. Even with low boost it pulls strong. Great turbo, can be found for 150-200€..

[@TenAfterTen]

I have HX35/12 twin scroll on my 1,9L Volvo and I the latwst tune is currently 470hp/590nm on RON98 fuel. I have done 45k kms on this turbo. Ran it without blow-off. Just recently installed GFB valve. I am thinking about next one 40 super 16 perhaps for 550-600hp.

[@StavTech]

Great stuff! My current turbo is a 58mm cast HX40 sixteeen cm and works great so far! I have a 60mm housing and wheel I may install one day soon.

[@TenAfterTen]

@@StavTechI also tried 40/14 Super, but for some reason on dyno it did not make more power than 35. Haven’t taken it apart after the dyno, perhaps something wrong. It should have made more power at the same boost. I think we tried 2+ bar.

[@exvils]

39:25 g are lpg variant, used on diesel engines that run also lpg.. vw t5 was offered with lpg tank, and would improve range and consumption .. typically those engines run 50% diesel 50% lpg (trough intake).. as for cng, where we have shop there is cng pump and city buses go there to tank, but dunno what engines/turbos they run 40:45 i ran hy40v on m40b18 and it spooled very good, it would start spooling as soon as 2000rpm (with few kpa above atmosphere), but boost steadily rise till it hit optimum spot and went to boost target.. plan on running one like hy55v on vr6 in few years, or some compound setup, also only on lpg fuel (long story short, I tuned one lpg e39 528i this year, 1.6B of boost, 500ish hp, egt on lpg was lower than on 100octane.. and 500hp lpg converter cost only 200€, that less then what 6 injectors costs, on gasoline it had more hp at same boost, but I could run more boost on lpg anyway. Spool was also better on lpg, probably due to fuel flow/volume) 41:20 in my compound setup, garret vnt went trough holset vnt, and holset still spools as fast even with damaged turbine wheel.. all I did was bend back holset vnt blades back inside xD 1:03:23 on twinscrolls, you can block one scroll, use it to spool up and then open other scroll.. or keep it shut/welded.. one friend on mine has m52b25, with billet hx35w 16cm, scrolls aren't even so one closer to wastegate is a lot bigger, like 10cm2 and smaller one is like 6cm2, and running it on that one scroll resulted in spool being 1000rpm sooner, with 1bar of boost there is no problem with boost creep and EMAP.

[@bwm999]

Is the HE221 wastegate on the small size? Potential for boost creep etc?

[@mcgherkinstudios]

Great video, although those of us who have perused your article on holsets know a lot of this already it’s good to get it out there. Would be great if you did another video posting a shitload of dyno graphs proving how well Holsets can perform. I’ve read every page of the thread on Driftworks and I’m pretty confident that the performance you get from a correctly sized Holset is brilliant. Based on your recommendation (thanks for the help by the way) I’ve gone with a HY35 9cm for my Volvo, should be absolutely spot on for what I need it for when done. Hopefully I can add myself to that list of happy Holset owners. But… I actually did get mine through that Turbo King, before I read about them, as Compressor Racing was out of stock at the time. It looks decent enough quality, and seems pretty genuine, so I hope I’ve been lucky. It’s definitely not an old turbo that’s been spraypainted or an obvious chinese knockoff. Time will tell, if it turns out to be a dud I can find another at my own leisure.

[@StavTech]

HY35s are great turbos

[@802Garage]

Yep! A really expensive new design turbo improperly specced for the application will perform far worse than a properly sized turbo of any design, even one with really old tech if you wanna call it that. It's kind if like how people want to spend big money on certain brands instead of looking at very affordable Borg Warner SX-E or older series turbos just because they are journal bearing or they think they are only for diesel trucks and rotaries. It's also definitely true there are diminishing returns the more money you spend. If two turbos are the same general sizing, the one with ball bearings, extended tips, anti-surge, and whatever else might be 2-5X the price easily for only 5-20% more performance. It really depends on what you are doing if that's worth it to you and where that added performance shows up in the rev range, and it all matters nought if your turbo is sized incorrectly because then you're just throwing extra money away. Good overview!

[@dinosshed]

Great vid, spot on. The Scandinavian folk run the holset because the trucks are taking off the road well before there's anything wrong with them. It's just some emissions bullshit that sends them to the scrap yard. Means big holset turbos for very little money.

[@TD5rage]

Just when I was beginning to get a grasp on Holsets along comes stav tech with yet more info I wasn’t aware of. I have x2 HX27 and a HX35W 16cm twin scroll, I plan on using one HX27 and the HX35 and compound turbo my diesel. Will it work? I don’t know. Will it destroy my engine? Maybe, but I’m going to have fun trying to find out 👍 Keep up the good work. 👍

[@StavTech]

That sounds a fun plan to me. Compounding is a dark art, but if you get everything worked out it works amazingly well

[@TD5rage]

@@StavTech well if it goes the way I hope it will I will contact you and pop down and see you in it. 👍

[@shanereid5663]

New subscriber, first comment, awesome video, very informative and I’m sold on holset.

[@StavTech]

Thanks!

We really needed this video, those turbos are not easy to understand, a little help, I'm considering buying one form my 3sgte, 9.0.1cp, the goal is 600whp. what would be you choice for best spool where i could use in 2 maps, low boost maybe 1bar and the other killer map?

[@StavTech]

Need a lot more info than that to give any real advice, but sounds like some kind of HX40/HE400 would do the job depending on the rest of your spec

[@allanbeckett1537]

Very interesting video thanks for the insight 👍. When are you going to build a twin turbo 1.8 20v? 😊

[@StavTech]

Twin turbo as in compound? Maybe one day, but compounding is very hard to get correct, most setups end up a let down as it’s not as easy as it seems to get the results you want

[@mariospantouvanos4645]

Thanks for the video stav! What would you recommend for a bmw m42b18 1.8 liter looking for a linear 300 horsepower that wouldn't stress the stock rods too much? My goal is to increase power and torque throughout the rpm band, but keep the peak torque and horsepower at the stock rpm points.

[@exvils]

he221w 7cm.. spools at 3000-3500 with 6cyl exhaust manifold where you cut 2 cyls off, (it was weird, cuz mine 5.5cm he221w on 4afe 1.6 corolla spooled like at 2200-2500) but should work for you.. we ran 1.7bar on stock m42b18, only CR was lowered, if you have stock stock one that was never opened, than 1bar is the limit, 0.6-0.7bar no problem even if you do racing/hillclimbs

[@joshuareihana4562]

Hey what turbo would you recommend for my RB20DET to make around 450\500whp I wanna be the fastest 20det in my region Cheers

[@StavTech]

One of the HE351 8cm from Compressor Racing would be ideal, esp combined with a twin scroll manifold. I used to run one of their 9cm single scroll RS341s on my RB20- [STAV-TECH] Build Thread- My 470bhp RB20DET R32 Skyline GTS kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZeQlKyZm7imZtk

[@dieseldes6578]

I run an Hx30 on a 1.8t leon track car. Lots of cheap fun!

[@enzoUKSC]

How much power you running on what manifold ?

[@dieseldes6578]

It's an eBay cast manifold with T25 flange modified for T3 fitment. It was making 275hp on 1.3 peak 1.1 holding bar. Now with a boost controller it runs 1.4 bar without issues, with a good 300hp. It's happy all day in track with 1.3 bar.

[@royfitzpatrick6837]

Hi Stav love the vids mate very informative , its hard for the normal guy to know what to get that works best together , ive got a 18T audi tt 225 mk1 BAM engine at stage 2 map, FMI,down pipe, inlet pipe etc but looking at maybe going bigger turbo looking for around 500 brake. what would you recommend thanks

[@StavTech]

Need a lot more than just the turbo to go for 500 brake, but from a turbo point of view the 8cm HE351s compressor racing have for sale at moment, esp combined with a twin scroll manifold, would do the job nicely

[@mstrshkbrnnn1999]

Maybe I’m misunderstanding, but I think you are underestimating the hx40. Sinplyvolvo has one on his awd swapped 850 t-5r and it dynoed at 818hp to all 4 wheels

[@mstrshkbrnnn1999]

With that being said, what model would you recommend for me for my 850r? I’m shooting for ~400 wheel hp, but would like some breathing room in case I decide later I wanna turn it up some more. Something usable for a daily driver but that wont choke out at the top either. I was considering an efr 7670, but if I can save money then I’d rather get a holset. Long term goals are to awd swap the car, but as I currently don’t have access to a garage anymore, it’ll be a while til that happens. More simple part swaps that can be done in a day are what I’m limited to right now unfortunately.

[@StavTech]

No standard HX40 would get even close to 818 wheel. And if it is a standard one, this just shows how BS some dynos are

[@StavTech]

Just checked, his HX40 is far from standard, 67/68 wheels, massive, almost HX52 size

[@maddida]

Could u Spec a turbo for a 2.5l v6 high revving

[@alexhayman7262]

I've got a 48ar Turbine, 50 ar compressor on my stock b20 honda crv. This size performs well, but would you recommend a different sizing to optimize 7psi

[@StavTech]

Housing a/r’s don’t mean anything without knowing wheel sizes at least unfortunately

[@alexhayman7262]

@StavTech compressor is 50mm. Turbine is 56mm

[@mareczekubity5559]

Thanks for the video Stavros! Been interested in them for a while but I am still confused with the choice. I am looking for something for my Volvo b230 build what would give me 350-400 ponies with the best spool possible. I was looking in to he221 but seems to small for achieving 400hp, any suggestions?

[@StavTech]

Too small for a 2.3 even at 350 unless it’s a very efficient one, and a B230 isn’t. The billet HE351 8cm Compressor Racing have at moment like we’ve fitted to the VR6 is idea for a 2.3 looking for a quick spooling but not overly stressed 400 horse

[@mareczekubity5559]

@@StavTech thank you man!

[@badbug911]

would love to get compressor map info.

[@StavTech]

Holset don’t release it publicly, but it’s not that important anyhow imo, most the worlds fastest cars run turbos with no compressor maps, because it’s not a big factor really

[@badbug911]

@@StavTech Ok. do you know of anyone running a holset hx40/50 turbo i want to put one on a 2.2ltr aircooled engine also who would be a good source to buy this turbo.

[@kj-un5lx]

Was it mark by any chance the pulsar guy you was on about. Tbh on most cars those pulsars very rarely make the power they claim.

[@StavTech]

Don’t think so, can’t remember the name

[@bantan1985]

this is why i fuck with you STAV 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣REALLLLLL GENARALLLLLL ...SHUT DOWN KING

[@StavTech]

Reeeeeeeeeal badman 🔊

[@bantan1985]

@@StavTech yhhhhh ya know 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👊🏾

[@ealoken]

What turbo would you use on a 2.5 07k for 650-700 hp target, crank. Pumpgas. HX40?

[@StavTech]

HX52 at that level.

[@jonathonwilliams93]

Question for you Stav! I want to run a twinscroll holset he351 on my 1.8t which has a single scroll sidewinder manifold. I keep getting told that it'll melt the divider on the turbine side, fuck the turbo up so on so forth. Is there any truth to any of this? I would have thought no but I'm unsure as so many people have spouted thr same thing.

[@StavTech]

No. Not unless your EGTs are fucked up high. Smooth the divider so it’s not a flat surface though

[@jonathonwilliams93]

​@StavTech I thought as much Steve, thanks for the information mate you're a star

[@gafrers]

Quality explanation as always.

[@xrafaello]

Hi I. Have 2,0 16v with 12cm how fast have boost? Pass ar63 on gt30 ?

[@StavTech]

People have seen 25psi by 3500rpm on 2ltr 16v with 12cm and twin scroll manifold

[@Bodgednboosted]

What’s happening with the HE200VG?

[@StavTech]

What you mean? Far as I know they have it for sale

[@Bodgednboosted]

@@StavTech I haven’t watched yet so I may have gotten my wires crossed. One of them looks like a variable geometry. And I thought they were yours b

[@petio123]

Hi Stav, Long time follower of your FB page and Insta. I've seen your website guide before but I figured I'd ask here. I have a supra runinng a 1JZ with a HX35, I think it's a 12cm housing. I do often get the usual "why do you have a truck turbo" from people, that I should buy a Pulsar etc, but I like it and I like how cheap it is. I would like a bit more power out of this, I saw the HX35/40 is an option. Is there anyone you recommend anyone that can do this to my HX35? Cheers

[@StavTech]

Where are you now with it power and boost wise? There defo no more in it? Plenty of places can do that, though to be fair I don’t know any I trust in the UK. My choice would be Kent Barnes at Turbocharger Services in the USA, he does Holsets better than anyone I know and did my hybrid CT26 for me, and a few friends turbos. You can find him on Insta and Facebook etc

[@petio123]

@@StavTech Thank you for the fast reply! It's supposedly around high 400s according to the previous owner, 550cc injectors and 1.3 bar boost. Admittedly I've never had it dynoed. Thats nice I will look into it, is he fairly reasonable on price (sub 1k)? Thanks again

[@km6832]

Now holset gonna get more expensive, you giving away the secrets

[@StavTech]

Nah no way, it’s no secret, just people choose to ignore facts. And the main advantage is value, so if got expensive it would kill it lol

[@craazyy22]

I feel the biggest issue with selecting turbo is that there is very little data avaialbe online to propperly compare them to each other. Sure you can read specs like how big cetan parts are. But it doesn't really tell how well they truely do against each other. As there is missing cross-data you can really only compare a brand to itself by it's specs. I really wish we had a guy testing all turbos on different engines to compare them. But so far i haven't found anyone doing that. Probably because it would be insanely expensive.

[@StavTech]

There’s data everywhere from people using them. That’s the only worthwhile data there is, only Garrett and Borg publicly post comp maps, but that doesn’t stop anyone as they tell such a small part of the story they’re not that important

[@superjesus4307]

Have an HE200VG on my Mercedes, best turbo ever.

[@lb9gta307]

It's funny you thought they were Scandinavian due to seeing them used heavily there because I always assumed they were American due to me seeing them used on American builds. I have an HE351CW sitting on a shelf that I pulled off of a Dodge Ram 2500. It was next to free because it was being scrapped due to the waste gate actuator leaking boost.

[@J.F.K.O]

kinda fun i thought they were swedish back in the days for the same reasons

[@carloseduardorochadealvare7379]

Muito bom! Abraços do Brasil.

[@szymontrojanowski7565]

Proper AN line for oil return for holset should be at least AN16

[@moskavado]

Only problem is they have no anti surge

[@StavTech]

What doesn’t? Almost all Holsets do, can literally see it them in this video

[@Benharcombe]

Awesome info and great story with the tuner chap funny thing is 90% of folk younget than you read all your tech stuff in the mags waaay back he saw your name and knew he fucked up 🙌😆 I use most your myth busting vids with wollys that pretend to know what they saying

[@StavTech]

He was proper going off on one, was crazy. And literally not seen him post once since despite 50+ times in the space of a few hours then

[@BigRed-MWA]

This guy loves the sound of his own voice.. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@StavTech]

You love the sound of men’s balls slapping against your ass cheeks