Why Do Diesel Engines Use Turbochargers? A turbocharger is an exhaust-driven supercharger (fan or blower) that forces air into the engine under pressure. Turbochargers are frequently used on diesel engines to increase power output. Turbochargers are well suited to operation in diesel engines because the diesel engine is immune to detonation as the fuel is not … [Read more...] about How Turbochargers Increase Diesel Engine Power