This article provides a comparative analysis of unsteady gas dynamics and instantaneous local heat transfer of pulsating flows in the intake and exhaust systems of reciprocating internal combustion engines in the case of a turbo-compressor installed without it and based on the results of experimental studies. Experimental studies were carried out on full-scale laboratory stands under the conditions of gas-dynamic nonstationarity. The article provides an original method for determining the instantaneous values of the local heat transfer coefficient in pipes, and describes the procedure for conducting experiments. It has been established that the presence of a turbo compressor in the gas-air system of a piston engine leads to significant differences in the patterns of changes in the gas-dynamic and heat exchange characteristics of pulsating flows. The obtained new data can be used to improve engineering methods for calculating the quality indicators of gas exchange processes, to refine the working processes of the engine when installing a turbocharger, as well as to develop advanced gas-air ICE systems with turbocharging.