Internal combustion engines continue to be actively used in many industries, including transport and shipbuilding, despite environmental aspects. Therefore, the improvement of the operating cycle and the main systems of diesel engines remains an urgent task in the development of piston engine building. The article made a brief analysis of scientific directions for improving turbocharging and gas exchange systems. The description of the studied engine and features of its turbocharging system is given. The of pilot tests of a diesel engine (18.5/21.5) (produced by the “Ural Diesel Engine Plant”, Russia, Yekaterinburg) for ship and motor transport purposes with two different turbochargers (manufactured by “ABB Turbo Systems”, Switzerland) are presented. The hydraulic characteristics of the considered diesel engine were obtained when working on screw and speed characteristics, as well as its technical and economic indicators. The features of the joint operation of the turbocharging system and the diesel engine are established. Quantitative data on the operational characteristics of a diesel engine in accordance with the industry purpose are presented. Conclusions are drawn about further steps to modernize the pressurization and gas exchange systems.