A method and system for remotely monitoring the operation of a multicylinder, turbocharged reciprocating engine includes monitoring one or more operating parameters predictive of the turbocharger's output, and generating a parametric output signal corresponding to the value of the sampled operating parameter. The parametric output signal is transmitted via telemetry to a remote diagnostic center, where actual mass flow is determined with a flow detection system, and then the charge air mass flow is compared with a predetermined flow rate corresponding to the monitored operating parameter, such as turbocharger speed or turbocharger pressure ratio. A condition flag is set if the actual charge air flow rate is less than a predetermined flow rate based upon the parametric output signal.