Abstract The concept of external fired micro gas turbine (EFMGT) using biomass fuels is getting more attention in the last two decades. However, most of the studies were conducted using computer simulation to evaluate the EFMGT systems with a lack of experimental studies. A small scale EFMGT was developed using a vehicular turbocharger as a micro gas turbine. Different micro turbine startup methods were experimentally investigated with maximum turbine inlet temperature and pressure of about 694 °C and 2.1 bar, respectively. The difficulties experienced during the turbocharger engine startup process are reported in this paper. Driving the turbocharger shaft from the compressor side using the air flow hydraulic power was not a sufficient method for the EFMGT unlike the directly fired turbine. The only proven turbine startup method for the EFMGT is the mechanically driven turbine shaft.