Supercharger FAQ

Can't find much basic info on superchargers so starting a thread:

1) What is the hp and ftlb benefit?

2) What type of gas mileage do you get?

3) Does is it shorten the engine life?

4) What is required to add one? For example can I bolt a supercharger to my stock 2002 196k 3.4? Or should I rebuild first?

5) Is resale better?

6) Does it increase your tow capacity?

7) How different or noticible is the increased power over stock?

 

I don't have a SC but I have been reading about them on various sites. Here are my non-expert answers:

1. Depends on the pulley size. Minimum benefits seem to be in the 'hood of 20%.

2. Depends how you drive. If you use the SC, really use it, mpgs will drop. A light foot sees minimal drop.

3. It puts additional stress on the engine but these engines (2.4, 2.7, 3.4) were designed to handle it. So yes. And no.

4. It's bolt on. Depending on the boost, you may need to change to a higher flow fuel pump and tune the ECU with a piggyback little black box.

5. Sure, I guess. And if the prospective buyer doesn't want it, you could always return to stock and sell it here.

6. No. It increases your pulling power but does nothing for your stopping ability.

7. I've read that it feels awesome.

I hope that helps.

 

1.) The TRD 2nd gen supercharger (black one) for the 1st gen Tacomas (3.4l) gives you a 65 horsepower gain and about 50lbs of torque if I'm not mistaken. This is all in it's stock form. If you upgrade to a smaller pulley and add the 7th injector kit you can start to see even more gains.

2.) I have a stock supercharger setup (no upgrades) and I average 18mpg, probably about 50/50 city and highway driving. Highway only, I get close to 20mpg. That number would probably be a little better if I wasn't rolling on E rated tires (suckers are really heavy).

3.) That's entirely dependent on how you drive it. If you're constantly pushing redline and going open throttle all over town, you'll likely be doing your engine a huge disservice over time. But that would be true even if you aren't supercharged. The whole fear over reliability with superchargers stems from the fact that once people have one, they feel inclined to push their engine to its limits to see what it's capable of. That's risky with or without a blower, so if longevity is a primary concern I would just be sure to take it easy and only punch it on occasion.

4.) No need to rebuild your motor to add the supercharger. Again, if you drive normally with it on then it won't do anything to harm your engine. Plus, 200k miles isn't too high for a 3.4l that's been well-maintained.

5.) Resale is subjective, I bought my truck with the supercharger on it from a Toyota dealership and it had no effect on the pricing. Private sale though, I imagine you could get more money for it if you had the right buyer. Most people like the idea of them, but there are those that think they're too risky.

6.) No, I mean it will help your engine to perform better while towing but it doesn't do anything to increase the tow capacity of the other parts of your truck (frame, brakes, suspension, etc.).

7.) Very noticeable increase in power over stock. You aren't going to win any drag races against Porches or anything but it does feel faster, much more torquey...especially from a stop. I like the supercharger best when on the freeway, drop it into 4th and awayyyyyyyyyy you go

 

Great info! Thanks @mrfish27 and @eonbeon.

I'm very interested in the increase in ft / tq for towing. Not for pulling outside what it's rated for but to be able to tow my travel trailer with ease up 11,000 ft Colorado mountain passes. I don't want a bigger truck or newer Taco.

Anyone out there towing with a supercharger? Any advice or insights?

 

I had one on my 2001 Xtra Cab with a 5 speed manual transmission and no mods.

I also installed one on my 2003 auto transmission with heavy mods.

The 5 speed was better geared for the SC and it ran just fine without mods. The only problem I had was trying to speed shift the 5-speed slush box. For what it was it did put a smile on my face.

The auto was a different animal, bigger injectors, fuel pump, piggy back ECU, lower temp thermostat, smaller pulley, valve-body upgrade, aftermarket exhaust. All of the mods did impact reliability. It was finicky, hard starts, rough idle and pinging/ detonation. But on a cool morning at lower elevations...man did it pull hard when mashing the skinny pedal.

As far as resale value, expect to take a loss just like any other aftermarket parts.

Towing will be just fine as long as you keep the overdrive off. If not expect heavy pinging and watch the gas needle drop as you will always be in boost.

I was averaging around 17-19 mpg on both trucks with grandma style driving. But when towing it dropped down to 10-12 mpg.

RJM

 

Has anyone done a step by step guide how to install and tune a supercharger?

I searched, maybe I'm missing it.

 

What about fuel. Don't you have to run higher octane fuel if you have a SC?

 

I'm running a gen II Black case supercharger on my 2002 2.7 4 cylinder double cab with only 55k miles and I really like the throttle response and added power . It's like having a 3.4 V6 with 2 less cylinders

I'm currently running at 4.5 psi boost but have a reflashed computer , pink injectors and have used a 8 lbs pulley with no problems

I do also have a K&N CAI , Doug Thorley TRI Y Header and cat back all of those aftermarket parts compliment the supercharger . I've been averaging low to mid 17mpg and that's with my foot hard on the loud pedal

As for fuel I'm running 91 octane and have noticed I'm down on power somewhat in the hot 115deg desert summer temps but when it's colder like low 70's it's a totally different animal

 

Are the headers and K&N CAI smog legal? I know CA is the worst when it comes to smog rules

 

All aftermarket parts on my truck are all CARB EO# D 245 - 14 California state legal

 

A CAI won't do you any good. Maybe sound but it's been proven the stock air box is better NA and F/I

 

On a Supercharged motor a CAI set up is beneficial as the more air you can get in then out of the motor will make more hp . Even adding a header to a Supercharged set up and you can get more air in / out of the motor which is free hp

Yes on a NA motor it's a waste of money but not on a forced induction setup such as a supercharger

 

If a "CAI" has any effect on performance whatsoever, it would be on a supercharged engine. Even still, I don't think it would be worth the cost. Headers on the other hand, most definitely.

Yes, you should run at least 91 octane with a supercharger. 93 if you can get it (some states do). There's a gas station near where I work that sells 110 octane racing fuel, but at $10/gallon I'm not willing to see how well it works with my supercharger...

 

I had a cai and went back to a stock box...cai does nothing...

 

Boosted or NA ???

 

Boost

 

The whole idea behind "cold" air intakes is sort of a gimmick anyway, just because they aren't inhibited by the stock airbox doesn't mean they're pulling colder air. Still comes from the engine bay (warm air). If anything, they might pull a little bit more air but that can be achieved with a drop-in K&N air filter. No need to spend hundreds on a 'CAI'.
If you really want to see gains with your supercharger, get performance headers. Superchargers force more air in, better headers help let more air out. That right there is a beneficial relationship.

 

If you wrap the intake tube with heat barrier reflective sleeving you can drop air intake temps up to 20 deg cooler than ambient air temps . I can see in your pics you used a aluminum intake tube ,that actually increases intake air temps as it will heat soak . This is why the black plastic intake tube is more popular as it reflects heat better

 

I'm looking at drilling a 4" hole into my cowl and picking up cold air from the cowl vent screen below the windshield

 

Just connect some tubing from your air box into your truck's cab....blast the AC and there go, instant cold air intake! haha


There was a pic on here somewhere of a guy that did that, I don't know if it was for real or as a joke but it was pretty funny.