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Supercharger vs. turbocharger

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by toyota for life, Oct 11, 2012.

  1. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:30 PM
    #1
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    I have been thinking about throwing a Supercharger in my 2007 toyota tacoma 4x4, I go off roading and mudding, what one is more safe for my engine.
     
  2. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:36 PM
    #2
    jtgroce

    jtgroce Got R Did

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    supercharger is instant power, I would go with it
     
  3. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:36 PM
    #3
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    what is the difference? i know they both suck in air
     
  4. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:43 PM
    #4
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    oh okay, so supercharger ftw
     
  5. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:45 PM
    #5
    paid4c4

    paid4c4 Well-Known Member

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    Turbo charger is driven by expended exhaust and is like free power. Super charger is driven by a belt and is considered parasitic as it takes power to operate it. Both will increase horsepower, for some reason I've always felt/thought turbo charging was harder on an engine than a super charger. I'm those much wiser than myself will chime in.
    Bill
     
  6. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:49 PM
    #6
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    they have the sts turbocharger, but i think a bolt on supercharger would make more sense.
     
  7. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:50 PM
    #7
    jtgroce

    jtgroce Got R Did

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    Just get the TRD supercharger
     
  8. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:52 PM
    #8
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    i was in the 2004 toyota tacoma i had, then said fuck it, and bought a new one haha
     
  9. Oct 11, 2012 at 4:59 PM
    #9
    toyota for life

    toyota for life [OP] Active Member

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    i would if i didnt go off roading a lot and i have 2 waverunners i tow to, so sport car wouldnt do so well, differently thought about it though
     
  10. Oct 11, 2012 at 5:03 PM
    #10
    BradyT88

    BradyT88 Well-Known Member

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    Turbochargers can put down more power because they are capable of pushing more boost, but there are enough mods/upgrades for the 2 S/C's offered on the Tacomas that you can push the factory motors close their limits so the TRD S/C is definitely the easiest and safest way to go.
     
  11. Oct 11, 2012 at 5:08 PM
    #11
    Blygy

    Blygy Well-Known Member

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    for offroading you would want the Supercharger as instant power is preferable over waiting for a turbo to spool up..

    Lag is really the only downside to a turbo system. It is, as stated earlier, free power as it uses the otherwise wasted heat in your exhaust to spin it.

    the are different types of superchargers as well.. a roots style blower will give you more of a midrange power band.

    the centrifugal super chargers (basically a belt driven turbo) is designed more for high RPM.
     
  12. Oct 11, 2012 at 5:17 PM
    #12
    Blygy

    Blygy Well-Known Member

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    Physics says there will always be lag..

    My buddies new Eco-Boost has very noticeable lag still. With direct injection and twin turbos there should be minimal lag but yet there it is..

    Just my 2 cents.
     
  13. Oct 11, 2012 at 8:07 PM
    #13
    yota243

    yota243 Well-Known Member

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    Bw s256 turbo with 3 in glass pack dumped pre axle raptor liner bed and top rails and fenderflares and rocker panels. Hunter side steps. Plasti-dipped upper fenders and emblems. satin black spray paint here and there inside and out. 5100's set to 1.75" up front . C channel front bumper. Maxxis bighorn 255/85/16
    a small turbo will have a lot less lag. if ur just lookin for a couple psi i think a small turbo would do the trick and not have to change the guts out since it wouldn't be pushing it anywhere near 400hp. the way i look at it if ur off road and ur turbo goes out u can still drive home, if ur SC goes out u better have ur pushing gloves. and a little bit of lag will help the traction break that occurs with a SC. I've never drove a gas turbo'd vehicle but i've drove a few diesels, and i kinda like it when the boost kicks in after u get goin its kinda like sprayin NOS... kinda cool IMHO. either will get u results but im a turbo fan.
     
  14. Oct 12, 2012 at 4:43 AM
    #14
    yota243

    yota243 Well-Known Member

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    sorry its a name brand (i'm from AL and we pretty much call everything buy a name brand instead of what it actually is) what i should of said was nitros oxide (NO2)
     
  15. Oct 12, 2012 at 7:36 AM
    #15
    ryanr623

    ryanr623 Well-Known Member

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    Turbo
    -Free power, not parasitic, fed by exhaust
    -Ability to increase boost VERY easily by boost controller install to control wastegate
    -Better fuel economy when driven within reason
    -Easy to increase power with minor mods (downpipe, intake.... anything that eliminates pressure drops)
    -downside is lag, freeing up the exhaust restrictions helps, but it'll always be there.

    SC
    -Mechanically fed by belt, takes HP to run it
    -Instant power
    -Have to change pulleys to change boost and RPM dependant


    I would choose a turbo any day of the week. Have had both. Can't go wrong with either though.
     
  16. Oct 12, 2012 at 7:41 AM
    #16
    Kurdain

    Kurdain Well-Known Member

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    You can get instant power with either option and with today's technology the 'lag' and 'loss' characteristics are pretty much a moot point.

    You can also build any amount of boost you want with either application, so stating that 1 or the other will make more boost is completely false. Put a 1" pulley on the TRD SC and see how much boost you create? :)

    A small turbo will spool instantly at low RPM's, and with variable vane technology and 100 other tech's you can include the turbo will be ready at any time to deliver power. Yes LARGE turbos on small displacement engines do lag, but you are shooting for a different goal with those applications, not a large range of power.

    Same can be said with a SC, you can create more boost but at more loss or cost; and really the same is true with the turbo. Power is NEVER free no matter what you do.

    Energy can not be created nor destroyed, it's a fundamental property of physics.

    Generally I look at it this way. An inline, 'I', engine is basically easier to turbo, you have 1 side for exhaust and 1 side for the intake. Makes routing and intercooling easy. On 'V' type engines you have 2 routes for the exhaust and intake piping (joining in the center), which makes it more involved for either a single or dual turbo set-up so arguably they are easier to supercharge and incorporate it all into the intake plenum.

    In the end..just buy the TRD set-up with a warranty. :)
     
  17. Oct 12, 2012 at 8:14 AM
    #17
    BIG357

    BIG357 Member

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    I know I'm new here but I was at a place this past weekend called Badboy TOYS in virginia, I was there talking about how to get horsepower gains and he said that 05-12 tacomas can get there biggest gains by sending out your computer to a company in california and having it re-flashed, claims there is a 50-96 hp range within the 3.7 & 4.0that can be obtained. I have an 09 but is still under factory warranty which is voided once this procedure is completed. I am not sure if his numbers are correct but I know that I am having JBA put on at the dealership and that the computer is being reflashed to obtain there performance. DOES THIS MAKE SENSE
     
  18. Oct 12, 2012 at 8:32 AM
    #18
    BIG357

    BIG357 Member

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    The company name I believe is Evolutionm and I reasearched a bit and found that there are companies that have obtained software from Toyota TSI. I am not sure about this because once he said voids warranty I was not interested. However I know for sure with my air, exhaust and headers being installed by Toyota they are reflahing themselves. It was the only way I could have headers installed and maintain my warranty.
     
  19. Oct 12, 2012 at 8:35 AM
    #19
    BradyT88

    BradyT88 Well-Known Member

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    Toyota doesnt mess with the ecu when they add parts, except for supercharger of course.
     
  20. Oct 12, 2012 at 8:47 AM
    #20
    BIG357

    BIG357 Member

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    I purchased magnaflow exhaust with catbacks w/dual exits, K&N air & JBA shorty headers myself pd 1300. for install of all, the headers were like 800. of install. I also had a bull bar put on while I was there and that was another 90.00. I hope I didnt get hosed. The mechanic litterally said had to flash for headers was no additional charge on bill for that.
     

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