Super charger review

I just purchased a 2015 Tacoma TRD Pro and had a super charger installed on it and thought I would give a short review for people think about installing one. I am 47 years old and don't like vehicles as loud as I use when I was younger so I was worried about the super charger being to loud.

First these Tacoma 4.0 engine are not quiet to start with and second if you have the TRD exhaust they are defiantly not quiet.

If you are noise conscious I would install TRD exhaust or something equivalent before installing a super charger to see if you like the noise.

The super charger does make a loud whine above 2,000 rpms when you are lightly accelerating or accelerating hard. The smooth constant power it makes all the way through the rpm range make it worth the whine that it produces. You use the whine to gauge if you are on the gas to much for regular driving to conserve gas mileage.

Would I buy the super charger again? I have 150 miles on the super charger and yes I would spend the money again on the super charger. The smooth power that it produces is worth it to me. These trucks should come with a V8 to give it the power that it deserves.

Again I want to stress, replace your exhaust first to make sure you are ok with extra noise.

I hope this helps with someone trying to decide if they want a super charger on there truck or not.

There is a video on You Tube showing a guy doing some regular driving with his super charger, the noise is very close to what you will here, but not quite as bad as the video. I don't know what kind of mic he was using or where it was located at in the vehicle. The sound is close, but not 100 % accurate.

Yes it did come with the tow package before people start to ask.

 

Awesome! If I fall into some additional money, then I am getting one.

 

I don't follow you when you say "Change your exhaust first to see if you like the sound" Seems to me you would want to try the stock exhaust first, to see if you can tolerate the supercharger noises. Then if you don't like the supercharger sound, you can attempt to drown it out with a performance exhaust.

Thanks for the review, I've been thinking about getting one myself, but don't know if I could live with the constant whine or not. But I'm also not hating the stock power the 4.0L makes either.

 

I have both and I can go all day and really not notice the TRD exhaust or whine from S/C. Really only hear on a hard roll or F/T. I was a little worried about the noise becoming annoying before install based on some of the things I read and videos seen. I don't think the cost benefit is there, but it sure is fun to have.

 

Thanks for the review. I hope to install one on my pro next year. Did the dealership flash your ecu? Did they give you any issues with the install? Did you add install anything else with it (i.e. stealth pulley)?

 

Towing with the stock power on the 4.0 is a problem. It's adequate, but let's say you're towing in Utah where the speed limit is 80mph. Here you are with 236hp/270 torque trying to make a grade floored in second gear and barely holding 50mph, got the 4-ways on and people are flying up on you fast and jockeying for position to pass you. Not good.

Tacoma needs a V8, or something more than the 4.0 as the top engine instead of a $5000 supercharger.

 

It is expensive horsepower for sure, but the good thing is, I guess...is that it is warrantied. Adding a turbo, or nitrous, or modifying the engine internals; or even an engine swap would immediately void a warranty, so the supercharger is the way to go until Toyota decides to either put a V8 in the truck or a higher performing V6. I doubt Toyota would offer a V8 in a Tacoma, since that is where the Tundra comes in.

I've had my supercharger install for about two weeks, and all I can say is that if you stay out of the throttle and drive around "normally", it's hard to discern whether you actually have one or not, LOL. It's when you accelerate moderately or full throttle that the whining noise increases. If I have my stereo volume cranked -up...it's even less noticeable.

What is definitely noticeable is the horsepower/torque increase.

What would be nice is a normally-aspirated V6 that puts out the same figures.

The new Colorados and Canyons V6 deliver 305 horsepower, yet the torque figures are similar to the Toyota's V6. The Tacoma's V6 in stock configuration isn't far away from head-to-head competition with the GM products.

Maybe Toyota could tweak the existing power-plant by increasing compression ratio, revised cam timing or simply going to DI.

 

I agree. I'm going to hold off with the SC and use the $5K to get into another truck. I'll wait and see what the 2016 Taco offers before deciding.

 

The SC gets less noisy after a few thousand miles. It's not w/o whine but not as prevalent.

I have the standard exhaust. I don't plan at adding any type of exhaust as I prefer not to have the drone. I'm also 46 and over the noise.

Get the supercharger. It's awesome.

 

TRD with Supercharger...excellent choice. I have the TRD supercharger and TRD exhaust on my '10 and am very happy with it. During my test drive the whine was very noticeable, but I largely don't even notice it anymore. I also drive fairly conservatively though.

 

Yes they did the reflash.

No problems with the install, they have done them before.

Anyone adding a Supercharger, make sure they check your ECU first to make sure they can flash it. I guess sometime they flash is not compatible with some ECUs, I assume newer trucks.

Did not go with the stealth pulley, I am looking for longevity out of my engine. I dont believe by adding 1-2 psi of boost and not reflashing the computer for the increase is the best thing to do. I know I can change fuel pumps and monkey around with a URDs MAF Computer, but I would rather spend my time driving and not fiddling with problems and check engine lights.

 

I’ve got a 2013 4.0 auto Baja. I currently live in Ohio (flat) and don’t have any problems with power on the highway. However, when we head south to Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, and other places with hills the truck often downshifts from 5th to 4th to maintain highway speeds up hill. I am considering the SC because of this. We plan to buy some land in the Blue Ridge Mountains soon, so hills will be part of my future. Does the SC help the truck hold a gear without constantly hunting for a lower gear like I’m pulling a trailer?

 

I have had the supercharger on mine for 40,000 miles (had it installed with 10,000). Most days, you can't tell it has the supercharger on it. I have the standard exhaust and it is very quiet. I haven't had to do anything to the truck except for fluid changes. I am starting to get the itch for more speed and I think this spring I will be doing the fuel pump, smaller pulley and I have some headers ready to go on.

 

Saving for a supercharger and really appreciate the great feedback. Thanks!

 

Is it required or advisable to add the tow-package oil cooler or trans cooler if adding a SC? How about the bigger alternator because of the SC cooling pump?

 

I have a 2015 TRD OR and am thinking about the S/C.

If you don't mind, how much did the unit and dealer install cost?

 

Now I can't wait, I have a 2015 DC PRO 6 speed which will be delivered in March. My dealer already has the TC on hand, ready to install.
This is the second time I read this string of posts, I am stoked.
I will be using my Taco as a daily driver and to haul a couple of BMW boxers.
Thanks for the insight Guys.

 

Thanks for the review. I've been interested in the Super Charger just because of the lack of power in the stock configuration but I have been hesitant because of the idea that I might be adding more noise. I had the TRD Exhaust on my other truck and absolutely hated it. The noise is loud, but not good. It sounded like a muffler going bad...

It's very good to know the SC can be installed with the stock exhaust. I'm positive that's the route I'd go if I had the cash to do so.

 

Thanks for the review, I just wish Toyota would have released an installed supercharged version of the Tacoma instead of paying extra for the installation.
Great review.

 

U 6 speed guys will want to swap ur clutches FIRST