Supercharger = <3 <3 <3

Wanted to do a quick review of the TRD Supercharger. I think there are still a few out there to be had so if you're on the fence, hopefully this will help.

To begin, I started researching the supercharger even before I bought the truck two years ago. For some background, I needed my truck to be a bit of a do-all.

- Daily driver
- Occasional camping and off-roading
- Towing my boat

I fixed the trucks sagging problem by adding air bags. It towed my 22' Whaler pretty well but it was just lacking a bit on the power. Particularly after I put on slightly larger/heavier tires (265/75/16).

I also felt like the truck, while being decently quick, really had to be pushed and flogged around to get it to move. Just cruising on the highway required the peddle to be deep into the floor and the transmission would always be hunting for 4th on mild grades (not towing).

So, I decided I would get a supercharger in next year and then Toyota announced that they were discontinuing their Supercharger programs...DOH! I called a few dealers for some quotes and went back and forth about a week and finally decided to bite the bullet. What influenced me the most was that I really like the truck and do not plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. I'm not crazy about the "3rd Gen" at all, so I felt okay with spending the money.

Anyway, it seemed like destiny because when I called my local dealer back he price matched a cheaper dealer near me and most important, he had a blower and fit kit in stock and could do the install the next day. Things don't usually work out like that! I've had the supercharger now for about two weeks.



CONS:

Supercharger noise at idle: One thing that I did not read or hear about during research was the noise that the super charger makes at idle while you're in gear. It's a knocking rattling noise, and from the inside of the car it almost sounds like a diesel engine. The noise is normal and is stated as such on the little TRD pamphlet that comes with the kit. I'm getting used to it but I don't like the sound.

Stickers: Yes, I said stickers. I got three sets of stickers. One set of nice TRD stickers, and two sets of "Supercharged" stickers, both look like they came out of a 1990's grocery store sticker / gumball machine. Really, really bad IMO.

Transmission shift points: Mostly in first gear, it shifts really quickly into second. Was always the case, but its more noticeable now. I wish the truck had the old ECT button that raised the shift points. Sometimes, say from a stop and turning left or right, I want to hold first through the turn and into the straight. The only way to do that without putting the gear selector into first is to accelerate hard.

The truck is quick enough now that it would be really fun to drive with a good manual trans.

Staying out of boost: Not the trucks fault, but it's hard to stay out of it. Not literally, it's just fun to go fast and hear the supercharger.


PROS:

Power / Driveability: The truck is just so much nicer to drive, especially on the freeway. Again, it doesn't hunt for gears and there is lots of low end torque. Pretty much all the local uphill grades on the freeway I can do now locked in 5th going 60-65.

Fun: It's NOT a sports car. But for me, at least the way I have my truck setup, it is still semi fun to drive at a quick clip (for a truck). The three primary cars I've driven before this was an E36 M3, a 350Z, and an S2000. So it's not like the only thing I can compare it to is a Buid LeSabre or some such.

Towing: I've only towed a very short distance, but there is no denying the truck will tow better now. I have more torque in a lighter truck than the first gen Tundra. There are two other tow vehicles I've used to tow my boat (friends trucks). One is a late model year 1st gen Tundra and the other is an early 2000's Z71 Tahoe. Both of course towed a little better (power wise) than the Taco, I'm interested to find out how it will be on an extended trip.

Towing Update 9/1/2015:

I’ve towed the boat twice now (to the same place) – 60 miles one way. My overall impression is that it tows easier (as one would expect lol). The difference is on par with the everyday driving changes in that it doesn’t hunt for gears as much and is generally able to do things one gear higher than before. Grades that required 3rd gear previously can be done in 4th, 2nd gear in 3rd, etc.

Acceleration getting on the freeway is also improved. Just a general all around better driving experience, just as it is without towing. I will say that the Supercharger is in boost a lot of the time, so if there is any downside it would be the noise.

I averaged about 11.5mpg on both trips which included about half open freeway (65mph) and half on 2lane freeway (45-50 mpg).

Thinking back to how it towed with the Tundra and Tahoe – I don’t really recall any one of them being substantially better or worse (power wise). The Tundra was the full size double cab and I think it has a lot of extra weight – I do remember it feeling very solid. But I could feel the boat back there with all three.

Unfortunately I don't know what the setup weighs. I would guess around 5,500lbs. The boat is a Boston Whaler Outrage 22 with a bit of an over built galvanized trailer.






Gas: Would not really consider it a pro or a con I guess. So far I've not really noticed much of a difference and that is on one and a half tanks of fuel, in which I've been in boost a lot. I honestly feel like I get better mileage on the freeway and maybe slightly less in stop and go traffic.

I don't really care about the premium fuel cost. I calculated the fuel I've burned since I owned the truck (just over 2 years) and the difference would have been about $400.00.


Short Term Conclusions:

So is it worth it? For me I would say yes, for you it may not be. It all depends on what you need out of the truck and what you expect to gain out of the supercharger. If you are realistic with your expectations I think you will be happy.

- It will not turn your truck into a sports car
- It will not turn your truck into a drag racer
- It will not knock you into your seat and break your neck (you do get pushed back into it a little through
- It will not turn your truck into a diesel tow monster


I'll report back as I tow more...but by that time it might be too late to get your hands on one.

 

Well now I want one...

If you don't mind me asking how much did you pay out the door?

 

WOAH!!! They're discontinuing the supercharger program?!?!?! why???

 

There's 100 threads on that over 3 weeks now.

 

Well I have been MIA for the past 3 weeks..

 

Quick catch up: supercharger program is done as of June 1 or July 1, no more units are being manufactured so remaining inventories of superchargers and fit kits are getting more expensive and are selling, very very quickly.

If you want one and can find one, now is the time. Prepare to pay.

 

So here I was saving up for one, to only find out that they won't make them anymore... Bad luck Brian award will prob end up going to me this year.

 

Make sure to check that your innercooler coolant level is proper and that it flows and flows in the proper direction.

Buddy had his SC installed on his truck by the dealer when he bought it new. They botched the install and i caught it 30k miles later.... the system never had any coolant and the pump didnt have the fuse for it to run (thankfully)

 

The reservoir has fluid in it....the coolant level for the radiator was a little low when I picked it up so I had them top that off. How do I confirm its flowing and in the proper direction?

How did he run it for 30k and not mess anything up? The pump never ran but it was fine? Just hot air?

 

fluid should be pulled from the bottom of the res. The instructions that came with the SC (which they should of given you) have the routing etc. Easy to tell flow by opening the cap and turning the ignition on (motor shouldnt need to be running) you will hear the pump.

And the motor just got a hotter air charge for that time. Had the fuse been in the fuse holder for the pump... the pump would of died for sure.

 

+1 for that old ECT button!!! Always left that thing on lol

 

Is that a issue mainly with the Auto tranny? Hoping my 6 sp man will not do that has bad! Anyone with the 6sp care to chime in? Counting on the 6 sp being much funnier to drive then with the auto..

 

Great review. I'm sitting at the dealer right now awaiting the reflash for my computer. I do have to say that this morning I gave it some juice from a dead stop initially on accident and the truck took off like a bullet. I can't wait to actually get into and use boost on it. Not to mention get up my highway grades without burying my foot into it!

 

5700 OTD.

Naw, it's the noise of the supercharger.

 

I found that it took a while for the ECU to learn. It definitely pulls stronger now then when I first got it from the dealer.

 

I have little to no noise at idle. I've heard from other S/C owners, and this isn't from personal experience, that the metal spring coupler can move a bit and cause a rattle. I'm not sure if that's what you are hearing but at idle my truck sounds only slightly nosier than a stock Tacoma and nothing like a diesel.

The S/C whir does throw off some people though when you put the hammer down. I love it personally.

 

My truck sounds nothing like that lol. I could see the coupler definitely causing that racket. Some guys switch there's out for a plastic one that is much smoother/quieter.

 

You know what it reminds me of. Dead serious the sound is equal to that of the AC clutch engaging.

 

Yeah I heard it does take some mileage to adapt to the blower but onceit is you are basically set go!