Magnuson Super Charger advice

So after getting a new frame and associated goodies I wanted to treat myself to a supercharger.
My Mechanic at my Toyota dealer suggested that I keep my money as the super charger will not give me the power gains to justify the cost. Magnuson told me that I would have to run premium gas and get rid of my K&N CAI to avoid pinging.

Dang it, I just want one... Is a supercharger worth it?

 

You do have to run minimum 91 grade octane fuel with a supercharger, or else you get the dreaded pre-detonation sound "pinging" which can harm your motor over time. Plus it will generally run like crap with anything lower.

CAI's are pointless with or without a supercharger but I don't think it would have any effect on pinging, I could be wrong. You also should run colder spark plugs, IK22.

The supercharger is designed to be "bolt-on" and some people are lucky enough that it is just that...bolt on and boom, an added 60hp/torque with no issues. Other people, like me, have issues with running lean and have to add the URD 7th injector kit to the mix (about another $1k) to keep it from pinging under boost. The 5VZE is notorious for running lean with the supercharger so it's fair to assume that you may need to do it as well. There are other options out there but the 7th injector is the most popular for solving the lean issue it seems.

Boost is fun but it ain't cheap.

 

Thanks, that's what I needed to hear. I'll keep the cash in my pocket.

 

If you have the money to spend and to do it right, then it's worth every penny. But if you're looking to add a supercharger and spend as little as possible while expecting the best of results, chances are you're going to regret it.

 

Couldn't have said it better.

 

I was considering adding a turbo kit for my 4 cyl 3RZ, but apparently it's illegal in California?

Who am I kidding. Everything is illegal here. It was once illegal to collect rainwater.

 

I honestly don't think it's worth paying full price ($3000) for one, but if you found a used one for less than $2k then it'd probably be worth it. If you're planning on just running the stock pulley, you may or may not have the pinging issue. Depending on your mileage, one thing you may consider is having your injectors cleaned and flow tested or buying new replacement injectors from osidetiger.com to install while installing the S/C. This will improve your spray pattern which will also reduce the chances of pinging. As eonblue already mention, you will definitely want colder plugs and premium octane fuel is an absolute must.

 

Second the used purchase. IMO a sc is worth under $2,000. The power gains are pretty marginal until you drop another $1-1,500 on fuel mods. On the flip side there aren't really any alternatives if you want some extra get up so the the question becomes whether you want more power or not.

 

Well put.

With the 3.4 it's basically boost it or leave it stock. NA bolts-ons for the 3.4 are the definition of minimal gains.