Trd Supercharger Oil Leak

Jacob D · 10-01-2009, 03:21 PM

I took my fj into the dealership because i noticed some oil seepage around the nose of my trd s/c pulley and a rattling noise was coming from the engine i thought my pulleys might be getting a little worn (or maybe my valves were sticking. I run mobile 1 full synthetic 15000 mile oil and change out mobile one filters every 5000 miles so i would hope it wasn't sticky valves.) Anyways the noise isn't loud and the clicking gets faster with the rpms.

They informed me that the supercharger pulley was leaking and the whole supercharger would have to be replaced under warrantee. They also told me the rattling was coming both from the supercharger pulley as well as my exaust system (TRD Catback) when i asked what they meant they said apparently it was "broken from the inside" and they were going to replace it (the muffler or the everything else i don't know) under warrantee.

in the mean time they've got me driving a 2010 tacoma (can't complain).

Has anyone else experienced unexplained supercharger problems or exhaust problems? I'm wondering if i just got a bad blower or if there's some sort of quiet recall for all the trd superchargers? Seems mighty strange to replace the whole unit for one bad pulley!

Jacob D · 10-01-2009, 03:35 PM

i should add the vehicle and the supercharger have about 23,000 miles on them

JawBone · 10-01-2009, 03:55 PM

I found this on gadgetonline.com check out the third paragraph, sounds like your issue.

Overall the superchargers have proven to be very reliable and problems with the supercharger itself have been very few. There have been some installation errors, but that is expected to some degree.

I have heard of a few diaphragms blowing out in the bypass valve actuators. On the later version the vacuum line is connected to a vacuum source only to help reduce this problem. I have installed a couple 2nd generation superchargers and found that the bypass valve travel stop set screws were not properly set by TRD and that caused the valves to over travel and stick. You may want to check the adjustment on yours.

There have been some superchargers with bad input shaft seals. This allowed the oil in the nose drive to leak out around the pulley. The ones under warranty had the entire supercharger replaced by TRD. If this happens to you out of warranty you can just replace the nose drive. You can get an exchange unit from Magnuson. This problem seemed to affect a small batch of superchargers and other then that has not been a big problem on units outside this one batch.

If you are having oil leaking out of your nose drive do not let TRD tell you it is normal or it is just the break in lube. That seems to be their standard response, the fact is it is NOT normal and needs to be address right away. There are only four ounces of oil in the nose drive and it can run dry very fast.

The supercharger does make noise, it is supposed to. Under boost it will make a wonderful whine sound that most find very pleasant. At idle it will make a rattling like sound. That is from gear slack in the nose drive. The supercharger uses straight cut gears in the nose drive and at idle there is no load on the gears that they tend to rattle back and forth a bit and that presents as a rattling sound. It should go away if the engine is rev-ed up just above idle. This is all very normal. As the supercharger ages the rattle sound at idle may get louder. I replaced my nose drive at 65,000 miles and the rattling sound was greatly reduced.

**amaintaylor** · 10-01-2009, 04:40 PM

I too have had mine replaced the first time at about 30k miles, but it cost me $2200.00 for the repairs the first time (complete blower replacement). Well I have noticed it leaking again and I am sure it will cost about the same this time also. And no, my rig has NO WARRANTY. Don't even ask. Toyota's warranty sucks.

DocME · 10-01-2009, 04:41 PM

I don't know how bad the racket is that you are describing, but I have taken my truck into the dealer for a ticking noise from the engine. (I had my supercharger installed 2days after purchasing the truck in March of 08)

They of course couldn't find anything wrong with it. The noise I heard sounded like an exhaust leak from the bank of cylinders under the snout of the s/c.

Now before you all flame me for the common FJ tick related to the vacuum switching valve, I think it is important to note the the valve you n/a folks have that resonates into the manifold and causes the notorious FJ tick is actually relocated and isolated during the installation of the s/c. Further more I further isolated that valve with rubber spacers after the installation to confirm.

I don't hear a rattle sound on mine only a tick. OP would you describe the sound as more of a rattle or a tick? My ticking gets louder with RPM's which is why I associated the noise with exhaust. I also don't think the sound is comming from the fuel injectors, because on most vehicles that have an injector tick, the sound will go away under firm acceleration because the injectors are firing very rapidly, where as the exhaust leak is more discernible.

OP thank you for posting your experiences. Please keep updating this thread as you find more out.

Also, I have read through Gadget from URD's posting on other forums relating to the servicing of the older s/c. I might give that a try as well.

Jacob D · 10-02-2009, 08:48 AM

Interesting find on the s/c problems, i guess i got one of the bad blowers, glad its under warrantee though! There is some rattling from the supercharger but my noise i'm describing is a tick, it increases regularly with rmp, it does not get louder, simply faster. But hopefully after they fix the exhaust it'll go away. Atleast they're aware of the issue and looking into it.

JOCKTHEGLIDE · 10-02-2009, 10:20 AM

good read here....I dont think (well at least I dont think) have any issues yet with my SC seems to do the normal at WOT I hear the whine (which sounds cool to me too), but no noise at idel of any kind (knock on wood).

have you guys noticed anything odd though on the SC pulley cam itself I have green dots on there? I have them around the SC area also...I wonder if toyota did that so that they can know if you messed with the changing of the cams or anything. will have to take a pic to show you guys.

Jacob D · 10-02-2009, 02:07 PM

I got an update from the dealership, they're telling me TRD says the seepage is normal. They're verifying the oil level in the supercharger per my request. Maybe it was overfilled when it was installed?

Layonnn · 10-02-2009, 02:11 PM

Shoulda installed yourselves

Mine has 10K miles on it and no issues whatsoever.

DocME · 10-12-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

layonnn previously said:

Shoulda installed yourselves

Mine has 10K miles on it and no issues whatsoever.

Then he wouldn't have had a parts and labor warranty to fall back on.