Supercharged Tacoma opinions

[Juntura]

I have been looking for a 1st generation double cab for some time and have found a couple in the northwest with the TRD supercharger installed. I have generally shied away from modified trucks- as I want to start from scratch. But several of the supercharger equipped trucks have been very clean.

What is the general consensus on this mod? I have done some reading on the 7th injector etc, but what can I expect as far as reliability? Can the bottom end handle the forced induction? Does the supercharger require a regular rebuild, like at 150,000 miles? Also, what are the net effects on fuel mileage? I am not a horsepower junky- just looking for a clean DC.

Thanks for the input.

Tyler

 

[TacoTraveler]

I know a guy locally who has one and he has had a great time with it. I haven't heard of any problems with these, as long as you take care of them. I know some people rebuild them but they where also the people that put heavy use on there Tacomas. It was just preventative maintenance.

 

[WJinTRSC]

I dont have any experience with the older generations, but I recently drove an '08 Supercharged Dbl Cab w/ the trail teams in Tellico. I'd love it on the street and in the desert, but never on the trails. Maybe I could get used to it, but for me, it was just too much power too quick and you couldn't crawl at all. W/ any amount of throttle it would just jump right over everything rather than slowly torque its way over it. Try to drive one if you can. Just my .02 and I've had very little experience w/ those, but it was my first impression. Best of luck!

 

[kcowyo]

What is the general consensus on this mod? I have done some reading on the 7th injector etc, but what can I expect as far as reliability? Can the bottom end handle the forced induction? Does the supercharger require a regular rebuild, like at 150,000 miles? Also, what are the net effects on fuel mileage? I am not a horsepower junky- just looking for a clean DC.

My personal consensus with a supercharged 3.4ltr, is that it is my favorite mod of many.

I've got 149K miles on the engine, with 100K of those with the supercharger. Reliability is a-ok.

They do recommend the nose cone being rebuilt at 90K. The bearings go and they get real raspy sounding, sounds like a bad exhaust leak. Mine has been raspy for awhile now but with no loss of performance. At 100K, I drained and refilled the SC with special oil for the SC.

The TRD SC requires the use of premium fuel but that has had no negative effects on my mileage. If anything, premium fuel combined with synthetic oil has given me a steady 18/21 mpg.

I haven't pursued any of the Gadget fuel mods like the 7th injector. I haven't experienced any fuel lean out issues like some. I attribute that to my elevation, but those closer to sea level do report some fuel problems.

Having driven a first gen d-cab Tacoma with the SC, I would go for it. It was a blast to drive and you only have to get into the SC when you need it as it engages at higher RPM's.

YMMV...
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[Juntura]

Thank you all for your responses. I also found a previous post from Cruiseroufitter (Kurt) who had high praises. I guess I need to quit looking past these trucks.

Again, thank you all for the input.

 

[Martinjmpr]

The requirement for premium fuel would be the deal breaker for me. In financial terms that's like subtracting 2-3 mpg even if your actual MPG stays the same.

 

[Cackalak Han]

I had a 98 4Runner with a supercharger and at 130k miles, I had no problems. Very fun to drive. But the only drawback was, as mentioned, the premium fuel requirement.

 

[Loober]

As far as the fuel upgrade goes, as wierd as this may sound but those engines even though they are all built the same may respond very differently to the SC. For instance mine runs super lean without the fuel mod, pings, and gets terrible mpg. My buddy has no problems and does not notice any of the issues I do. Obviously the fuel mod is recommeneded wheather you are having issues or not, from my stand point id rather spend the extra grand for the 7th and have it done right, and also have that piece of mind that I am doing all I can to preserve my engine. Also those people that dont have the 7th and think everything is fine might just not know it. If they put an EGT guage on I guarantee the temps are much higher then they should be, not knowing the alternative I could see how one might think everything is fine. Those motors are built proof and higher EGT might not effect it, but id rather be safe then sorry.

My two cents.

 

[kcowyo]

The requirement for premium fuel would be the deal breaker for me. In financial terms that's like subtracting 2-3 mpg even if your actual MPG stays the same.

Let's take a look at the 'financial terms', since I know how you barrister types like to deal with 'just the facts'.


I have a 24 gallon gas tank. I run it down usually until the light comes on. When I fill up, it usually takes 19 gallons of gas.

Premium fuel is .20 cents more per gallon than regular (around here anyway)

19 gallons x .20 = $3.80 more to use 91 octane than 87 octane

On average I fill up twice a month, so $3.80 x 2 = $7.60 per month

$7.60 a month x 12 months = $91.20 per year to use premium fuel over regular

$91.20 more to use premium over regular annually, regardless of fuel prices, assuming a .20 difference between 87 octane and 91 octane. That's key to know.


The T100, with the same 3.4ltr V6 as the Tacomas and 4Runners, was rated to get 17/20 (with the auto trans like the d-cabs). Using premium fuel and synthetic oil, (and no other mods to attempt to improve fuel economy) I have consistently averaged 18/21 over the years. So my mileage has increased over the EPA suggested averages by 1 mpg.


Now let's get really geeky, but a disclaimer, I'm no mathmetician (or barrister, but I do like to debate a point).

I average 360 miles on 19 gallons of gas. That equals 18.9mpg, lets call it 19mpg for the math...

360 miles per fillup x 2wice a month =720 miles

720 miles a month x 12 months = 8640 miles per year

8640 miles divided by 19mpgs = 455 gallons of gas per year

455 gallons x (today's premium price locally) $1.95 = $887.25 in gas annually with the SC


Now using the same numbers but at the EPAs rated 18mpg....

8640 annual miles divided by 18mpgs = 480 gallons of gas per year

480 gallons x (today's 87 octane price locally) $1.75 = $840 in regular octane annually

so.... $887.25 (prem) - $840 (reg) = $47.25 more per year to run premium

$47.25 divided by 12 months = $3.93 a month more with premium than regular

$3.93 divided by 2 fillups a month = $1.96 per fillup


What's the cost of $1.96 these days? A gallon of premium gasoline... it's less than an espresso or an ice cream or a DVD rental... about 4 US Postal stamps... cheaper than a single Bud Light (in a can or bottle) or a Big Mac.


I'm all math geeked out.... but to sum up, on average using the TRD Supercharger and premium fuel costs me less than $50 a year more than not using it, or less than $4 a month. Using 91 octane (in theory) helps to actually improve the engines performance by keeping injectors cleaner and such while adding 1 mpg. Not too shabby.

I tried to put a number to the smiles it gives me per year and to the funny looks I get screaming up a mountain pass with a camper on my truck, as I zoom past 18 wheelers and other drivers, but I couldn't. So feel free to have your way with my numbers and math skills, but there is no disputing the enhanced smiles per gallon I receive using the TRD Supercharger.

YMMV.... :smiley_drive:

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[Martinjmpr]

Let's take a look at the 'financial terms', since I know how you barrister types like to deal with 'just the facts'.

So...you do know that 8640 miles/year is way, way WAY below the national average, right?

You don't need to do complex calculations involving size of the tank, miles per tank, etc. All you have to do is this:

Number of miles driven per year / average MPG. That tells you how many gallons of gas you're buying per year (what difference does it make how many times a month you fill up or how big your tank is? The only question should be how many gallons per year are you buying?)

Now take the gallons purchased and multiply by .20, assuming that is the normal difference (I've seen stations where it's .30 but it always seems to be a multiple of 10 over the regular price.)

So figure that an average user drives ~15,000 miles/year. At an average of 19mpg that works out to 789 gallons (however I'd quibble that as most average drivers do the majority of their driving in the city. If your city MPG is anything like mine it's closer to 16 than 19.)

So now take 789 gallons and multiply it by .20. $157.80 isn't a huge sum of money, especially if you average it out over 12 months ($13.15/month) but it's not neccessarily trivial, either. I can think of better uses for that money.

Of course, since the cost of premium seems to stay at .20 over the price of regular, no matter how high or low the cost of regular goes, it's more noticeable when gas prices are low than when they are high. After all, there's a greater percentage of difference between $1.57 and $1.77 than there is between $3.35 and $3.55.

And how much gas could you have bought with the ~$2000 or so you paid for the SC? Not to mention the fact that you've added another degree of complexity to your engine? What happens if your SC craps the bed in the middle of nowhere?

Sure, all engines are complex nowadays but there's a lot to be said for keeping it stock.

In any case, I don't haul a camper or pull a trailer - if I did I might feel differently about the SC. Also if it was a dedicated trail rig rather than a DD. All those factors have to be taken into consideration, I just can't think of a good reason for me to have a SC. The stock 3.4 seems to have plenty of power.

Obviously this is what works for me, what you have works for you. Just something the OP needs to take into consideration.

EDITED TO ADD: Another factor to consider: Since the SC was not installed at the factory, what guarantee do you have that it was installed correctly? It is for that reason alone that I refuse to buy any vehicle that has been significantly modified from stock. I'd never buy a truck that was lifted, had engine mods, had a new T-case, aftermarket lockers, etc, because I don't know that the installs were done correctly and I've talked to too many people who said something to the effect of "I couldn't get it to work right so I sold it." Caveat emptor.

 

[kcowyo]

So...you do know that 8640 miles/year is way, way WAY below the national average, right?

Now don't mock. You know we don't have many roads here! It's a small town Zapp. :elkgrin:

You don't need to do complex calculations involving size of the tank, miles per tank, etc. All you have to do is this:

Number of miles driven per year / average MPG...

$157.80 isn't a huge sum of money, especially if you average it out over 12 months ($13.15/month) but it's not neccessarily trivial, either. I can think of better uses for that money.

Aww... my Mother always said be careful debating numbers. Actually she always said, "The only thing worse than an alcoholic, is a recovered alcoholic". Smart woman...

Even if my numbers were doubled or similar to yours, $160 a year is a cheap thrill overall. As a disclaimer I do count on it to assist going over mountain passes with a camper or snowmobile trailer in tow. So it has a benefit other than just being for fun. At least compared to a lot of snake oil, hp increasing wanna-be mods, the SC delivers.

But it isn't as harsh on the ol' wallet (once bought & installed) as one might think. I think mods like roof racks and RTT's, which can be of a similar dollar investment as the SC, can have more long term detriments to the vehicles performance and cost it more mpgs than a SC.

That last part is an opinion. Subjective, might be the argument...?

Not to mention the fact that you've added another degree of complexity to your engine? What happens if your SC craps the bed in the middle of nowhere?

The same thing that happens to every other vehicle that craps the bed in the middle of nowhere.


Your witness, counselor - :beer:
.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

LOL, great debate gents.

I went from a non-SC'd truck to a SC'd truck. The fuel economy difference was minimal and seeing as I always ran mid-grade in my old truck, stepping up to premium was really a non-issue for me. This is not really a DD vehicle for me, I've got a coulple of other vehciles I drive on a somewhat daily basis thus 75% of the miles it sees are directly related to the reason I built it, exploring Utah.

My SC was dealer installed at ~5 miles, it has the 100k Toyota warranty and give the number of SC problems that I have seen or heard (which is none), I'm not all that worried I've honestly never seen a problem related to the SC, its a weak point to call it a "complexity", sure it is a periphral unit that could fail. But I'd be more worried about u-joints, throttle bodies, half-shaft, front diffs, rear shafts, rear pinions, TPS sensors, PS pumps and rack units (in no particular order) before I would be worried about the SC.

Just like KC, the SC is beyond a "fun" device for me. When loaded down with a trailer and a weeks worth of gear in tow, its a needed utility to maintain what I deem appropriate speeds.

 

[Loober]

cruiser do you have any fuel mods added to it, or is it just straight SC and everything else stock?

 

[YodasYota]

Of course, those of use who want a supercharger now from all this talk have to pay the $3000+ for the thing... plus all the other stuff

 

[cruiseroutfit]

cruiser do you have any fuel mods added to it, or is it just straight SC and everything else stock?

Stock, no ping, runs fine. 80k miles with the SC. I have had some throttle body failures (well a sensor that is only sold with the throttle body), however that is related just to the 04' Taco with the TBW and APPS sensor. Versus the earlier cable throttled & TPS systems.

Of course, those of use who want a supercharger now from all this talk have to pay the $3000+ for the thing... plus all the other stuff

Its a big number no doubt, and I honestly think had I never owned a SC'ed rig, I would think it wasn't worth it. I've driven a half dozen SC equipped Taco's and 4Runners with the 3.4l, fun & fast but I had never done more than a test drive after an install or a run to lunch with a friend type of deal. Having now owned one for a couple of years, I do think its worth it. Towing, sand, snow, mud, highway... it helps out in all areas with no discernible drawbacks to note.