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Toyota Tundra Supercharger Basics

by: JasonLancaster
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Here's a quick look at the numbers for the new Toyota Tundra supercharger from TRD: it adds 504 HP and 550 lb-ft of torque; sells as a complete kit for $5 875; and costs about $6 800 total when installation is figured in, based on a labor rate of $105/hr.

The evolution towards the 5.7-liter TRD supercharger is truly intelligent design. TRD has developed horsepower/torque pushers for the 2000-03 Tundra, the V-6 Tacoma, the Camry Solara, the Scion tC and others. Tundra watchers knew it was only a matter of time before the wizards at TRD addressed the big '07 Tundra. Then, at the November 2007 Specialty Equipment Marketing Association (SEMA) show in Vegas, a concept Tundra Double Cab was spotted with a supercharger and air-to-liquid intercooler generating "approximately" 500 horsepower. Since the Toyota booth display vehicle was attached to a 10,200-pound gooseneck car hauler, the extra power had to be more than simply wishful thinking.

TRD's new Tundra supercharger is an Eaton-Roots, or positive displacement, type of supercharger. Interesting fact: the technology was first patented in 1860, when Philander and Francis Roots developed it to ventilate mine shafts. Auto manufacturers looking to improve engine performance had two options: increase engine size or engine efficiency. Efficiency was the obvious choice. Gottleib Daimler introduced blowers to auto engines in the early 1900s, and they had begun to appear in racecars and premium automotives by the 1920s. Eaton-Roots superchargers are popular because they are reliable, require little maintenance, and eliminate drag on the engine when its boost is not needed.

The Eaton's Twin Vortices System (TVS) is featured on the Tundra supercharger. It has twin four-lobe rotors with 160 degree twists, and improves air-handling while decreasing noise and vibration. The Tundra kit comes with 8 new high-flow fuel injectors, lower heat range iridium-tip spark plugs, and an intercooler, which reduces air inlet temperature to the engine and permits more aggressive ignition timing.

TRD's new high performance air intake, which is quite similar to the cold air intake kit offered as a standalone part, supplies the supercharger with its air. During the supercharger installation, the engine control unit (ECU) is reprogrammed with a new high performance engine management profile, which changes the engine timing and the transmission's shift points to maximize power. This allows the Tundra to use all the extra power which the supercharger provides, while maintaining 50 state emissions certifications.

Toyota's estimated installation time is about 9 hours, and as long as the supercharger is installed by your local Toyota dealer, Toyota will honor the remainder of their 5yr/60k mile powertrain warranty. Considering the quality of TRD's engineering, and Toyota's willingness to honor the full warranty, it's safe to say that adding the supercharger definitely won't hurt your truck.

There's only one catch if you're hoping to buy your new Tundra with the supercharger. The TRD supercharger is only authorized to be retailed as a dealer installed or over-the-counter option AFTER the sale of a new Tundra. The supercharger and Tundra cannot be sold together at the same time, or financed together. Your local Toyota dealer may be able to find some sort of compromise or deal, but if you're determined to have a supercharger on your new Toyota Tundra, be prepared to fork over some cash.

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About the Author

The author Jason Lancaster is the editor of TundraHeadquarters.com, a website with information, news, and reviews of Toyota Tundra accessories and Tundra parts.  

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