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Toyota Tundra Supercharger Basics

by: JasonLancaster
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Here's some quick stats on the new TRD supercharger for the Toyota Tundra: it adds 504 HP and 550 lb-ft of torque; sells as a kit for $5 875; and will cost a grand total of about $6 800 including installation, assuming a $105/hr labor rate.

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 TRD Tundra supercharger contains Eaton's Twin Vortices System (TVS), which features twin four-lobe rotors with 160 degree twist, improving air-handling, and reducing noise and vibration. The supercharger kit comes with 8 new high-flow fuel injectors, lower heat range iridium-tip spark plugs, and an intercooler. The intercooler decreases air inlet temperature to the engine, which allows for more aggressive ignition timing.

The supercharger's air supply comes from TRD's new high-performance air intake, which is similar to the cold air intake kit which TRD offers as a standalone art. When installing the supercharger, the engine control unit (ECU) is programmed with a new high performance engine management profile, which assists the Tundra in harnessing the supercharger's extra power while maintaining 50 state emissions certifications. It works by changing the engine's timing and the transmission's shift points to maximize power.

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 just one catch - the TRD supercharger is only sold as a dealer-installed or over-the-counter option AFTER the sale of a new Tundra. The supercharger cannot be bought or added at the same time as you purchase a new Tundra, and it cannot be financed along with the truck. If you really want to buy your new Tundra with a supercharger, your local dealer can likely work something out, but it'll probably cost you some cash.

About the Author

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

Toyota Tundra Supercharger Basics

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