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What is Toyota 4.7 Supercharger?

What is Toyota 4.7 Supercharger?

Toyota 4.7 is a V8 engine used in big trucks like Tundra and SUVs like 4Runner. Its purpose is to increase the truck’s power and torque rating, especially in drag racing.

Toyota Racing Development (TRD) has developed a supercharger for the 4.7L engine available in the first generation Toyota Tundra before introducing VVT-i technology.

What is Toyota 4.7 Supercharger? The Toyota 4.7 engine has TRD supercharged versions from the 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra. It is also available in the 2008 model special edition of the truck introduced by Toyota. Moreover, aftermarket solutions are also available to install a supercharger, but they have maintenance issues if not installed correctly. In addition, it increases engine power and torque but affects fuel economy.

This article will guide Tundra owners regarding using TRD supercharger with a 4.7 engine and its pros and cons. We will also discuss its effect on engine power rating and any maintenance issues. 

What supercharger can you use with Toyota 4.7?

Toyota has indigenously developed a TRD supercharger for a 4.7L V8 engine. However, It is available only in the 2000-2006 year models of Tundra.

Later models have VVT-i technology to control its various aspects. However, I have heard from experts that VVT-i engines are not suitable for using superchargers because of weak connecting rods.

If you retrofit them with 4.7L VVT-i, it can result in damage to the machine, and you can void your warranty.

It has a bolt-on roots-type design that you can easily install with a Toyota 4.7L motor. It uses Eaton’s TVS technology with multi-lobed rotors to compress the air into the engine.

It mounts on the top of the engine and takes its power from the engine. Other compatible superchargers with Toyota 4.7 are terminator cobra and Eaton M90.

Where is the location of the supercharger on Toyota 4.7?

You can locate the supercharger on Toyota 4.7 V8 engine by looking into the engine compartment.

It is the most prominent part mounted on top of the engine and has a black texture. Another distinctive feature is TRD written on its body in block letters.

Therefore, locating a TRD supercharger on a 4.7 engine is not difficult. However, they can have different shapes, but you can find them installed on top of the engine.

What are the advantages of using Toyota 4.7 Supercharger?

The primary purpose of installing a supercharger on an engine is to improve its torque and power ratings

Increase in power

It pushes the compressed air intake into the engine resulting in increased combustion.

Therefore, it significantly increases the engine power. The power boost changes according to engine rpm as it directly mounts on the engine crankshaft.

It has the same purpose of increasing engine power for heavy load and towing applications of pickup truck Toyota Tundra.

Increase in torque

The TRD supercharged Toyota 4.7 has higher torque ratings than without it.

Its working principle makes it possible to push the engine to do more work.

Therefore, people often retrofit their trucks with supercharger kits for heavy-duty applications.

Disadvantages

Here are a few of its drawbacks:

Maintenance issues

Installing a supercharger with a 4.7L V8 engine can increase maintenance issues. The 4.7L engine has two significant problems: 2 bolt main caps and weak connecting rods.

Therefore, high rpm or power can result in crankshaft imbalance, broken connecting rods, and other relevant issues.

Therefore, Toyota has replaced the supercharger with VVT-i technology in these engines.

However, you can prevent such problems by upgrading the connecting rods from other machines from the same generation.

Reduced fuel efficiency

It uses engine power to spin itself, impacting overall fuel efficiency.

Its roots-type design has a significant load and reduces its fuel efficiency.

The latest centrifugal designs do not have much impact on the fuel efficiency of engines as compared to naturally aspirated ones.

Model years of Toyota 4.7 compatible with supercharger

Toyota 4.7L V8 engine is available in first and second-generation Toyota Tundra models from 2000-2009.

2000-2006 model Tundra has supercharger kits available from TRD to provide a power boost.

Moreover, a special edition of the truck in 2008 also had a supercharger package.

However, you can install it with any Toyota 4.7L by taking care of the connecting rod and main caps issues.

Do you have to reflash the ECU for Toyota 4.7 supercharger?

The supercharger will change the various engine parameters and how it works. Therefore, you need to reflash the ECU after installing this kit.

According to the modifications, special software or modified programs are available with these kits to recalibrate the ECU. It will take about 20-30 minutes to reflash the computer and install the new software.

Does installing a supercharger void the engine warranty?

TRD supercharger kits were available for Toyota 4.7 until their discontinuation in 2006. Engine warranty remains valid if a Toyota authorized dealership carries out the installation.

Otherwise, it resulted in a void warranty. However, at present, the 4.7L engine is no longer in production; therefore, you can avail of services from any service provider to install it because no warranty is involved.

In addition, there are vendors available to rebuild the old superchargers and make them suitable for reuse in a few hundred dollars.

How much horsepower can a supercharger add to a Toyota 4.7 engine?

Supercharger connects to the engine crankshaft via a belt. You can change the amount of boost with rpm by changing the pulley size.

Its kits available with Toyota 4.7 can increase the power up to 100-110 hp.

However, you can improve it by employing various modifications and replacing parts. For example, I have met with Tundra drivers who have achieved a power boost of 400hp with this kit.

However, that is not advisable for long-term use due to the 2-bolt mains cap design in Toyota 4.7L engine.

Is the Toyota 4.7 supercharger an aftermarket option or factory built?

Toyota 4.7 from 2000-2006 models have bolt-on supercharger kits available from TRD.

Therefore, you don’t need to make any modifications to install them to improve engine performance.

However, at the same time, there were options to install third-party solutions like terminator cobra and Eaton M90 superchargers.

2007-2009 Toyota 4.7 engines are equipped with VVT-i technology and have weak connecting rod issues in the USA version of the engine.

Therefore, there have been reports regarding damaged rods by adding it with 4.7 VVT-i in Toyota Tundras.

What is the boost pressure limit for Toyota 4.7 TRD Supercharger?

TRD superchargers designed for 4.7 engines have a maximum boost pressure limit of 6.0 psi or lower.

Pressure beyond these limits can put the weaker parts like connecting rods at risk of falling apart.

Does a supercharger reduce Toyota 4.7 engine?

No, it does not reduce the service life of an engine if properly installed.

It depends on regular preventive maintenance, oil change, and proper tuning of the system to make it efficient and enhance its life.

However, operating this device beyond its acceptable pressure limits and improper installation can result in excessive pressure on a few engine parts.

In extreme conditions, they may come apart, causing damage to the 4.7L engine.

Does a supercharger increase the towing capacity of the 4.7 engine?

It increases the available power and torque rating of the Tundra.

It can also affect the truck’s towing capacity, but that will not be significant enough.

Therefore, you will have to upgrade the rest of the parts, including suspension, rear end, and frame, to make it towing beyond its ratings.

Can you increase power by reducing the pulley size of the supercharger?

Reducing pulley size with a supercharger means moving it at higher speeds according to the rpm of the Toyota 4.7 engine.

However, it also results in more power consumption to move it and causes stress on engine parts.

Therefore, you will not get an efficient power increase. Instead, choose for optimum pulley size for connecting it with the engine crankshaft. It will result in a power boost than power consumption.

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