subzero - loud supercharger noise

[dogbreath650]

I have a gray superchager in my 98. It always makes some noise at idle which I understand is the norm. Ran it today in -15 temp and I'm really getting some loud knocking from the SC.

i understand with cold temps, metal contracts and tolerances grow which is likely causing the increase in noise but is it causing harm to the SC to run it at these extreme low temps. Should I just keep it parked when it gets this cold?

 

[Endlessblockades]

I have a gray superchager in my 98. It always makes some noise at idle which I understand is the norm. Ran it today in -15 temp and I'm really getting some loud knocking from the SC.

i understand with cold temps, metal contracts and tolerances grow which is likely causing the increase in noise but is it causing harm to the SC to run it at these extreme low temps. Should I just keep it parked when it gets this cold?

I can only dream of coming across an affordable supercharger and have no constructive advice, but would it cause any issues (besides loss of power) if you pulled the belt for sub-freezing driving? I would be stressed out by unusual loud knocking from the SC.

 

[jross20]

How many miles are on it?

 

[dogbreath650]

The T4R has about 190k miles. The supercharger was rebuilt by Embree about 20k miles ago.

I've noticed the increase in noise at idle as the temps drop both before and after the rebuild. I'm thinking this may be normal from some of the comments I've seen in the big supercharger thread about noise at idle being common.

I'd like to understand what's going on inside to cause this and if I'm doing damage to the unit by running at extreme cold temps. I'm imagining that when the metal contracts due to the cold I'm hearing the rotor slap against the housing but would like to hear some other opinions.

 

[3bears]

I have not had a supercharger nor ever taken one apart..but i would be freaked out if I heard metal to metal noise...id be fearing metal shavings going into my engine.

 

[dogbreath650]

It got up to a balmy 38*F so I took it for a ride. It ran good and idle noise was back to normal. Guess it just doesn't like those extreme low temps so I'll plan on driving something else on those days...