What's a healthy SC sound like at idle?

[PNW yota]

So when purchasing my rig the guy had pretty good records of the maintenance done, and judging by the guys shop (the cleanest I think I've ever seen, and had his own personal scissor lift) I think it's an honest list which included the 80k oil change done on the SC.

Now I'll be due for another here very soon and plan on doing the nose cone kit with it for good measure. BUT due to money and time it may be a little while.

But now that it's on my mind I'm paying closer attention to the sound of the SC. And at idle I can clearly hear it through my hood when standing on the drivers side. It's hard to describe the mechanical sound I hear but there is no grinding or anything like that. At best I could say its a clicking/fanning sound. And as far as I can tell when I'm driving it sounds "normal" but then again I'm not sure what normal is for idle or under load as this is my first SC'd rig.

Should I be able to hear it over the engine at idle through my hood when it's closed?

 

[Dous]

So when purchasing my rig the guy had pretty good records of the maintenance done, and judging by the guys shop (the cleanest I think I've ever seen, and had his own personal scissor lift) I think it's an honest list which included the 80k oil change done on the SC.

Now I'll be due for another here very soon and plan on doing the nose cone kit with it for good measure. BUT due to money and time it may be a little while.

But now that it's on my mind I'm paying closer attention to the sound of the SC. And at idle I can clearly hear it through my hood when standing on the drivers side. It's hard to describe the mechanical sound I hear but there is no grinding or anything like that. At best I could say its a clicking/fanning sound. And as far as I can tell when I'm driving it sounds "normal" but then again I'm not sure what normal is for idle or under load as this is my first SC'd rig.

Should I be able to hear it over the engine at idle through my hood when it's closed?

Yea you can generally hear it from under the hood at idle. It should be a distinct rattle.

 

[awpsome]

yup it will have a small rattle to it. hard to describe. as long as the rattling sound goes away once there is some load i wouldnt worry. Its always good to have a boost gauge to watch for leaks or fluctuations in boost where they shouldnt be.

 

[nor_cal51501]

Also, it depends which generation supercharger you have. The 1st gen(grey) makes more noise at idle than the 2nd gen(black) supercharger. Also, it depends which tensioner you have, the static tensioner would make less noise than the dynamic tensioner(when both are adjusted correctly).

 

[PNW yota]

Good to know, thanks guys

 

[PNW yota]

So just as soon as you guys set me at ease about the sound of my SC it started making a new one. Just changed the oil in the engine today and went to pull back into the garage, as soon as I was in drive (at idle) a new faint squealing sound popped up. From in the cab it was as if the sound originated right behind the center of the dash. Left it in drive with the e-brake on and popped the hood and sure enough it's the SC! :frusty:

Its coming from inside the SC, not the belt.

The squeal stops in neutral, reverse and park. The motor was cold at the time.

Am I losing a bearing or something inside?

 

[nor_cal51501]

Let's start with which supercharger do you have? Also, when was the last nose cone oil change and phelonic drive adapter was done?

 

[PNW yota]

Second gen (black), sorry I didn't clarify that earlier. Previous owner changed the oil at 146k, I'm now sitting at 173k. He did not change the nose cone. And I have no idea what the phelonic drive adaptor is.

 

[02SE]

And I have no idea what the phelonic drive adaptor is.

I assume he's talking about the Phenolic drive adapter. Which is accessible when the front drive assembly of the supercharger is removed.

Basically, it's a black plastic resin (Phenolic) donut-shaped part with six holes in it. Three of the holes engage the front drive, and the other three engage one of the rotors.

 

[tee-bone]

What's a healthy SC sound like at idle?

It sounds like rainbows and unicorns. And awesome.

 

[PNW yota]

It sounds like rainbows and unicorns. And awesome.

Thanks that's very helpful

 

[PNW yota]

Just went for a short drive and the SC definitely doesn't sound right under load either. I'm a week away from getting my pickup out of the paint shop so the runner is my DD until then. If it is in need of a nose cone rebuild am I risking permanently damaging the SC by putting another couple hundred miles on it until I get the truck back?

 

[BenK]

I cant hear my SC at all at idle and I don't understand why I "should" be able to according to some posts above. That just doesn't sound right. Can anyone give a reason why it would rattle if in perfect working condition?

 

[nor_cal51501]

I cant hear my SC at all at idle and I don't understand why I "should" be able to according to some posts above. That just doesn't sound right. Can anyone give a reason why it would rattle if in perfect working condition?

The rattling is the dynamic tensioner giggling usually. I will say though, that I've never heard a supercharged vehicle with a dynamic tensioner make so much noise.(mine makes a fair amount of noise, especially when under acceleration) I simply assume that the tensioners have a lighter duty spring in them than the V8 vehicles I've seen supercharged.

 

[rideexileex]

[MENTION=1373]snowrunner[/MENTION] - his is brand new, he should be able to tell you / post a vid

 

[BenK]

The rattling is the dynamic tensioner giggling usually. I will say though, that I've never heard a supercharged vehicle with a dynamic tensioner make so much noise.(mine makes a fair amount of noise, especially when under acceleration) I simply assume that the tensioners have a lighter duty spring in them than the V8 vehicles I've seen supercharged.

Gotcha - thanks for the clarification. I've got the old style static tensioner so that would explain why I don't hear what you guys are hearing.

 

[zacattack20]

The rattling is the dynamic tensioner giggling usually. I will say though, that I've never heard a supercharged vehicle with a dynamic tensioner make so much noise.(mine makes a fair amount of noise, especially when under acceleration) I simply assume that the tensioners have a lighter duty spring in them than the V8 vehicles I've seen supercharged.

Gotcha - thanks for the clarification. I've got the old style static tensioner so that would explain why I don't hear what you guys are hearing.

I have the dynamic tensioner and I don't hear it, or anything at idle. Did you get a new dynamic tensioner or did you get it used with the supercharger? I had to get a new one.

 

[nor_cal51501]

I have the dynamic tensioner and I don't hear it, or anything at idle. Did you get a new dynamic tensioner or did you get it used with the supercharger? I had to get a new one.

I have a used one that had right about 100k on it. So maybe these dynamic tensioners TRD used just fatigue easier. I plan to buy a new tensioner eventually when I do all the pullys and the 7th injector kit, so glad to hear that the new ones don't do it. Makes me wonder how quickly the spring fatigues and begins to make noise..?

 

[zacattack20]

I have a used one that had right about 100k on it. So maybe these dynamic tensioners TRD used just fatigue easier. I plan to buy a new tensioner eventually when I do all the pullys and the 7th injector kit, so glad to hear that the new ones don't do it. Makes me wonder how quickly the spring fatigues and begins to make noise..?

Ok that probably explains it then. I have no idea how long you should go before replacing them but 100k miles on one seems like it might be around a point where it might not be working as well.

 

[BenK]

I'm feeling pretty good about my outdated static tensioner right now...