Supercharger...

I see plenty of talk here about increasing power through NA tuning or turbos, but has anyone tried a supercharger on an SR20DE?

It's a very torquey motor, with a reasonable capacity, so wouldn't it be able to drive a supercharger well? As a comparision GMH is currently producing a supercharged V6 with a similar sort of low down torque, it proforms like a V8 up high, but can still be driven with the economy of a V6.

Its possible but then you don't get that really cool blow-off valve sound Psssst!!

Perhaps, but a supercharger has a scream all of it's own, the power delivery is smoother, better throttle response, cooler induction temperatures...

Originally posted by jasestu
I see plenty of talk here about increasing power through NA tuning or turbos, but has anyone tried a supercharger on an SR20DE?

Nope, at least not a FWD SR20. Turbos are vastly superior to SCs.

I suggest searching the archives both here and for the SE-R Mailing List.

Originally posted by lloyd_nickens
Its possible but then you don't get that really cool blow-off valve sound Psssst!!

You shouldn't be getting that with a turbo SR20 anyway. Our cars use a MAF and the post turbocharger air has already been metered, so it should be recirculated rather than just blown off.

Originally posted by jasestu
Perhaps, but a supercharger has a scream all of it's own, the power delivery is smoother, better throttle response, cooler induction temperatures...
Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'd be VERY careful about making such generalizations around here if I were you. :D

Cooler induction temps? I think not, even the best supercharger doesn't have the compressor efficency of a turbo, unless you're talking about a centrifugal SC which has bacially a turbo chager compressor attached to gears to get it spinning faster. But this has it's own draw back as well.

The fact is that with the DET available you get better results out of a turbo on this motor than a supercharger ever could. I know a couple guys that could size a turbo to the DE that would put ANY supercharger to shame, in smoothness, throttle response and intake temps.

I'll let some of the experts step in and correct my inaccuracies. :D

Originally posted by P10DET


Nope, at least not a FWD SR20. Turbos are vastly superior to SCs.

I suggest searching the archives both here and for the SE-R Mailing List.

I hate people who post dumb questions and don't search first... So obviously I'm hating myself right now... Perhaps I should delete this thread...

Originally posted by G-Forces

Whoa, whoa, whoa. I'd be VERY careful about making such generalizations around here if I were you. :D

<snip>

I'll let some of the experts step in and correct my inaccuracies. :D

So the supercharger option is not going to be as powerful as a turbo, but there's still no real reasons why it's a particularly bad idea to try one? Turbo's are getting a little cliche'ed here, I thought I might like to try something a little different. Might make an interesting "what not to do" essay if I do try it...

Turbo and supercharger... It's been done before, but on a mazda diesel... Hmmm, anyway, think I've had too much coffee this morning... :D:D:D

Originally posted by P10DET


You shouldn't be getting that with a turbo SR20 anyway. Our cars use a MAF and the post turbocharger air has already been metered, so it should be recirculated rather than just blown off.

I didn't know that. Gee you learn something new everyday. I could have sworn all the turbo cars had that bov noise. Man would that make our car a true sleeper. Pull up next to some one with noe bovn and blown them away! :sun: :sun:

Originally posted by jasestu


I hate people who post dumb questions and don't search first... So obviously I'm hating myself right now... Perhaps I should delete this thread...
Hey, it's ok man don't beat yourself up over it. On the SR20 the induction method of choice is the turbo. There is so much information on it that there is really no point in rewriting the book and using a supercharger. You'll be treading new ground and getting nowhere near the results of a similar priced turbo setup.

There is nothing wrong with superchargers. They have their place and some people prefer them. However in the SR world turbo is king. :D

Originally posted by G-Forces

However in the SR world turbo is king. :D

Well I'm certainly not going to attempt to find any evidence to the contrary, given the rather heated discussion that ensued last time someone tried. :) People seemed to cling stubbornly to thier views regardless of what information was presented, the debated resemebled the sort that you often get with regards to religion or genetic modification...

I think another possible reason is the parasitic loss with the use of any supercharger. Turbos are nice for 4 cylinders because it doesn't rob as much power from the engine as do superchargers. But then again the 1.6L Civics have a nice roots from Jackson ... so ...

Originally posted by jasestu


Well I'm certainly not going to attempt to find any evidence to the contrary, given the rather heated discussion that ensued last time someone tried. :) People seemed to cling stubbornly to thier views regardless of what information was presented, the debated resemebled the sort that you often get with regards to religion or genetic modification...
Hey noone's stopping ya! ;) Just don't expect to find a whole lot of info on the subject. I've seen the evidence both for an against super and turbo chargers debated back and forth. I'll stick with turbos no matter what. :D

If you can put together a kit that's at cheap, reliable, easy to install and as fast as say a DET swap then you'll get a lot of business. ;)

Originally posted by jasestu


Well I'm certainly not going to attempt to find any evidence to the contrary, given the rather heated discussion that ensued last time someone tried. :) People seemed to cling stubbornly to thier views regardless of what information was presented, the debated resemebled the sort that you often get with regards to religion or genetic modification...

Well FWIW, I used to be a very anti-turbo person. When I was in university, 22 years ago, turbos were just starting to become popular again. They sucked dead bears through a garden hose. Yes, they made power, but most lagged badly, most were unreliable, and most just plain weren't tuned to well. I hated them. Screw the power if the rest of the package sucked.

I thought SCs were the nuts. I believed all the hype about no lag, no problems, blah, blah, blah.

Then a couple of years ago I received quite the education. Modern turbos, when properly sized, lag less than a SC (yes, SCs have lag). They are very reliable today with a little care and ifyou have a turbo timer, they are pretty simple to keep your engine running well.

I'm a convert.

Originally posted by P10DET


You shouldn't be getting that with a turbo SR20 anyway. Our cars use a MAF and the post turbocharger air has already been metered, so it should be recirculated rather than just blown off.

are you saying theres no point to put a louder blow off valve? :confused: i hope not! thats why im getting my DET! :eek: jp :p

Originally posted by nwong
I think another possible reason is the parasitic loss with the use of any supercharger. Turbos are nice for 4 cylinders because it doesn't rob as much power from the engine as do superchargers. But then again the 1.6L Civics have a nice roots from Jackson ... so ...


Let us not forget about the mighty Vw G60 Corrado. I had one and it was mighty powerful. Alot of extra torque was given by that little charger cause it would have been near to impossible to get that much power out of a 1.3L engine. Mind you I had a turbocharged '89 probe GT and that had more quickness off the line than anything I've owned b4 so go figure. I'd personally go Superchrged if they mad it available for the sr20de(S)????
hehehhehe

On a less technical note, try putting your hand in between the chassis and pulleys (engine stopped, eh) and then consider then logistics of fitting a drive for a supercharger in there.:p :p

EH

Originally posted by AznVirus
are you saying theres no point to put a louder blow off valve? :confused: i hope not! thats why im getting my DET! :eek: jp :p

Dude, you need to do some more research.

A turbocharged SR20 should have the compressor by-pass valve recirculated back to the intake just before the compressor inlet. It should not be vented to atmosphere. Luke is having some issues with this.

If you are buying a DET to have a loud BOV, well...... :rolleyes:

Now for some definitions:

Blow-off valve: vents to atmosphere
By-pass valve: recirculates

The two definitions often get screwed up, but you should not use a blow-off valve on a turbo SR20. By-pass valves are usually very quiet. Bummer huh? Now I guess you're not getting your DET?

Originally posted by CanadianG
Let us not forget about the mighty Vw G60 Corrado. I had one and it was mighty powerful. Alot of extra torque was given by that little charger cause it would have been near to impossible to get that much power out of a 1.3L engine.

But, with a properly sized turbo connected instead of the SC, it would kick the SC's ass.

Originally posted by P10DET


Dude, you need to do some more research.

A turbocharged SR20 should have the compressor by-pass valve recirculated back to the intake just before the compressor inlet. It should not be vented to atmosphere. Luke is having some issues with this.

If you are buying a DET to have a loud BOV, well...... :rolleyes:

Now for some definitions:

Blow-off valve: vents to atmosphere
By-pass valve: recirculates

The two definitions often get screwed up, but you should not use a blow-off valve on a turbo SR20. By-pass valves are usually very quiet. Bummer huh? Now I guess you're not getting your DET?

so its mostly honda engines polluting the air? :devil: no way am i still passing up the DET! :eek: its ok, they will just have to see me leave them in the dust and then theyll realize i have a turbo :p and does this mean that there is no blow off valve at all, but instead the bypass valve takes its place? :confused:

Originally posted by AznVirus
so its mostly honda engines polluting the air?

There's no pollution involved since it's just air that has been compressed by the turbo.

Originally posted by AznVirus
and does this mean that there is no blow off valve at all, but instead the bypass valve takes its place? :confused:

BINGO! Some people call the by-pass valve a blow-off valve (including me on occasion), but yes, the by-pass valve takes its place.

The reason for recirculating the air is that it has already been measured by the MAF so the computer is counting on it being there so it gets the mixture right. If you vent it to atmosphere, the ECU will provide too much fuel for the air in the engine.

hmm... ok i understand now, i guess honda engines need the blowoff valve since they dont use a MAF.

I believe you are right ... I think Hondas are speed density systems.