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I approached this a different way. I pulled my SC at 100K and found it bone dry, but was lucky that there was no damage. I have thinking about this mod since 2006. I drilled and tapped the side of the PTO gear case and installed a threaded nipple and tube up to the top of the radiator level. But the threads leaked too much, so I welded it and used a different than recommended adhesive on the PTO cover. All is well, can check, such out, refill, add whatever I want to do in just minutes. Just have to pull the SC once and do the drilling and welding. Pretty easy. Great piece of mind to be able to check the SC oil anytime I choose in minutes.
I approached this a different way. I pulled my SC at 100K and found it bone dry, but was lucky that there was no damage. I have thinking about this mod since 2006. I drilled and tapped the side of the PTO gear case and installed a threaded nipple and tube up to the top of the radiator level. But the threads leaked too much, so I welded it and used a different than recommended adhesive on the PTO cover. All is well, can check, such out, refill, add whatever I want to do in just minutes. Just have to pull the SC once and do the drilling and welding. Pretty easy. Great piece of mind to be able to check the SC oil anytime I choose in minutes.
I wish I had the ability to drill and weld like that. Or even the tools.
One thing..the SC is a wear item....
so you may lube it up...so the gears last forever...but the boost may be dropping....
so keep it in perspective what you are trying to do....
for max boost, a rebuilt is most likely best, but for lowest cost...re-oil it up...but some have lasted 160k+ no re-oiling....
This. You can change the oil all you want, but eventually you're going to have to have it rebuilt. Unless it's leaking, or making some weird sounds, I wouldn't' mess with it....but that's just me. I've got over 140,000 miles on mine, and haven't touched it....and it's still making the same boost numbers it did when I got the car at 80,000 miles. (knock on wood)
It has been about 15K miles since I welded in the dipstick and re-sealed the PTO to water pump flange with regular silicone sealer. I check the SC PTO level about once a week, just because it is so easy and helps me to justify my mod, and checking the PTO end only takes about 1-2 minutes, haha. So far, the level has held constant. This is leading me to believe that the loss of PSO oil at the 100K mark must have been a very slow loss through the flange gasket (or spray on stuff the factory uses). If I had leaky seals I would have expected to see oil loss by now. Any my boost (according to my gauge) is the same as it always has been. The front oil chamber is holding as well. It actually takes me longer (5 to 10 min) to check the front than the rear.
My opinion, is that if you every have to pull the SC for any reason or when installing a new water pump, and you intend to keep your car, and the SC is operating well otherwise, consider a dip stick option, pretty easy once it is off the car. It is great peace of mind for me to send my wife off for a long road trip knowing that the SC has oil. thanks, tom
my MINI is reaching 100k and i was wondering if I should have my mechanic perform maintenance on my supercharger, such as lubing it to prevent failure. Do you recommend this and how much do you think it would cost? Also if I did get it done, would it be easy for them to pop on a supercharger pulley while doing the maintenance, or would it still be a lot extra work for them to do that too?
It's gonna cost me around 490 bucks for my 04 r53 in the Midwest so it's a little cheaper here in a smaller town if in a bigger area of expect 600-1000 bucks
I got my 16pct pulley reduction put on, supercharger oil refilled, thermostat replaced, new serpentine, new air filter, knock sensor replaced, and crank sensor sealed for 200$ a few weeks ago on the east coast. I bought the parts but total labor for all the above and the supercharger oil was 200
I got my 16pct pulley reduction put on, supercharger oil refilled, thermostat replaced, new serpentine, new air filter, knock sensor replaced, and crank sensor sealed for 200$ a few weeks ago on the east coast. I bought the parts but total labor for all the above and the supercharger oil was 200
Where did you get it done? That's a great price. I was going to do it myself this summer but if your place is close enough I'll gladly pay to have it done.
Where did you get it done? That's a great price. I was going to do it myself this summer but if your place is close enough I'll gladly pay to have it done.
This. You can change the oil all you want, but eventually you're going to have to have it rebuilt. Unless it's leaking, or making some weird sounds, I wouldn't' mess with it....but that's just me. I've got over 140,000 miles on mine, and haven't touched it....and it's still making the same boost numbers it did when I got the car at 80,000 miles. (knock on wood)
Been debating this for a decade; service or leave it? My 05' S has a gentle 125,000 miles and the charger sounds/acts the same as always.
Leaning towards the OEM advise which is no service required.
Boxfrogman
I got my 16pct pulley reduction put on, supercharger oil refilled, thermostat replaced, new serpentine, new air filter, knock sensor replaced, and crank sensor sealed for 200$ a few weeks ago on the east coast. I bought the parts but total labor for all the above and the supercharger oil was 200
I live on the east coast ...where... where...where???? Thank You in advance...
I have a 04 R53 with the JCW kit I just picked up and it has 111k miles on it. First one. It looks like the previous owners took good care of it and I was looking I through the maintenance records, they said they didn’t have them all, but gave me what they had, I didn’t see any supercharger maintenance performed. I’m guessing since I want to keep this a while I should just do a rebuild or replacement. What reputable shops are out there to pick up a new one ready to go?
I have a 04 R53 with the JCW kit I just picked up and it has 111k miles on it. First one. It looks like the previous owners took good care of it and I was looking I through the maintenance records, they said they didn’t have them all, but gave me what they had, I didn’t see any supercharger maintenance performed. I’m guessing since I want to keep this a while I should just do a rebuild or replacement. What reputable shops are out there to pick up a new one ready to go?
There is no scheduled maint for the supercharger so most don't do it unless they are enthusiasts or keeping the car forever.
You only need to rebuild it if it is bad. You can do just an oil change service as that never hurts, just takes some time. We even offer a kit to do it. https://www.waymotorworks.com/superc...t-r52-r53.html
That’s all the supplies I need besides coolant? Anything else I should do while in there? I bought a belt just Incase it needs replacing, I did read somewhere it’s a good time to change water pump. The previous owners records indicate it was changed at 76k.
Just leave it alone, don't touch it unless it looks like it's got a leak. You have more of a chance of getting contaminants in the oil by trying to do an oil change on it.
The bearings in it only last so long....and at over 100,000 miles on yours, all the hassle and cost of changing the oil won't do a thing for bearing life.
I've got over 160,000 miles on my jcw supercharger....still working great. If it starts making noise, I will pull it off and put a rebuild one back on..... until then, I'm not going to touch it
Just did the oil change on my supercharger as the car was apart for a new clutch and replacement of all gaskets (car has 77k miles and has had the 19% pulley since it had 20k miles) and both supercharger oil and PTO oil was still in there and in decent condition. No bits of metal or missing fluid. I could have probably gotten away with not changing it, but as it was apart, it seemed a miles welby situation.
