Thinking about pulling the supercharger and performing an oil service at some point in the coming months.

My question is:

Rather than just dumping and replacing the supercharger oil at both ends, is it a good idea to crack open the water pump end to inspect and clean up the internal gears & chamber? I assume to open the pulley end, you would have to remove the pulley, but what about that location as well?

If either can or should be done, I haven't seen a gasket for when it is reassembled. Is there a gasket, or does one just use high-temp RTV?

TIA

 

There is an on going debate on the whole "service the supercharger" thing. For the most part, they are not designed to be serviced. By the time the bearings are starting to make noise, the rotors are shot anyways and you are loosing boost......so you are better off to just pull it out and put on a rebuild supercharger. I've got over 140,000 miles on mine and it's still making good boost, and running like a top. No reason to open it up, expose the bearings and seals to contamination...and then put it back on. Eventually the bearings are going to fail...and it's going to need to be replaced.....no amount of oil changes will help.....

How many miles are on your motor?

 

The water pump users an anaerobic sealent, but some have used black high temp RTV.

 

I'm at 122k

For the most part, I agree with everything you stated.

I do think though, that there are two fill ports for a reason -- to replace and renew the supercharger oil. I have to believe that with the amount of work the supercharger does over the life of the engine, it is nothing but a good thing to put fresh clean oil in at prescribed intervals, whatever that may be.

 

The similar model SC on GM cars has a relube interval.... but access there is OK...
On the mini, the labour is about 5+ hours plus about 60-100$ is gaskets...so with typical shop rates, the labor is more than part...so you might do good if you are VERY GOOD and relube it...
Issue is, many folks get way over their heads opening stuff up, and the car never runs right....
The one time use "green gasket" on the SC is a pain....and a few plastic parts pretty brittle.
A rebuilt SC from a decent shop is about $800...
So the math... One day diwn time, 5 hrs time at $100 an hour for arguments sake (2x higher in some shops) and $100-150 in lube, gaskets, and fluids, make more....so 750$ to get you an unknown time...
Install a remanufactured unit, and a new water pump, and you are likly to get 10 years, and another 140,000 miles.....
How much do you value your time? That's really the answer.

 

Excellent explanation!!

 

If you have it off, you might as well take the water pump side off and see how it looks. I'm always curious to see how the water pump gears are doing. I suppose if you get oil out of the end then you don't really need to look. And if you don't get oil, you probably don't really need to look. I have never messed with the nose end.

Nik

 

That's what I thought...

I know you're in the middle of an engine rebuild... Have you already, or do you plan to take the water pump end of your supercharger off? When putting it back, is there a gasket that you know of, or are you planning to use high-temp RTV?

 

I've taken it apart a few times, for the life of me I can't remember if there is a gasket or not. I will take a look at my old one when I get home tonight.

Nik

 

Sorry for the delay. My old supercharger was buried under all my new parts finally dug it out last night. There is no gasket on the water pump end.

Nik

 

No gasket, but as ZippyNH said, anaerobic sealant is used

 

I used high temp grey rtv for nose cone and rear gear plate. No leaks. I had a ***** of a time getting my pulley off, picked up a rebuilt nose cone without pulley for a hundred bucks on eBay.
The green gasket must be replaced and must be installed properly or vacuum leaks will be the death of you.
Use AC delco supercharger oil.
Use the correct amount (Google is your friend)
If you put too much the oil will aerate and premature wear will occur on gears and bearings.
It seems like a lot of work at first but after you do it a couple times it's like riding a bike.

If you need any advice feel free to PM me.

 

DOH! Posted in the wrong section .......