Hey guys,


I'm a huge worry wart, and last night I was looking around for threads on a tapping noise from around the left side of the motor, and found a video that matched the noise exactly that pinned it on the evap purge valve ( if you're interested)


Unfortunately, I also stumbled upon the supercharger oil service threads, and now I'm pretty concerned as I just passed over 90k on my 05, even though I feel like I have about no reason to be. I put a flat head up to the supercharger case where the PTO gears are and gave it a listen, and it's a consistent kind of noise like you might imagine straight cut gears sound like when they're spinning at such high RPM. There are otherwise no noises that I can pick up on that would cause me to worry - no slapping, rattling, chirping, squeaking, etcetera - to be heard with my ear to the flat head, or during take off/spool up/etc. I don't drive too hard, but I've only had it for the past 5k or so.


I have no problem doing the service. The only problem is that I have to make a drive this weekend, and now for some reason (ignoring the genuine concern that faces these cars) I am absolutely paranoid that the PTO is about to eat it. Is there any reasonable way to ease that? Like, some diagnostic I might have forgotten that would clarify one way or another if the supercharger is about done?

 

Have a drink and relax. While the SC could crap out at any time (if you hear it, it's too late) you should be fine. I've thought about doing the service (I'm at 87K), but just buying a spare for a few hundred is a reasonable insurance.

 

Isn't that the worst? Don't really know until it's too late.


I'm planning on lifting the passenger side into the air a bit and taking a peek through the drain plug with a borescope, refilling with oil if needed. I know that's a band-aid at best, so I'm also planning the service anyways. Any opinions on a WMW rebuilt unit versus, say, Steigemeier or Autoxcooper?

 

hah


Now I've realized that the reservoir to worry about is on the opposite side of the charger. How little sleep have I had this week?

 

I've heard of people going way past 100k on their superchargers.

 

Remove the belt and run it. If the noise goes away it is probably the supercharger. Sounds like the supercharger to me. FYI, replacing the oil in it will not stop the seals from failing. I have seen seals fail at 60k and last 200k. My R53 has the original supercharger with original oil at 197k.

 

I have well over 240,000 on mine right now. Pulled it at 197,000 because I was nervous, then put it back on at 366,000. Currently just over 409,000.

Nik

 

What did you use from 197-366?

 

 

Curious as to what led you to put the original back on the motor if the '05 teflon s/c didn't fail.