Today I learned ...

[Shel_B]

... that (some?) superchargers need to have their oil changed and that there's such a thing as "supercharger oil."
I didn't even know that superchargers needed oil.

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

Some are fed by the engine oil, and some have their own little sump.

 

[ctechbob]

As I recall it is some really odd smelling stuff too.

 

[Shel_B]

Some are fed by the engine oil, and some have their own little sump.

I didn't know about the sump, just figured they used engine oil.

 

[Shel_B]

As I recall it is some really odd smelling stuff too.

I'm impressed that you know how it smells. That suggests that you've used it, which suggests that others here have used it as well. Have we ever had a thread or a discussion about supercharger oil?

 

[ctechbob]

I'm impressed that you know how it smells. That suggests that you've used it, which suggests that others here have used it as well. Have we ever had a thread or a discussion about supercharger oil?

Wasn't my car. Just an Eaton blower on a friend of mine's that I helped install and later, change the oil on. He ended up getting the oil from the local GM dealer since they were using similar blowers on the Pontiacs at that time.

The used oil was stinky, the new stuff wasn't much better.

Don't know if it has changed over the years or not. This was probably 20 years ago or so.

 

[carviewsonic]

I had a supercharged 3800 in an Olds 98. Changed the supercharger oil at 120k miles (ish). Volume needed was only 6 - 7 oz. Old oil was black and stinky, new oil was clear and stinky. Was an easy to do
service.
The Olds had about 240k miles on it when my son sold it. The supercharger was getting noisy by then, but still going.

 

[ctechbob]

T

Thread 'GM Supercharger fluid'

Aug 18, 2004

This is a bottle of supercharger fluid meant for eaton superchargers. It's also recommended in some aftermarket applications. It's supposedly foams to lubricate the bearings. Some people have tried to cheap out and use synthetic engine oil or gear lube, which almost always leads to a destroyed SC. GM recommends checking and topping off every 30,000, but never changing it. Worse still most dealers and service stations don't even know about it, so this stuff takes some abuse. It also stinks very bad after use, must be the fatty acids? It's about $8 for 4 oz.

Ingredients per the bottle...

• T-Keith
• Replies: 5
• Forum: ATF, Differential, Trans, Brakes, P/S

There's been some discussion over the years:

 

[Shel_B]

Thanks! Saved me a search.

This is what I saw today:

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

*stares in gen 1 mini cooper*

 

[wtd]

I used to own a 2004 Monte Carlo SS Dale Jr. edition with the supercharged 3800 and I changed the supercharger oil in it with the AC-Delco oil from the dealer. I think the car had around 95,000 miles on it when I changed it. I just did it as preventive maintenance.

 

[RooflessVW]

*stares in gen 1 mini cooper*

I used Mobil Jet II in mine

 

[Egg_Head]

I changed the SC oil in my mother's Park Ave some years ago. Smelled like a$$ and I recall it took just enough to require you buying 2 bottles of the GM fluid.

 

[Shel_B]

What makes supercharger oil different from regular engine oil? What characteristics or additives does it have (or not have) that makes it supercharger specific? Viscosity? hy does it smell so bad?

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

I am assuming it does very well at incredibly high RPM

 

[Kira]

And the smell is from sulfur compounds....like some gear oils.

I had leaking struts which put out an incredible smell.

 

[Mainia]

Some here seemed to change theirs over 75,000+ miles mark. I would cringe leaving that small amount of oil go so long. I would have to dump at 5,000 miles, then at 25,000 and then at 75,000, and so on.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

BITOG bingo-

Does @High Performance Lubricants have any options or recommendations for those that have Superchargers and how often should that be done?

My fleet has none of that or even a turbo currently but I have friends that do.

 

[Exhaustgases]

I got one that has its own oil and weighs about 300 lbs.

 

[Kurtatron]

I own a Toyota Previa. After 1995 they added the supercharger to meet market demand. I knew from reading about them that they had supercharger oil. Kinda funny having to change supercharger oil in a soccer mom mobile.