electric superchargers. do they work? are they worth it?

[georgep]

http://www.force-flow.com/compareProducts.aspx
hey guys
i was just wondering will this work well with my mk4 golf.
thanks

[Mrk_Mickey]

Nope, don't go there!! They're nasty and cheap and horrible. All of them.

[gerhard]

I put one of those on my lawn mower, and it turned it into a post hole digger........

[static1800]

They make a good air blower for a pc!

[mk3pete]

They make a good air blower for a pc!

that is so awesome
makes me want to go buy one just for this reason

[static1800]

The guy ducted it to his window to pick up cold air, dropped his temps quite a bit. They are really loud though.

[gavs]

electric superchargers. do they work? are they worth it?

No and No, simple as that.

All you will find they do is disrupt the airflow into your engine. I thought these were cool about 3 years ago so I did some research into them and in dyno tests, nearly every car that they were fitted to LOST power due to the interrupted intake airflow.

If anyone is still under the impression they work, try this test:

Pop your bonnet and remove the ducting to your airbox but leave your airbox and filter in place. Get someone else to start the engine and rev it while you put your hand near and around the intake for the airbox and feel how much your engine sucks the air into it. Now think about the path that the vacuum comes from, past the intake valves, past fuel injectors etc, through your intake manifold, all the inlet tracts, the main feeder pipe, your MAF unit, and an air filter.

If you are STILL thinking that the ridiculous cost of one of these is justifiable, build a replica of your intake setup and stick the intake side of a hair dryer or domestic vacuum cleaner at the end of it, notice how there is little to no vacuum.

Nobody should waste their money on these things.

[Greg Roles]

If you're prepared to get a serious one...at serious bucks...then it appears it CAN work...

http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Elect...3/article.html

[Preen59]

I looked at these a while ago..



Using an Eaton positive displacement roots blower i think they have some merit.

However, considering it says that it only operates at wide open throttle.. You may aswell go for a turbocharger. And this is coming from me, "Mr I Love Superchargers". The advantage of a puffer is that you have a smooth boost and power curve and you get that boost (within reason) at the hit of the throttle. I really can't see any feasible reason to use one over a turbocharger (and definitely not a blower). There's no point in a supercharger that isn't engine driven. That's the whole advantage of them in the first place!

But hey.. Go forth and buy one and tell us if they're any good.. I'm only speculating.