What does a supercharger do?
Car engines, which are called internal combustion engines, have 4 strokes that occur inside the engine to enable it to work, and the first stroke is the intake stroke, through which the air-fuel mixture is pulled into the cylinder to be ignited, and the engine is started.
When the air-fuel mixture is ignited, an explosion will occur inside each cylinder of the engine, and this explosion will produce a large amount of energy, and the force of this explosion, which is located above the cylinder head, pushes the piston downward, which leads to the rotation of the engine and the movement is eventually transferred to the wheels.
Since all engines need a fixed amount of air versus fuel, the engine will only receive the amount specified by the computer, but if more fuel is pumped into the cylinder, it means a stronger explosion, but you cannot simply pump more fuel into the engine because you need a certain amount of oxygen to burn a certain amount of fuel.
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Here comes the role of the supercharger, as its function is to increase the amount of mixture that will enter the engine by compressing the air above atmospheric pressure without creating a vacuum, and this pushes more air into the engine, which increases its power, and thanks to the additional air, more fuel can be added and the engine's power increases.
The supercharger is very important because it adds more horsepower, which varies according to its type, capacity, engine and weight, and more torque, and the supercharger helps to provide the engine with high-pressure air when driving at high altitudes, or when the engine's performance is impaired due to low air density and pressure.
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Signs of failing supercharger
There are clear signs that accompany a bad supercharger, either completely or partially, and they are:
Poor engine performance
One of the most important symptoms and signs of supercharger damage or close to be damaged is the noticeable decrease in engine power, especially when accelerating, and the reason behind the decrease in performance is the different proportions of air and fuel that will enter the engine through the supercharger, and this issue can be due to the damage of one of the parts of the supercharger or near the end of its life.
Whining gears
A common symptom of supercharger damage or nearing the end of its life is hearing a whining sound coming from the gears of the supercharger, and this sound is the result of the gears rubbing against each other after frequent use or the age of the supercharger, and this sound can be caused by the lack of lubricating oil on the gears or its quantity is small and insufficient to lubricate the moving parts in order to work smoothly.
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Rumbling sound
You may hear a strange rumbling sound coming from under the hood of your car immediately after starting the car when the supercharger is damaged, and this sound indicates that there is something wrong with the supercharger or the presence of debris inside it between the moving parts, and this sound is dangerous, and you should pay attention to it immediately to avoid causing later issues in the supercharger or perhaps your car's engine.
Clicking sound
The crackling sound from the supercharger usually appears when you step on the brakes and slow down your car, but when you accelerate or your car is loaded with heavy weights or when driving on a steep hill and the pressure on the engine increases, this sound disappears, and the cause of this issue is a defect in the main supercharger pulley that is above the gears.
Whistling sound
It is normal for the supercharger to make a beautiful whistling sound that car enthusiasts love to hear due to the nature of its work, and this is very normal, but if you notice that the whistling sound has become very loud and abnormal, this is one of the symptoms of supercharger damage, as the irregular flow of air can lead to a vacuum in the main supercharger unit, which leads to its damage.