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Author Subject: Rotrex Supercharger whining
doof

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Post #1
I figured it'd be best to start a new topic on whining 'chargers which might help people in the future. Sadly after 10k miles in my ownership my 'charger has started getting progressively louder and it's now easily as the level of the original supercharged mini cooper s.

1. It's probably done 15-20k miles, mostly motorway in my ownership and would have had new oil 8k miles ago.
2. It's whining really quite loudly now and has been getting progressively worse. At first I thought I was imagining it, now I know it's definitely far too loud.
3. Interestingly the whining seems linked to engine load as well as RPM. Tried left foot braking while accelerating and it definitely gets louder. I'm still trying to get my head around how this is possibly because engine load isn't transmitted through the belt to the charger. My only conclusion was that opening the throttle plate was "letting the noise out" as you can hear the noise coming from the air filter.

I'll check oil level ASAP but sadly my thinking is that if it's too low now, the damage has been done.

Are they difficult to remove / refit? I'm wondering about doing it myself to save pennies and just boxing it up to send it to Lynx.
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 10:05
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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

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Post #2
They are easy enough to remove mate. Yes

Shame it's failing though, if the oil level is ok when you check it, it'll be interesting to see what the failure was. Hmm

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 10:11
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m306

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Post #3
Wow youve done quite alot of miles with it. You gonna put up a video of it?

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 12:42
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doof

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Post #4
Yea it's never missed a beat, it's been fantastic up 'til now. I've done a lot of motorway miles and regularly get 400 miles to a tank when just cruising around yet it has all that power for the times when you can open it up. Going to take a look tonight and record a quick video.
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 12:45
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m306

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Post #5
Im glad youve been happy with it. Cool, i'll be interested to see what happens with this as i do still have an attachment to this car

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supercharged China gti6 - Thu 16th Sep 1999 - sold
2010 megane rs250
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 12:49
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doof

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Post #6
I've recorded a video mainly to show off the sound. It sounds ALOT worse in the video than it does in reality, mainly because the car is in a garage and so it's all boomy and echoey. Still you can see that as you walk away from the car, all you can hear is the whining. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f1SBuYt0IM

Also checked the oil with the engine running as per instructions. It's between min and max so all ok. It looks dark and could probably do with changing but i don't imagine that's my problem.

My one concern here is this. I expected to see oil flowing into the tank as it was running and I couldn't see any movement whatsoever in the reservoir while it was running. Should I clearly be able to see oil returning from the 'charger?! I'm thinking that if I had a blockage my 'charger would have disintegrated a long time ago but I'm not sure what to expect when I look into the reservoir...anyone?
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:13
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armzsc6

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Post #7
no mine never has moved in the reservoir noticeably when running on idle being checked etc. Best way to check circulation is as its warming up put your hand on the oil cooler and check if it begins to get warm. if it does then your all ook in that respect. may just have a bearing failure in the charger somewhere.

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:19
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m306

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Post #8
Wow yeah that definitely isnt in your head, it didnt sound like that before. This may be a bad time to suggest this but you should do a project thread, some pics of the car, any info on what youve done etc. can help in situations like this to know the history of the vehicle, as you do from me documenting it. And it could help others in the future if they have any similar issues... And i wanna see more of the car lol.

I would agree with you in that i think you could expect to see some sort of oil flow?

Do you know any info on the only other one known to have problems?

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supercharged China gti6 - Thu 16th Sep 1999 - sold
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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:21
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7057sam

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Post #9
Easy fix..just buy mine Smile

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:22
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doof

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Post #10
Once this is sorted I'll definitely get some more detail and pictures up Mark. Like you say, it's helpful for future owners and even if there are problems I think it's valuable to know the history.

How much for just the 'charger sam?
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:27
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doof

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Post #11
Didn't find out anything else on the other failed 'charger. Searching youtube there seem to be a few that sound similar. I'll get in touch with the owners and see what happened to theirs.
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:35
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m306

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Post #12
I heard rumours of it a few years ago but it all seemed abit hush hush. Would be interested to see if you can find out anything about it

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supercharged China gti6 - Thu 16th Sep 1999 - sold
2010 megane rs250
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 20:57
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phillipm

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Post #13
From the sound, one of the drive bearings maybe.

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 21:08
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doof

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Post #14
From the Rotrex technical guide - "It is important to position the throttle body downstream (after the supercharger) to avoid excessive vacuum, potentially collapsing hoses and damaging the supercharger. Positioning the throttle body upstream (before the supercharger) voids warranty."

It's before on the 306 right?!?!
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 22:17
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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

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Post #15
doof wrote:
From the Rotrex technical guide - "It is important to position the throttle body downstream (after the supercharger) to avoid excessive vacuum, potentially collapsing hoses and damaging the supercharger. Positioning the throttle body upstream (before the supercharger) voids warranty."

It's before on the 306 right?!?!


This is correct. Yes

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 22:26
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fatlapit

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Post #16
Its so that you can use the standard ecu. Which is why the lb conversion is so cheap

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 22:34
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doof

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Post #17
Ahh yes of course. Interesting the it voids the warranty though.
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 22:48
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ryangti6

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Post #18
That is odd especially seeing as though I can remember rich stating that his kits were approved by rotrex.

I've heard of a good couple of charger failures since the kits have been made albeit yours is the only one I've heard of with this type of issue, most self destruct and take the engine with them so you could consider yourself lucky in a way.

Good luck getting it sorted

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 23:00
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doof

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Post #19
Just emailed Rotrex and will probably call Lynx this week.

To be honest, the more I read about them the more I'm inclined to ditch the 'charger. I'm just not sure I dare spend another 1-2k on one of these. They seem like they purposefully keep customers at arms length through a distributor network, charge ridiculous prices for oil, offer no rebuilds or information on such things and do nothing but say "buy another one". Maybe it's just that the internet is full of horror stories and perhaps I'll get a favorable response from Rotrex or Lynx but right not i'm not feeling particularly confident in Rotrex.
Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 23:15
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eliotrw

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Post #20
Don't forget the Koeniggsegg CCX uses them, They aren't exactly fakes or something.

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Posted 21st Oct 2013 at 23:43
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m306

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Post #21
ryangti6 wrote:
That is odd especially seeing as though I can remember rich stating that his kits were approved by rotrex.

I've heard of a good couple of charger failures since the kits have been made albeit yours is the only one I've heard of with this type of issue, most self destruct and take the engine with them so you could consider yourself lucky in a way.

Good luck getting it sorted


Oh yeah this is what id heard, thanks Ryan.

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supercharged China gti6 - Thu 16th Sep 1999 - sold
2010 megane rs250
Posted 22nd Oct 2013 at 05:40
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stan_306gti6 Forum Admin

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Post #22
I think you've just been unlucky to be honest.

The chargers are generally very reliable providing you look after them.
For example, my C38 has been on my car since the beginning of 2010. In that time, the car has done 4 track days, numerous sessions on track at shows etc, Pugfest hill runs and been to Monaco and Italy 3 times without issue. I have changed the oil and filter once in all this time (after two years as recommended).

But then, I do always drive like a vicar in a Morris 1000 until everything is warmed up and I always let the engine tick over for a couple of minutes after use to ensure everything slows down before I switch off.

These things need looking after. I did exactly the same when I was using the C30 charger on low and high boost. And that charger is now bolted to a rally cross car which gets a hard life and is still going strong. I'm a strong believer in looking after equipment and it'll look after you. Smile

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Peugeot 306 GTi-6
2000 (X), Moonstone Love
Posted 22nd Oct 2013 at 07:13
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rallyestyle

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Post #23
Is there a chance something got into your intake system and perhaps damaged the impeller on the SC?

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Posted 22nd Oct 2013 at 08:22
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mechanical_repairs

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Post #24
Personally you may as well just send it to tts performance as they will deal with it anyway, from experience you will more than likely need a new one as you say spares are not available, tts have looked after me in the past and offered a great discount to soften the blow.

There is a place in America offering spares but they are not that cheap either then if It foes tits up you have dug yourself a bigger hole.

Carl

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Posted 22nd Oct 2013 at 22:09
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doof

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Post #25
Just spoke to Paul at TTS and he agreed the 'charger would go back to him anyway. He's speaking to the boss about a discount but basically I've got to buy a new one and this one is scrap Sad

As a side topic, here's a question. What do you do with an old, f*cked supercharger? Can I run it from a starter motor and create a monster leaf blower? Ideas please...

Posted 23rd Oct 2013 at 11:03
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