Tacoma TRD Supercharger is the Best Way To Transform the Engine

History of Tacoma

The first Tacoma appeared in 1995, and it served as a replacement for Hilux (or HiLux). There have been three generations of Tacoma, and each offered a couple of upgrades and improvements. The original name for the U.S. market was Toyota Pickup, but it was changed when the first series was introduced.

• The first generation from 1995 to 2004
• Second-generation from 2005 to 2015
• The third generation starting from 2015

Each generation came in several different versions when it comes to engines, which is why you need to know which model you have exactly before you go on searching for a TRD supercharger kit.

If we are talking about TRD versions of Tacoma, they were first introduced in the second generation, and there were two packages available — Sport and Off-Road.

The Current Generation

The current generation of Tacoma — that is, the third one — started in 2015. The first changes in this generation were for 4Runner and Tundra, and Tacoma soon followed the improvements. There have been two options when it comes to engines, and you could choose between:

1. 2.7-liter l4
2. 3.5-liter V6

And these were the only options for Tacoma for the current generation. Tacoma abandoned the 4.0-liter engines that were available in the previous iteration, which makes things a bit simpler if you are looking for a blower. The reason why is that there are only two options for superchargers — one for the l4 version and another for the V6 engines.

Different Models of Tacoma TRD

As for the TRD series, there are three different versions of Tacoma in the third generation.

Tacoma is currently available in:

• Tacoma TRD Sport
• Tacoma TRD Off-Road
• Tacoma TRD Pro

Since the TRD program was discontinued in 2015, you won’t be able to find superchargers designed by Toyota, but there are other available options. Another important difference is that all of these TRD models have a 3.5-liter V6 engine, which will make the process of finding the right blower significantly simpler.

You won’t need to worry about different models and types, and all you need to do is match the year of the blower with your car. All three Tacomas use the same engine, which means that you can also use the same supercharger.

Should You Go For a Tacoma Supercharger Kit?

While it is possible to get a supercharger only, we wouldn’t recommend it. Buying a supercharger kit is always the best possible option.  The reason for this is that, during the installation, you might need to replace a couple of parts on the engine. If you buy a supercharger on its own, you will need to find these parts elsewhere. At least if you want for the blower to run as intended.

A common question asked is how much is the TRD supercharger kit? You can learn more about where to buy kits, cost, installation and more. What is different with kits is that they arrive with all the necessary parts for the installation. You won’t need anything additional for the process, and they will be ready out of the box.

The process is simpler, and you will know the exact parts you need to upgrade. Furthermore, supercharger kits are a lot more common, and there are many different brands you can find out on the market. Naturally, the price is higher, but it is well worth it if you want to do it right.

How to Install a Supercharger In Your Toyota Tacoma

Once you find the model of the supercharger you like, you can proceed to the installation. The process of installation is quite simple, and all you need to do is take your car to the local service and leave everything to professionals.

This is another thing that will increase the overall cost, but it is the simplest way to approach the problem. In general, the installation of superchargers will cost around $500, but you can always check it with the service so you can plan ahead. But letting pros help you will also eliminate the possibility of something going wrong during the process.

Toyota used to offer supercharger packages, but TRD models were discontinued a few years back. So it might not be possible to find one at a dealership or online like E-bay for example.

Can You Do It by Yourself?

If you are interested in supercharging your Tacoma, you should know that it is possible to install it by yourself. However, this requires at least some experience. If you get a kit, the only other thing you will need is appropriate tools for the installation. The majority of manufacturers will provide you with an instruction manual you can follow, and it will require some time before your car is ready.

For those that had no previous experience with the installation, it might be best to leave it to someone who knows what they are doing. Of course, the main question here is how comfortable you are with the installation.

TRD Tacoma Supercharger

It is possible to find Tacoma TRD models made before 2015 that arrive with dealer-installed superchargers. As we mentioned before, these aren’t available on the newer models, so you will need to find them separately.

Another thing to mention is that you can use the same blower on any Tacoma truck that shares the same engine. TRD models are not different when it comes to engines, and they will have the same power on the output.

Toyota Racing Development or TRD previously used Roots-type blowers on the majority of models, but you could also find ones with centrifugal or Eaton blowers. So, the main question here is whether you have the newer model made from 2015 and onward or one of the older TRD Tacomas.

How to Find a Toyota Tacoma TRD Supercharger

As we talked about before, the most important thing to know is the series and type of the engine. Tacoma went through many changes since it was introduced in 1995, and the same thing applies to engines and powers. Previous TRD models included:

1. 5VZ-FE 3.4 L V6 between 1995 and 2004
2. 1GR-FE 4.0 L V6 between 2005 and 2015
3. 2GR-FKS 3.5 L V6 from 2015

As you can see, each generation of Tacoma had its own TRD category, and the engines changed with each. So, the main question here is which one you have. Based on the year of manufacturing, you can easily find the type of engine that’s in your Tacoma.

5VZ-FE	3.4 L	190 hp and 220 lb⋅ft
1GR-FE	4.0 L	270 hp and 278 lb⋅ft
2GR-FKS	3.5 L	278 hp and 265 lb⋅ft

From there on, the process is simple — all you need to find a supercharger that can fit the engine that’s in your car. If you own a vehicle from 2009, you will need a blower for a 4.0-liter V6. The only problem you might encounter is for trucks made in 2015 since they can have either a 3.5-liter or 4.0-liter engine.

Types of Superchargers for Tacoma

Since Tacoma trucks are rather popular, you will have plenty of different options when picking a supercharger. This includes the best brands on the market and most sought-after types. You can find centrifugal superchargers, turbo, and PD pumps. The last one is probably the most popular one, and it includes the Roots-type blowers we previously mentioned.

If you are interested in something a bit different, you can also find Whipple superchargers known for their excellent quality. The most important thing is that you will have a choice regardless of your taste.

Is Toyota Tacoma Supercharger the Same as TRD models?

If we take a look at the vehicles from the same series, the engines will be identical. For example, Tacoma TRD Pro and Tacoma TRD Off-Road will have identical 3.5-liter V6 engines. However, these vehicles will have other differences like suspensions.

But if you take a model from one series and compare it to another model, you will notice some changes. You can always check the list in the previous part to see how the engines changed with each new model of Tacoma.

This means that finding a blower for the same year will be identical for standard Tacoma and the TRD model. Of course, you should always check the details to see if there are any unlisted changes to your version of the truck. The process will be significantly simpler compared to other vehicles since Tacoma doesn’t have a variety of engines with each generation.

Maintenance of the TRD Supercharger for Tacoma

One of the main things people want to know is whether maintenance is difficult once you supercharge your truck. Once the blower is in its place, there isn’t much left to do. All you need to do is change the oil in the supercharger every once in a while. How often exactly is usually determined by the manufacturer, but it is usually as often as you change the engine oil.

The reason why this is so important is that the oil in the blower acts both as a coolant and as a lubricant. This is why you need to use the type and brand recommended by the company that designed the supercharger.

Can You Find a Tacoma 2.7 Supercharger?

Yes. There are several models of Toyota Tacoma that use a 2.7-liter engine. We can see different types and sizes of engines for each generation of Tacoma in the table.

First-gen	Second-gen	Third-gen
2.4 L 2RZ-FE l4	2.7 L 2TR-FE l4	2.7 L 2TR-FE l4
2.7 L 3RZ-FE l4	4.0 L 1GR-FE V6	3.5 L 2GR-FKS V6
3.4 L 5VZ-FE V6

As you can see, each generation of Tacoma offered a supercharger for the 2.7-liter engine. However, there are differences between these models, and you will need to find a blower suitable for the year of your car.

How To Find a Tacoma 4.0 Supercharger?

Taking a look at the previous list, it is obvious that Toyota made models with 4.0-liter engines, and these were a part of the second generation of Tacoma. These vehicles were made between 2004 and 2015, and this engine was one of two possible options.

Naturally, you can find a blower for this truck, and it will give you a significant boost in performance. The situation is a bit simpler since there are no 4.0 engines in other generations, and the model was discontinued in 2015. This also means that these superchargers are available in the TRD option as well. At least if you manage to find one made before 2015.

Finding a 2015 Tacoma Supercharger is a Great Idea!

Supercharging your Tacoma is always a good option since it will give you a noticeable boost in power. Based on the type of engine, you can expect at least a 30% boost in horsepower and torque, which will help you transform your truck into something exceptional.

If we consider the prices of new vehicles, it is more than obvious that this is an excellent idea. Even if you take it to the service and pay for the installation, it is still worth every cent. And who would be able to say no to a more powerful engine?