Is it possible to install a blow-off valve on a supercharger? If yes, how?

Question

I heard it is but also that a blow off valve works with the air let off by the exhaust of the turbo a supercharger has no fumes to get rid off, as far as I'm concerned it is just directly connected to the engine. That is all I know. I'm not a mechanic and have no experience in hte field so osme one correct me if I'm wrong.

Answer 1

Your answer is sorta!

Basically a turbo system uses a blow off valve and a supercharger uses a by-pass valve. Both are use to let the excess air out when your throttle body is closed.

Every time you change gears or let off the gas your throttle body in your engine closes. When your throttle body is closed it is only allowing a tiny bit of air into the engine, which is called idle. As you step on the gas pedal the throttle body will open allowing more air into the engine causing your car to move quicker.

Now since both turbo systems and superchargers are forcing air into the engine this excess air has no where to go when the throttle body is closed. Usually this excess air will go back into the supercharger or turbo compressor and over time it will ruin it.

A by pass valve, blow off valve, or sometimes called a surge valve, lets the excess air out of the tube so you do not ruin anything. These valves are also used not only as a protection for your blower, but it also helps prevent surging. This surging is caused by trapped air that is in the tube before the throttle body. This air will cause your engine to surge and these valves will prevent it. That is the main reason why these valves are used and are important.

Now most supercharger systems will have these by pass valves if the system has a over 6psi of boost. If the supercharger compressor is a twin screw or roots type, it will have a built in by pass valve. Usually these will not make the whoosh sound because they have to be re routed back into the system. Now the other type of supercharger which is a centrifugal type will usually have one not built in but one that sits on the discharge tube, which is simliar to the blow off valves on turbo systems.

Now here is the tricky part. By pass valves do act like a blow off valve however most blow off valves are vented into the atmosphere causing you to hear the whoosh sound when changing gears. A by pass valve does have the same effect however it all depends on how it is mounted. If the by pass valve is vented into the air it will make that sound. However some have to be vented back into the air intake instead of venting into the atmosphere. Most Mass Air Meter cars will require it to be vented back because it is metered air. However if your car does not have a Mass Air Meter and uses a map sensor instead, then it can be vented into the atmosphere causing you to hear that whoosh sound.

Now you still can convert a by pass valve to vent into the atmosphere on Mass Air Meter cars. All you have to do is mount the by pass valve in font of the Mass Air. If you do it this way, it will not be metered air and you will not experience any problems.

I'm attaching a link for my sources to help explain in little more detail of what a by pass valve does. Hopefully this will help you out.

Answer 2

I'm not sure that would be possible. The purpose of a blow off valve is to release excess turbo pressure.

Answer 3

depends on the charger--turbo car blower car are different animals---need alot more info even nos cars are their own animal

Answer 4

Yes, it is called a wastegate. there are fixed that pop off at a set manifold pressure and manual that you can open when you want.