# How to bypass a supercharger?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-bypass-a-supercharger/235062>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 18, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-bypass-a-supercharger/235062 "2004-03-18T18:50:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![1kBR\_Kid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/dc4da7/32.png) [@1kBR\_Kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/1kBR_Kid)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-bypass-a-supercharger/235062/1 "2004-03-18T18:50:34Z")

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I’ve heard that the Toyota SC14 supercharger has a clutch and can be bypassed. When it’s not “on”, does intake air take a different path to the engine? Does the air pass through it with rotors free-wheeling? I had thought it was the latter but some gearheads I know said that wouldn’t work.

Thanks, Lee

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**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-bypass-a-supercharger/235062/2 "2004-03-18T19:00:42Z")

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Air probably goes through another way. A freewheeling supercharger would pose a huge air restriction, and maybe force the engine to stall.