This is a good question. Based on the below, it does appear that these foam pads are designated as 'Sound Insulation'. I'd be willing to pull them off and see (provided they are easily reinstalled). I'd like to be able to hear it a bit more.

The real question is do they also function to keep the mechanical bits warm as they turn on and off frequently in hybrid mode.

 

This is a good question. Based on the below, it does appear that these foam pads are designated as 'Sound Insulation'. I'd be willing to pull them off and see (provided they are easily reinstalled). I'd like to be able to hear it a bit more.

The real question is do they also function to keep the mechanical bits warm as they turn on and off frequently in hybrid mode.

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In a V60 PE review, Doug DeMuro claimed that the foam padding is for pedestrian impact safety (take this with a grain of salt). Makes sense though since it's a Volvo.

 

I'd love to see if doing so gains some noticeable audible increases in supercharger whine.

An aftermarket intake will increase supercharger whine. Vaitrix, etc.

Removing the foam vanity cover will primarily provide more DI injector and valvetrain noise. Not desirable.

 

Not talking about the 'valve cover' - talking about the sound insulation the wraps around the supercharger (items 4, 5, and 11 in the parts schematic).

 

Any insulation around the supercharger is probably more important thermally than acoustically. Since it's so nested in there I imagine it is very exposed to engine-bay heat. I would not remove that insulation.

 

Oh dang. Thanks!

 

I have the GruppeM intake and the increase in noise is subtle at best.

Vaitrix is definitely still in business. Just email them.

I’m not convinced that removing the supercharger sound insulation would be problematic. This type of insulation has been tinkered with by other factory s’charged communities for a while. I played with it a bit this weekend and, while I felt like I could squeeze it out, I was concerned about being able to reseat it if I ever needed to.

 

Another route is to increase the speed of our tiny roots blower - slap on a piggyback boost controller (e.g., Racechip, Vaitrix, etc).

The supercharger speed will increase from ~21k to ~24k (max rated RPM) and I guarantee you'll hear that. Better ROI too, considering you're getting an actual performance increase (instead of just worsened air filtration).

 

I had no idea the vaitrix box had control on the supercharger. I am now wondering if that is why I have been having strange throttle-lag at lower rpm, that definitely seems directly related to the supercharger, that I don't remember having when I first installed it or pre-installation... It really just started to become apparent.

 

The pertinent point is the Vaitrix box doesn't have control over the supercharger. So it's causing the supercharger to spin closer to or perhaps beyond it's capability. That could be desirable in some obvious ways but it's a side effect of what the box is trying to do: manipulate a few sensor inputs to the ECU to get a controlled power increase out of the engine program. There could be downsides, it's a very rudimentary way to go. Not without value, Burger tuning is well known and respected for VW tuning this way, though I think they are connecting to more sensors and may be more mature in general in piggyback tuning.

 

I found if you use Eurocompulsion the price is the same as Vaitrix and the product is available online. I almost feel like it is the same company with a different website

 

Bumping this up to see if OP or anyone else has removed the supercharger cover successfully?

I found a few topics from VW and Skoda forums where people have done such removal for Eaton M24 supercharger. Yes, it's different than the one used by Volvo but on this one it's purely for sound dampening as can be seen from the pictures and has no thermal properties at all (other than for trapping heat) as it's just a two part plastic cover with dense foam lining. Reportedly lowers intake temperatures by a few degrees which is not surprising so might be very worthwhile for people living in warm climate areas if you don't mind the slightly increased whine.

 

Go for it ;-) I can't imagine there is much heat issue, the supercharger case is not exactly efficient at transferring heat either way, and it's making plenty of it's own when compressing the air. I was looking at it when under the hood recently, the supercharger is at the back right up against the firewall, it does seem likely the stuff is for sound suppression, it looks like a completely plastic case.

 

I'm planning to but it's just so tight fit in there and my big hands are not exactly helping = D. Yes, I also don't fear any possible heat issues at all as seen of pictures taken from VIDA it's purely for sound insulation. Same thing can be read from VW-techical section.

I do remember there was some talk about pre-production T6-equipped Volvos press got to drive when these engines were introduced and they supposedly had much more pronounced supercharger sound which makes it seem more likely that this cover is an afterthought.

 

How'd you go with this, I was expecting some noise from the mst intake but it's pretty disappointing. I'd too probably remove those covers unless it melts anything ?

 

I never got around to doing it myself as I always thought it would be too much of a headache but had an afterthought this summer and actually my trusted mechanic did this today 😁. Took him a couple of hours.

The engine has to be tilted forward to give it some working space and it's pretty tight even so. There's only a single piece of thick cover on top of the supercharger, held by screws on the backside.

Difference is not a night and day as was to be expected but the whine is more distinct now, especially at around 3000 rpm and even so with windows down. Anyway, no complaints from me .

 

This would be on your 2018 right? Any thoughts on if the SPA might give easier access to taking that foam off?

 

That is an awesome find. If you ever get around to it would be interesting to hear how much louder it is from the cabin through a video.

 

It might be hard to capture without some proper equipment but I'll try at some point.

 

Does anybody tried it again on a SPA T6 and can tell us the change in supercharger noise after doing so?
Did you have to tilt the engine to do? If not, how were you be able to get rid of the insulation of the supercharger? Can you please post a video or sound file of the result including telling us other changes made to intake if done?

 

I don't have experience with SPA but apparently there is another way. Removing the windshield wipers, arms and the cowl panel also gives a better access but seems it's more work this way.