FMIC vs TMIC

[Boostfed_Mazda]

i am new to this forum and i wanted to know peoples views on top mount vs front mount. the pros and cons. i am trying to decide which to do and ive heard goods and bads for both please fill me in with any knowledge you have its much appreciated.

 

[skatethesea]

FMIC=some loss of boost depending on turbo size and boost goals.
TMIC=heat soak like a mo fo, especially on a daily driver sitting in traffic or for runs on a dyno.

 

[MSMS3]

OP: What are your current level of mods and what are your goals and objectives? Upgrading the IC might be pretty far down the list of mods for many of us.

In fact, I've not seen a need to do it yet, and this thing runs like a scalded cat. I'm pretty much fully bolted otherwise and have found the stock TMIC to be pretty efficient and to hold up pretty well, even in the hot, sticky, summer heat of south Mississippi. If you're otherwise bolted and tuned, then it might prove to be some benefit, but only if you are pushing the stock IC into heat soak. Just one opinion.

 

[skatethesea]

I havent seen a dyno of a FMIC on a MS3 yet. But I have been to many many dyno days with a couple of my FI cars. Some with FMICs others with water to air aftercoolers and the drop in HP from back to back pulls on the MS3 was about 35whp. I blame heat soak for sure. But as MSMS3 said. At your level you dont need it. And a Dyno run is a totally different animal than autocross or street fun where you actually have air running over the intercooler at good speeds. The dinky little fans at a dyno arent worth crap.

 

[Boostfed_Mazda]

ive got a few bolt ons already installed waiting for my DP and inlet to come in and but was curious to the fact of loss and gains and if it was worth it after those to do it because it seems to be much more effective compared to stock from what ive read my goal is to be driving a 300+ hp (safely) daily driver and eventually fully built car i am new to owning a turboed vehicle so most of my questions are probably really stupid and/or a waste but its very hard to get them answered because i have absolutely 0 friends in arizona with mazdas/or turboed vehicles let alone a shop around here that know a lot about them i feel like arizona sucks when youre in need of information haha

 

[spdjnke]

I'm happy with my ETS TMIC, haven't had any issues....as for heat soak well I don't worry about shyt like stop and go cuz....ok it heats up woopee, once you get moving it cools down, so what's the problem? best part, ride looks stock, don't have to worry about taking the bumper on and off to uninstall just incase you need warranty work. just my .02

 

[boosted1]

I'm enjoying my CP-e TMIC. I feel the same as stated above! ^

 

[frodaddyweez]

OP, do you have an HPFP or pump internals?
Seeing as youre about to do a DP, i would get those next before you think about an aftermarket intercooler. Tuning solutions help too.

I have an ETS TMIC and like others have posted, its good enough for me since i don't take it to the strip. Also, it cools down when you get going after being at a stoplight for awhile. I don't do stoplight races either...I want my clutch to last awhile lol

 

[KrGsMrNKusinagi]

FMIC=some loss of boost depending on turbo size and boost goals.
TMIC=heat soak like a mo fo, especially on a daily driver sitting in traffic or for runs on a dyno.

True... But with a TMIC you only get heat soak under the circumstances you listed.. A front mount will usually make more power if your a High HP car were talking over 450hp.. But a TMIC is only weak in those instances again you stated. I drove my car 100 miles got out and the TMIC was cold as the air outside the car or just as cold. Its about sitting as you stated is when the weakness comes out.

But since when do DYNO runs dictate performance they only post numbers and are not indicative of realtime performance since they cannot recreate every scenario

 

[Prev]

Just to add to this. On the Nurburgring my 3MPS was suffering from heat soak about 3/4 of the way round my lap. Stock TMIC is s**** for prolonged fast driving. It just couldnt keep up. FMIC is next on my list before my trip to the ring and spa this year.

 

[KrGsMrNKusinagi]

Just to add to this. On the Nurburgring my 3MPS was suffering from heat soak about 3/4 of the way round my lap. Stock TMIC is s**** for prolonged fast driving. It just couldnt keep up. FMIC is next on my list before my trip to the ring and spa this year.

Maybe you were going too slow

 

[Maniacmx3]

I went with a fmic as one of my first mods. I lost no spool from the turbo at all. I am fully bolted and i spool at 1800 rpms. You will loose boost depending upon what size intercooler piping you go with and also what size core you go with. I personally thought it was a great thing to do. The car ran much smoother throughout the rpms. To each their own, but i loved this mod.

 

[meicalnissyen]

I propose an alternative

;-)

 

[meicalnissyen]

 

[meicalnissyen]

Screw it

 

[meicalnissyen]

Evidently

The new asset manager in version 4.x sux dog balls

Wish i could take responsibilty for my pic trouble, but, its just s*** software

 

[Outkast]

I placed an order with SU at the end of April originally for a SU TMIC. I was told the SU TMIC was being replaced by SURE Motorsport TMIC and the SU was no longer available (even though it is still posted on SUs site). The reason for the replacement is the SURE product was a better product than SUs. What better is being gauged against Im not certain. I was looking to get the SURE TMIC by the end of May. Well nothing showed so I had to reach back out to SU and ask for a status. I am now being told 6 months before the SURE TMIC is available. My options were a COBB FMIC or ETS TMIC. Every mod Ive made is to replace the OE with a better after market product. So Im going to go with the ETS and not wait 6 months for SURE. I am a bit bummed and hope my decision to go with ETS and not waiting 6 months for SURE is going to be a good one

 

[MSMS3]

I guess you know that SU and SURE are the same people. SURE stands for Street Unit Racing Equipment.

 

[meicalnissyen]

for dd i would say f<t

i have been dickin arond with my laic for a year, learned alot, and it it very consistent, has zero pd, etc

that said i have spent the cost of a ets, lost reliability, gained off the line boost

i dunno, at the end of the day, a good tmic is likely best

 

[Gmac03]

Only mods I have are CAI and Forge BPV, and on my drive from NY to Florida a few weeks ago I was badly heat soaked by Kentucky (drove straight south through the midwest).

Now, yes by the time I reached Kentucky I was in the car for 10 straight hours, but with sufficient air flow that shouldn't be a problem.

Gmac