hard to decide ETS TMIC or COBB FMIC

Even though I have an AP, when it comes to upgrade my IC I'll go for Top Mount simply because it's alot less of a hassle, looks nice in the engine bay, and I"m not that serious about racing/heatsoak. My car is just a daily driver. Unless you're taking your car to a track where heatsoak is definitely a major problem I don't see the "need" to get a Front Mount over a Top Mount.
 
Well, I posted in here over a year ago, and I had the ETS TMIC, loved it. Well, I switched modes, installed one of the Protege Garage FMIC kits. The difference is I feel more power now than with the ETS. It was a lot of hassle to install, mainly working the piping. Now it is installed, I am happy with my decision to go FMIC.
 
I like my ETS TMIC. I've did an upgraded motor mount so it has never hit my firewall ever. I do however have a problem with my Street Unit boost tubes and the TMIC. maybe 3 weeks to a month of driving hard and I have to go and adjust the front tube as the IC will work it's way out over time. It's kind of a pain in the ass but it's the only downside I have seen since getting it.
 
slightly agree,

about once a month i will pop the hood and retighten everything just to make sure, same with the RSB.

In the end worth ever minute, i love playin with my car
 
flyingm2008 said:
Well, I posted in here over a year ago, and I had the ETS TMIC, loved it. Well, I switched modes, installed one of the Protege Garage FMIC kits. The difference is I feel more power now than with the ETS. It was a lot of hassle to install, mainly working the piping. Now it is installed, I am happy with my decision to go FMIC.
Click to expand...

I don't understand. Not doubting you but the ONLY advantage a FMIC has over a TMIC is the resistance to heat soak. The cores are often of similar size. So when both are working at cool / peak efficiency there should be no difference in raw power.
 
But idling in traffic will warm up the TMIC. I know that when I stop from a steady drive, the TMIC was cool to the touch. Shortly thereafter, it was scalding hot. I will get some datalogs later in the year to compare the IAT differences. It is sub-freezing now, so temps would be way off. I know that since I went FMIC, I do have more pull when accelerating.

The FMIC/TMIC debate is common, and really is on many forums. The main difference is indeed heat soak, and now I do not get it in traffic for sure now.
 
Having a fmic, I can say that it is more of a "cool factor" part than a necessity. The hood ducting is well engineered and provides sufficient air flow through whatever tmic you choose, and you will enjoy the power gains. With a fmic, you have to maintain it, watch your couplers, and verify things don't shift and start rubbing where they shouldn't. I have piping that has been lightly rubbing on my a/c line and has almost worn through both the intercooler pipe and a/c line. That one snuck under the radar. I had a leak that needed repair discovered on a pre-dyno inspection. The weld for the valve flange cracked and needed to be repaired. And although I would not call it lag, the on/off swith that I had with my tmic is not there with my fmic. Boost comes on a little softer with a fmic. Honestly, if the price wasn't right for the fmic, I would have gone with the tmic. I would not worry about heat soak in traffic. You probably won't have much luck hard-assing your car in traffic anyway with either ic choice! haha
 
flyingm2008 said:
But idling in traffic will warm up the TMIC. I know that when I stop from a steady drive, the TMIC was cool to the touch. Shortly thereafter, it was scalding hot. I will get some datalogs later in the year to compare the IAT differences. It is sub-freezing now, so temps would be way off. I know that since I went FMIC, I do have more pull when accelerating.

The FMIC/TMIC debate is common, and really is on many forums. The main difference is indeed heat soak, and now I do not get it in traffic for sure now.
Click to expand...

People talk so much about heat soak but I have the SU TMIC and even in my florida heat it RARELY gets hot. Ive let it sit for like 2-3 minutes in 95+ florida heat and its still cold enough to touch. ITs not cold like right after a drive but its "warm." Not like the stock TMIC where if you sit for 10 seconds you can boil an egg on it.

It really takes a lot of sitting around to soak it. And a CO2 spray kit will fix that.

Im glad you like your FMIC though. Its clearly the better IC. Once I lose my warranty after 36K I will probably get one. The ease of install of the TMIC is so great though. 10 minute install ftw.
 
Jchouin1 said:
Having a fmic, I can say that it is more of a "cool factor" part than a necessity. The hood ducting is well engineered and provides sufficient air flow through whatever tmic you choose, and you will enjoy the power gains. With a fmic, you have to maintain it, watch your couplers, and verify things don't shift and start rubbing where they shouldn't. I have piping that has been lightly rubbing on my a/c line and has almost worn through both the intercooler pipe and a/c line. That one snuck under the radar. I had a leak that needed repair discovered on a pre-dyno inspection. The weld for the valve flange cracked and needed to be repaired. And although I would not call it lag, the on/off swith that I had with my tmic is not there with my fmic. Boost comes on a little softer with a fmic. Honestly, if the price wasn't right for the fmic, I would have gone with the tmic. I would not worry about heat soak in traffic. You probably won't have much luck hard-assing your car in traffic anyway with either ic choice! haha
Click to expand...



Exactly what I was thinking :)
 
I am debating on getting the COBB fmic. I'm not sure if i'll have any fitment problems. I have a Takeda CAI and HKS SQVIII. Does anyone have Takeda CAI with cobb fmic?
 
Jchouin1 said:
Having a fmic, I can say that it is more of a "cool factor" part than a necessity. The hood ducting is well engineered and provides sufficient air flow through whatever tmic you choose, and you will enjoy the power gains. With a fmic, you have to maintain it, watch your couplers, and verify things don't shift and start rubbing where they shouldn't. I have piping that has been lightly rubbing on my a/c line and has almost worn through both the intercooler pipe and a/c line. That one snuck under the radar. I had a leak that needed repair discovered on a pre-dyno inspection. The weld for the valve flange cracked and needed to be repaired. And although I would not call it lag, the on/off swith that I had with my tmic is not there with my fmic. Boost comes on a little softer with a fmic. Honestly, if the price wasn't right for the fmic, I would have gone with the tmic. I would not worry about heat soak in traffic. You probably won't have much luck hard-assing your car in traffic anyway with either ic choice! haha
Click to expand...
I also have the same fmic and PG tubes. Which ac line was rubbing? I made a couple of clearence dents for the bottom. Now i have do the same with the top ac line. Did you have any rubbing or wear on one of the coolant lines?
 
blursports said:
I also have the same fmic and PG tubes. Which ac line was rubbing? I made a couple of clearence dents for the bottom. Now i have do the same with the top ac line. Did you have any rubbing or wear on one of the coolant lines?
Click to expand...

After yanking and adjusting, the pieces don't seem to touch anymore. Good thing too, because they have both taken some abuse!
 

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