OK so a CBE is pointless so what about the TMIC
- Thread starter whitey4311
- Start date
Heat soak shmeat shmoak. I haven't noticed any effects of heat soak all summer and it has been over 100 here a few times. For daily driving I wouldn't worry about it that much with a TMIC unless you spend an ungodly ammount of time sitting in traffic.
With a FMIC you need a higher volume of air to build boost between all your shifts since you have more piping to fill after blowoff or venting. The boost lag effects probablly aren't that noticable either but I don't know from experience with FMIC.
For ease of install (and reinstalling stock if you are worried about bringing it in for service with aftermarket IC, though I wouldn't even think that would be an issue) and keeping stock ducting in place which also vents the battery TMIC is the way I would go.
With a FMIC you need a higher volume of air to build boost between all your shifts since you have more piping to fill after blowoff or venting. The boost lag effects probablly aren't that noticable either but I don't know from experience with FMIC.
For ease of install (and reinstalling stock if you are worried about bringing it in for service with aftermarket IC, though I wouldn't even think that would be an issue) and keeping stock ducting in place which also vents the battery TMIC is the way I would go.
Kosh said:
True!, for normal driving the stock i/c is fine and it would get the air flow it needs. But if you go to the track and have to sit there for a couple of minutes before a race you get heat soak like crazy. Remember the stock i/c sit right on top of the engine, so all that heat goes up right to the i/c. FMIC was better cooling efficiency.
Intercooler spray kit FTW 
I'm doing my first auto-x this weekend and I'll see if I notice heat soak. Leaving the hood open or spraying it down before the run would probably do the trick.
I'm just starting to really understand the entire forced induction process and I know I have a ton to learn. Great discussion going here I hope we can keep it up
I'm doing my first auto-x this weekend and I'll see if I notice heat soak. Leaving the hood open or spraying it down before the run would probably do the trick.
I'm just starting to really understand the entire forced induction process and I know I have a ton to learn. Great discussion going here I hope we can keep it up
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whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
So basically the stock TMIC is just fine at normal speeds and wont differ much by adding that ETS TMIC?
If that is the case I think my only upgrade is going to be the MS CAI that I already have and thats it. Any extra money will go toward negative equity so I can trade it out in 2-3 yrs.
Sounds like unless you go crazy with spending that this car is pretty tunned out as it comes. That seems good for me and I really enjoy its stock power like it is so far. The warranty is big for me especially since I paid for the 100k extended so to void it would be stupid.
I do love the info and am learning though so keep it coming.
If that is the case I think my only upgrade is going to be the MS CAI that I already have and thats it. Any extra money will go toward negative equity so I can trade it out in 2-3 yrs.
Sounds like unless you go crazy with spending that this car is pretty tunned out as it comes. That seems good for me and I really enjoy its stock power like it is so far. The warranty is big for me especially since I paid for the 100k extended so to void it would be stupid.
I do love the info and am learning though so keep it coming.
whitey4311 said:
With everything that you are saying, it sounds like you are on the right track man. Swapping out an intercooler or doing exhaust doesn't sound like something you'll need to do at this point. I don't know where you are in terms of mods but don't discount a few things on this car in terms of easy mods with good gains:
Wheels and tires - if you can get a big reduction in terms of unsprung weight you'll have a big bonus, mostly in handling but accel as well. Some good gains there. The stock rims are portly to say the least.
Mount/shifter bushings combo - really changes the shifting character of the car...more of a personal preference thing though.
Suspension - after the gear box, this was the first thing that I wanted to tinker with on the car (I've yet to do so). Coilovers could be next up on my list, but it's an expensive mod. The car is well set up from the factory but there is definitely room for improvement.
whitey4311 said:
No, you will see torque and hp gains with a larger top mount or front mount in everyday driving. It does better to cool the air and can handle a larger volume of air. Worth the upgrade. Hear from people that have upgraded their IC it is one of the best hp/tq for the money.
And for exhaust just upgrading the cat back isn't going to show gains but going with high flow cat or test pipe is going to net some gains and improve spooling. Not all mods will show direct hp or tq gains but will give other added benifits like spooling speed, heat reduction etc that you will notice but are not quantative.
AWR rear motor mount was one of those 'who'd a thunk it' mods where I noticed great improvement between shifts. I was really suprised how much the engine settled down between shifts and while launching. For the money this is my absolute favorite mod I have installed to date.
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whitey4311 said:
Adding the TMIC will make a difference and is worth it, for me the torque increase was most apparent. Just be prepared to work on it yourself before installation -depending on you own personal perspective of quality of course. I work in Quality Assurance and Design so at times i can be quite critical especially when spending my own money.
whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
Yeah I dont like to hear that the quality it shity after spending $500+ on something.
Sounds like a worth while mod but then agian after I sleep on it I really start to think that putting money into mods isnt the best idea. I would rather pay the car down some more and catch up with the depreciation so I can trade it out when something new and improved comes out.
Since I think this is a very fast car just with the CAI I am going to likely just leave it all alone and be happy with what I got. I saw some pics of the new STI hatch back and that thing looks sick and it its 4.5sec 0-60. I would love to get something like that in the near future.
Sounds like a worth while mod but then agian after I sleep on it I really start to think that putting money into mods isnt the best idea. I would rather pay the car down some more and catch up with the depreciation so I can trade it out when something new and improved comes out.
Since I think this is a very fast car just with the CAI I am going to likely just leave it all alone and be happy with what I got. I saw some pics of the new STI hatch back and that thing looks sick and it its 4.5sec 0-60. I would love to get something like that in the near future.
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- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
a larger, better flowing and more efficient designed intercooler - regardless of TMIC or FMIC - is going to perform better than the stock intercooler on these cars, period.
every intercooler will heat soak, better ones will not heat soak as much or as quickly. the advantage to a TMIC lies in the lack of piping and reduced flow path that your air charge has to travel. on vehicles that run lower boost, it is better to go with a TMIC to cut down on lag, improve overall response, etc. an FMIC allows one to use a larger core with direct access to cool air flowing directly onto the intercooler but one must take great care in designing the piping going to it. length, number of bends, materials used and of course the core being used can on thier own or together make all the difference.
we've seen - at stock boost - 10 to 15 whp gains on mazdaspeed3s in warm climates with the addition of the ETS top mount. BEGi dynoed a 9 whp gain - again at stock boost - with thier front mount intercooler in a texas climate.
every intercooler will heat soak, better ones will not heat soak as much or as quickly. the advantage to a TMIC lies in the lack of piping and reduced flow path that your air charge has to travel. on vehicles that run lower boost, it is better to go with a TMIC to cut down on lag, improve overall response, etc. an FMIC allows one to use a larger core with direct access to cool air flowing directly onto the intercooler but one must take great care in designing the piping going to it. length, number of bends, materials used and of course the core being used can on thier own or together make all the difference.
we've seen - at stock boost - 10 to 15 whp gains on mazdaspeed3s in warm climates with the addition of the ETS top mount. BEGi dynoed a 9 whp gain - again at stock boost - with thier front mount intercooler in a texas climate.
whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
Good info man thanks.
When you say WHP what does that stand for?
So you are syaing that this ETS TMIC would be $500 well spent? Why are some saying the quality is poor? Is there a refund or warranty policy on it?
My biggest question is do you see any warranty concerns on the car with this TMIC or does it simply just cool air better and wont cause any damage to the engine/turbo?
When you say WHP what does that stand for?
So you are syaing that this ETS TMIC would be $500 well spent? Why are some saying the quality is poor? Is there a refund or warranty policy on it?
My biggest question is do you see any warranty concerns on the car with this TMIC or does it simply just cool air better and wont cause any damage to the engine/turbo?
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- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
whitey4311 said:
i believe a better intercooler is money well spent on this car, yes. i believe the complaint noted above (and i'd have to reference my emails to be sure) is due to a fitment issue in terms of mounting the intercooler itself. on my end, complaints on the unit are pretty rare.
there is no way that the turbo or engine are going to be damaged by a better intercooler. its probably 'safer' in practice than a cold air intake.
ETS guarantees the product and will stand behind it.
ets is a nice product and will show gains. the pressure loss is about 2 psi less than stock. in other words its almost like adding to 2 psi to the car. it doesnt actualy add the boost though, it just uses what is already there more effectively. so far all fmic's i have seen are very expensive, show less hp gain, and have more turbo lag !
whitey4311
Member
- :
- MS3 GT Black Mica w/nav
Well I may just spend this money burning a hole in my pocket on that and make an order from you.
I dont know what size to choose or anything so can you help me out with the proper link to what I need?
Also as far as fit you will know best about this so does it require any mods to make it work or its a direct drop in fit?
Also have you felt first hand the gains from this TMIC in a MS3 and is it noticable? I am trying to understand where you will feel the WHP at a stop or at cruis speeds or across the full range.
I am glad to hear that it wotn cause damage to the engine or anything and that makes sense for something that does the same as stock but just more efficient and simply cools the air better.
Oh yeah one more question is will the stock boot seal up to the ETS TMIC like it does now? I notice there isnt that plastic stock cover over it so I assume the boot seals to the aluminum plate around the unit.
Thank you so much for helping me on this.
I dont know what size to choose or anything so can you help me out with the proper link to what I need?
Also as far as fit you will know best about this so does it require any mods to make it work or its a direct drop in fit?
Also have you felt first hand the gains from this TMIC in a MS3 and is it noticable? I am trying to understand where you will feel the WHP at a stop or at cruis speeds or across the full range.
I am glad to hear that it wotn cause damage to the engine or anything and that makes sense for something that does the same as stock but just more efficient and simply cools the air better.
Oh yeah one more question is will the stock boot seal up to the ETS TMIC like it does now? I notice there isnt that plastic stock cover over it so I assume the boot seals to the aluminum plate around the unit.
Thank you so much for helping me on this.
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