FMIC question

[adrian_302]

is it better to upgrade the TMIC on a wrx or sti or is it better to convert it to a FMIC. thanks!

[FastRaft WRX]

depends if your running stock turbo or not...if your running a bigger turbo then a FMIC would always be a good idea because that eliminates the heat soak issue. But if you plan on running the stock turbo then an upgraded TMIC always works nicely

[DubtecV2]

You also might want to take into consideration the length of the intercooler pipes. With a top-mount you get very short pipes, but with a front-mount the pipes are longer thus resulting in a tiny bit of boost loss.

Correct me if I'm wrong........

[813_05_STi]

Boost loss can be easliy fixed, heat soak wont unless you go FMIC.

[davcivic]

Boost loss can be easliy fixed, heat soak wont unless you go FMIC.

Yes that. You will also experience a little more lag, because of the pipes, but nothing you have to worry about, nothing extreme. Think about it, all of the other cars running front mounts, with the stock turbo, don't bother, but if you are going to eventually upgrade your turbo, go for the FMIC now.

[Ronald Mcdonald]

adrian, why does it matter for you? just asking..lol

[Tits McGee]

Unless you are upgrading to a big mamma jamma turbo and a lot of other mods, a front mount isn't necessary. Just upgrade to a better top mount and get an IC sprayer, and it's just fine. I'm guessing you've never seen the clusterfuck of piping that is required for a front mount.

[813_05_STi]

Unless you are upgrading to a big mamma jamma turbo and a lot of other mods, a front mount isn't necessary. Just upgrade to a better top mount and get an IC sprayer, and it's just fine. I'm guessing you've never seen the clusterfuck of piping that is required for a front mount.

1-Bigger Top Mount+ The Stock Location of your Turbo= More Hot Air to suck in to your engine. AIT makes Huge HP differences on cars. And the IC sprayer is about as useful as pulling over and peeing on your IC. ;-)

[StiGuy]

Why would someone pull over and pee on their Icee??? Now if it was your friend's Icee well that's a different story. :lol:

And the IC sprayer is about as useful as pulling over and peeing on your IC. ;-)

[fadedSTi]

1-Bigger Top Mount+ The Stock Location of your Turbo= More Hot Air to suck in to your engine. AIT makes Huge HP differences on cars. And the IC sprayer is about as useful as pulling over and peeing on your IC. ;-)


lol, thats very incorrect. ill gladly take you for a ride with my ESX tmic and you can get out and touch it. it will be nice and cool. the water sprayer helps even more. add a little alcohol in the water sprayer tank and its even nicer ;-) a fmic is only needed if you plan on upgrading the turbo. ive seen dyno sheets with the same mods, only difference was one had fmic and the other a tmic. same numbers, lol

[TNathe]

by the time your under boost creating heat you are moving at a pretty good pace. Doesnt the sti's hood scoop force air right on top of the intercooler? I would think that is just as good as an FMIC with the advantage of shorter piping.

[fadedSTi]

by the time your under boost creating heat you are moving at a pretty good pace. Doesnt the sti's hood scoop force air right on top of the intercooler? I would think that is just as good as an FMIC with the advantage of shorter piping.


exactly correct. so much air is going on that tmic. if you want to get real fancy get some turbo wrap and a heatsheild to keep the temps even lower.

[davcivic]

All I know is that my stock intercooler, it was a wrx, was always hot. The hood scoop and the intercooler are both smaller, but it was always hot, with the FMIC my throttle pipe is fine, cool to the touch.

[TNathe]

but what was causing the heat on the cold pipe "throttle pipe"? Was it because the cold pipe was near the engine whereas now it isn't? And if so was the heat of the cold pipe HOTTER than the intake temps? Not sure how you'd really know, but if the cold pipe was warm/hot to the touch and the intake temps are hotter it really doesn't matter that the cold pipe was that warm since the intake temps aren't soaking the in the heat from the pipe anyways. Just some things to ponder, not that it matter since you've gotten an FMIC already.

[Zate]

1-Bigger Top Mount+ The Stock Location of your Turbo= More Hot Air to suck in to your engine. AIT makes Huge HP differences on cars. And the IC sprayer is about as useful as pulling over and peeing on your IC. ;-)

wrong in many directions..

the TMIC is just as effective in many situations as a fMIC, and better in some. The IC doesnt suck the hot air in, the intake position is what determines if you suck in hot air.

the IC acts just like a heatsink on a computer chip..its absorbs heat.. thats all it does... being in the front it means you can readily move air over the IC and remove that heat to allow it to absorb more heat from the air coming from the turbo.... its just a big chunk of metal designed to absorb heat.. the bigger the chunk the more heat it can absorb.. so thats why some FMICs are more effective..

water has a higher specific heat than the metal used in intercoolers.. and thats why alot of times the water to air ICs are ALOT more efficient.. thats also why a intercooler sprayer.. when done right.. is a REALLY effective way of impriving your IC efficiency.. water phase changes very easily.. phase change takes engery.it gets the energy from around it in the form of heat.. so when you phase change water (ie evaporate it) it cools things down.. actually it takes heat from them and makes it so they can absorb more heat.

what the TMIC does better than the FMIC is it has less volume of air to move.. when you back off the throttle to change gears or coast through a corner.. the throttle closes.. and the air flow stalls.. the BOV opens to vent some of this.. when you get back on the gas.. the time it takes to get that airflow moving again is "lag" .. larger volume of air = more lag .. alot of things can be done to hel this situation though..

FMIC's look better.. offer about the same advantages alot of the time in terms of efficiency to an UPGRADED TMIC (not the stock one) .. a good TMIC with a properly setup atomiser/water spray wil lhandle 500+ hp quite easily...

TMIC being not as good as FMIC for a number of applications is a myth along with the need for turbo timers..

they do look cool though.. and in some racing applications.. (ie lapping and rally and stuff) can be more efficient.. all depends on the FMIC/TMIc in question and how its set up.

[Billy]

There are so many variables involved that there is no one correct answer. In the most simple terms it comes down to application and setup. What are you going to be using the car for and what engine/turbo setup do you have.

If your turbo is so damn big, there might not be a TMIC that can flow what you need it to.

If you are running in drag events or something where you run for only a short amount of time, a TMIC with less piping might be the best for you....


I could go on and on, but why waste the time. Properly evaluating your goals and expectations is key when choosing anything for your vehicle.

[JonLGT]

FMIC+stock turbo= pointless lag.

[Franklin]

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[DubtecV2]

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[ImportImageRacing]

FMIC is better...i have the sickest specials on Turboxs and perrin front mounts...

[TNathe]

wow, great selling points. If your gonna try to market that its better justify it.

[ImportImageRacing]

I sell top mounts too, so i could care less either way...but with the florida heat...and if your going to do anything beyond a VF series, FMIC is the way to go. I had a txs TMIC on my 03 wrx with an 1820...made 306awhp on 20psi..

[813_05_STi]

FMIC is better...i have the sickest specials on Turboxs and perrin front mounts...

Whats your price? i bet you cant touch mine :)

[ImportImageRacing]

i cant post it...if you want it..PM me