18psi

iTrader: (76)

I'm on my.......9th? turbo Subaru.

Still digging it. It's a jack of all trades, master of none, but that's ok in a street car and I really enjoy said trades.
If it wasn't for the kiddos, and some trips to the snow, I would still be driving, and utterly loving, my s550.

z31maniac

Putting it like that, as long as I fit in it with a helmet and like the way it drives, that's really perfect for me. The GT PP2 and 1LE are really hardcore track monsters with

I'll only be doing a few HPDE's per year in it and maybe an AutoX here or there. But as usual for OK, will be skipping any June/July/August events because of the heat.

Do you think there is any traction to the factory UEL and the cast portions holding heat helping with the cracking the #4 ringlands?

18psi

iTrader: (76)

It runs hotter because of the backpressure, because of the design of the UEL, not because it's cast. It also is last to get fuel per the oem routing. It's also .7-1.4 degrees more advanced than the other cylinders per the knock sensor placement and oem knock detection strategy. That's why it usually goes first.

z31maniac

Do the tuners change that #4 ignition tuning to help prevent that? Do you when you tune them?

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Are you calling me a tuner?

No, I don't. Because it's a smart strategy and would result in multiple cylinders blowing up if you disabled it.

z31maniac

Well I didn't mean disabling the FLKC or whatever.

Just heard back from my agent. Surprisingly a new STi is only $10/more per month on insurance than the '15 BRZ.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

FBKC and FLKC are a different part of the knock control strategy. I'm talking about targeted advance on #4 specifically. The knock sensor is on #4. You want that cylinder to knock first before the others so you can detect it quicker and react quicker. Morons who disable this function effectively disable half of their knock control system. (and yes, plenty of PRO TUNERS do this, you'd be surprised)

The only real solution is multiple sensors, or at least 1 on each bank. Higher end cars have this. Subaru is too cheap.

But really, proper tuning is #1, right up there with proper care. Everything else is not really needed.

z31maniac

AHhh ok, gotcha. I was misunderstanding what you were getting at. Thanks for the clarity.

Can you suggest any tuners on the STi front? I don't mind driving down to Texas to get a proper dyno tune, but have no idea who is reputable and who isn't. And will understand "Track safe" tune and not "ALL OF IT"

18psi

iTrader: (76)

I always recommend myself. But I'm a tiny bit biased

I'm sure there are plenty of decent tuners in texas.

z31maniac

Yeah, I just figured with the finicky nature of these motors, a dyno tune is probably best.

The 6 spd trans and the rest of the drivetrain are pretty solid though, right?

18psi

iTrader: (76)

road tune > dyno tune. only part dyno tune is useful for is testing det limits with load bearing brake

yes

z31maniac

Excellent. Thanks for all the info. If I fit and like it, it's going to be hard to wait!

z31maniac

Growler Motor Labs said the 15+ STi does have an ECU counter, even when flashed back to stock they could tell if they check.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

lol who even is that?

And I'd love to see proof

z31maniac

Platinum COBB dealer with an in house dyno and tuning setup in Plano.

Your friends car you were talking about, was it modified other than the tune? I remember you telling me the Subaru techs see any car that is modified they immediately check it for a tune when the car is brought in.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

link me to the proof/evidence they posted. because every other person under the sun makes statements like that without even a hint of proof.

also my contacts at subaru dealership apparently didn't get the memo

z31maniac

No proof, I just asked them. If the dealership can't see if after the car being unmarried and back to stock, that's another tick in favor of it.

18psi

iTrader: (76)

Interesting. because cobb themselves said in the giant thread on nabisco about this topic, that they still haven't found a shred of proof of a counter code.

But either way: if you're smart about it, you'll be fine like 99% of us. If you're dumb about it, welp.....

z31maniac

Yeah, I'm not saying you or your buddies or wrong, just relaying what was told to me. From what I'm seeing (I've been reading tons the last 48 hours), it seems the 2018s aren't really seeing any peak gains on Stage 1 tunes, but are seeing pretty good gains in the midrange and spool/throttle response.

Like I said, I know the BRZ was my fault for thinking I had already previously flashed it back to stock. So when I took it in slammed on 18x9.5 RPF1s, 255 Star Specs, and a cat-back, like you mentioned, they immediately went and checked the ECU and........busted.

ridethecliche

iTrader: (2)

If you have the cash for it, why not buy a mid 2000's STI with a blown motor? Have the motor rebuilt with forged internals, a better oil pickup and all that **** that people do, and enjoy the car at what the stock trans can handle without worrying about it.