15+ WRX Flex Fuel Tune Review

Reviewing my flex fuel protune from phatbotti tuning and talking about what I like and don't like. with the flex fuel tune the car is making over 400hp at the crank and over 350whp!
............................Mod List..................................
- Cobb Accesport
- Phatbotti Pro-Tune (E50)
- Cobb Flex Fuel Kit
- Deatschworks 300c Fuel Pump
- Torque solution TGV delete
- Torque Solution EGR delete
- ETS cold air intake
- Mishimoto Intake Box
- Mishimoto dual catch can system
- Grimmspeed EBCS
- 1320 Performance 3" Catless DP
- STI Resonated Midpipe
- ETS Axle Back
- CNT Top mount intercooler
- Boomba BPV
- VMS Shifter Bushings
- Perrin Pitch Mount Brace
- Perrin Shifter Stop
- Stoptech Slotted Rotors
- Stoptech Street/Track Pads
- H&R Lowering Springs
- Ambit Re82 wheels
- Subispeed V1 Headlights
- OLM LED Turn Signals
- JDM Grill
- Diode Dynamics Tail/Turn Module
- 18 STI spoiler
- Seicane Android Headunit
- Subaru Vortex Generator
- Weighted shift knob
- Custom Painted Tail Lights
- Lexani Performance 245/40/18 Tires

[@garyh3123]

I've been running 100% e85 from pump now for 6 years on wrx and lgt living in Ohio and never have issues with starting

[@StreetInspired1]

That's awesome! I've never had any issues either but I've heard some people say its an issue.

[@alexpeguero38]

Street Inspired what the issue? I’ve considered flex but o think I’m staying on pump full bolt ons

[@Logan.gt350]

What kinda mpg you getting on 100% ff

[@Chad_D]

I have been running 4 gal e85 and 8 gal 93 for 4 years now and never had issues . I don't have any issues with my fuel system. I also don't cycle 93.

[@StreetInspired1]

Nice! To he honest I've been running the opposite, about 8-9 gals e85 and top off with 93. I've been pretty bad at putting in ethenol stabilizer and almost never cycle 93 either and so far havent had any problems.

[@Chad_D]

@@StreetInspired1 Oh yes I also don't run any stabilizer =p . Im guessing the people having problems with e85 blends are people doing over 70+% e85?

[@StreetInspired1]

@@Chad_D I think that's just it. My pump is ethanol rated but it says anything over 60% will exceed the wear on it. Do full E85 on cheaper pumps is probably where these horror stories come from!

[@calderb2]

Hey great video!!!! Very informative, I am currently running a 93oct Stage 2 protune from Surgline up in Portland but just moved down to SOCAL and now looking for a new tune for 91oct/E85. So hopefully Ron will hook it up. Again thanks for this video.

[@StreetInspired1]

Thank you! And you are definitely much closer to him now lol I would recommend going and doing a full dyno tune over an e-tune. He does great work!

[@ogpunkbuster]

Great video bro!!! Im really thinking of going flex fuel with a phatbotti tune, my only worry was cold starts in fuel pressure issues but by the looks of it with proper care they can be avoided....nice car!!!

[@StreetInspired1]

Thanks brother! And yeah I was worried about that at first too but still haven't had any issues and its been been in the 20s here the last few days lol

[@justinvarela760]

If you can Do the mpg the old school way please. Don’t think the computer way is accurate. Would love to see what the actual mpg is. Fill tank- reset miles- drive car - refill tank - do the math (millage divided by gallons = mpg)

[@StreetInspired1]

I've actually done this on a road trip and got an average of 33.2 combined city qnd highway

[@Seriouslee619]

Dang. You got the RE82. Ambit was out of the re82 so I settled for the re83 instead. Can you make vid of a quick walk around of your car? From the thumbnail picture your car looks sick asf!

[@StreetInspired1]

Yeah I'll make a walk around video soon! The motor is out at the moment for a clutch and I've been working on a video for that! Haha

[@tubeyuber803]

Awesome video!! Thank you

[@bighitmayfield646]

Dude I spent 41k MSRP. You got lucky. Of course I had less then 1k miles. Im happy that you out your modes on their. Im going to buy every thing on your list. How much whp did you say you have? Exact numbers please.

[@GHOSTPAYNE]

Nice vid and also wondering what is stock horsepower to the wheels then on stage 2+ and then stage 3 which is on flex fuel just wondering if you got some numbers for me

[@WheelsAndBusinessVlogs]

Hey man, I see you're at 64k miles. Any problems all throughout those miles? What mods? and do you constantly beat on it?

[@StreetInspired1]

Honestly I was pretty hard on the car. I would recommend upgrading the clutch and motor mounts as preventative maintenance if you plan on track days and doing a few launches here and there. Honestly besides the clutch eventually giving out after going flexfuel the car ran great throughout the whole time! The transmission did blow shortly after the new clutch was installed but I believe it was because of the wrong gear oil being put into it.

[@andresmolina980]

Do you recommend a new clutch when you go e85? I plan on going e85 in the summer. I’m doing 315whp with 330 tq right now.

[@StreetInspired1]

I Would. About 6k miles after going flexfuel my stock clutch gave up. The car was at 60k miles tho

[@khanh6903]

How much ethanol stabilizer do you add per tank? What is the E85/Gas ratio to get E55-60?

[@StreetInspired1]

About 8 gallons of straight e85 and top off with gas will get you around e50. I only have flexfuel where i live which can be 50%-85% ethenol. Ive been adding 9.5 gallons of that and top off with fuel and usually get e50-e55. Also i use about 1/4 bottle of stabilizer per tank

[@statefarmkid]

Wouldn’t it be better to have a straight E-85 tune and a 91 or 93 tune and just switch back and forth with the Cobb access port when needed? Have two different tunes. To me it seems sketchy and you would make a lot more power with pure E85 if I’m not mistaken. But I don’t know much about that so any insight on this would be cool because I am considering doing this.

[@StreetInspired1]

You could run straight e85 with the correct fuel pump and supporting mods and make more power. However for my setup that would be too much power and I wouldn't trust it. But as far as switching back and forth to either pure e85 or 93 could be done but its nice having the flex fuel kit and not having to worry about it and or change maps. With the flex fuel kit the car knows the ethanol content and your tune adjusts for it so it's a much easier and safer option in my opinion.

[@connormackenzie9972]

Any things to know about the car before you buy one? Im going to buy one in a few months and im thinking flexfuel to be the first real mod!!

[@StreetInspired1]

Tbh with you the car is great, and I know people have made over 300whp with no mods, only flexfuel. And running flexfuel I get the power I want with the gas Mileage that i shouldn't have lol. But the car does have some issues that hopefully have been fixed on the 18+ models, mostly the thing that annoys me the most is how bad the interior rattles. Every panel in the car seams to make some sort of noise or rattle. And that was before the car ever saw and exhaust or anything. But other than that they really are great cars!

[@aname7817]

The only real issue I have is at about 1/2 a tank. Stay on the ethanol bender or start tapering with 93oct....5mpg difference

[@747Durango]

What happens at 1/2 tank?

[@victorcalel3559]

Do have the factory intercooler

[@kennethcoker96]

Bro at 3:06 you have to say pause after what you said.

[@StreetInspired1]

Lol I was talking about the camera. I kept switching hands so the camera angle kept changing.

[@the541range3]

Hows your car doing after a year with flex fuel? Engine still going strong?

[@StreetInspired1]

I dont have the car anymore sadly. Traded it in to get an Altima and bought a project car. But I had flex fuel and beat the snot out of it for 6 months with no hiccups.

[@KingZD1]

question is, how reliable are all these tunes for a daily driver? im thinking about a 15+ WRX, and i want to make about 300-350 AWHP. It has to have somewhat of a good gas mileage, and reliability as well. I dont mind running 93.

[@StreetInspired1]

I have friends that have been running 93 pro tunes for years now with no problems. I also know people who have blown up cars on the stock tune. So I think a good protune can be more reliable than a stock tune

[@KingZD1]

@@StreetInspired1 from what i heard stock tune with the rev hang is horrible. I just dont know how the bolt ones and tune in terms of reliability. I heard it voids warranty but if i could find the right dealership

[@StreetInspired1]

@@KingZD1 the stock tune is definitely pretty bad. Bolt ons and a tune "technically" void the warranty on the engine. But if something were to happen you could always restore it to stock before making a warranty claim. People say they can tell if you had a tune on it before but theres no way they can prove it as long as you don't admit it was tuned they have to honor the warranty

[@grassbag1]

how you liking your stoptech rotors compared to stock? I have mine just haven't installed yet

[@StreetInspired1]

I love them! Definately makes the pedal require more force but spirited drives they are amazing!

[@grassbag1]

@@StreetInspired1 nice, no issues with squeaking or anything?

[@StreetInspired1]

@@grassbag1 well... they do squeak a bit but usually only if your are using them alot. Once they get nice and hot they give off a few squeals but they aren't obnoxious at all

[@ironmandingo1]

i also have the cobb flex fuel kit tuned at e75 making 370whp. im running the stock in tank fuel pump. is it safe to run e60 or should i go e50-55 to be safe?

[@StreetInspired1]

Oh boy. The stock fuel pump won't last long. My tuner wouldn't even tune my car for ethenol until i put a pump in it. Even with my ethenol rated fuel pump anything over 60% will drastically reduce the lifespan of it. Im supposed to stay at e50-e55 if i can.

[@ironmandingo1]

@@StreetInspired1 which pump do i need ? the dw300 or the aem? i appreciate your help

[@ironmandingo1]

i just checked your mod list and seen you have the dw300. i will get that one. thanks for the help

[@StreetInspired1]

@@ironmandingo1 sure thing! The Aem is a good choice too but they both work great!

[@javiermichel4618]

After a pro tune do they get rid of the rev lagg ?

[@StreetInspired1]

For sure! It makes it a whole new car. However just installing stage 0 or stage 1 on the accesport gets rid of the rev hang and lag as well. But the car revs much faster with the lightweight flywheel!

[@victorcalel3559]

I mean u running you stock intercooler

[@StreetInspired1]

CNT top mount