Q&A With COBB Tuning | Why The Factory Tune Sucks

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After Mike McGinnis from COBB Tuning custom tuned our D'GARAGE 2019 WRX, Bassem Girgis our Editor-In-Chief got a chance to ask him a few questions about the inconsistency of the factory tune, and more.
Let us know if you have any questions and we'll have Mike answer them.
What do you want us to test next?
Comment below or on social media
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[@dsport]

Do you have any questions? Let us know and we'll get them answered by COBB

[@alconesj]

DSPORT can we see the deltas between different ethanol blends like e30 vs e50+?

[@dsport]

@@alconesj Sure thing Jerry. We just requested a Flex Fuel kit, which will just encourage us to do all types of gasoline testing in addition to the normal E85 route.

[@dsport]

@Scott Beauchene YESSS

[@dsport]

@Scott Beauchene You won't regret it.

[@LightWilliamz]

Does work back fire and rev to 10k rpm ?

[@AnthonyIsaiahCollins]

The way this channel is managed is 10/10, I'm not the type to ever comment on videos but I have to give props, definitely subscribed. You've helped me a lot in the process of my build. Thanks!

[@dsport]

Anthony, thank you so much. We truly appreciate this. Let us know if you have any questions, we always try to stay on top of things. Thank you for subscribing sir.

[@somersfamily]

I so glad I found this channel. I am running the MaPerformance tune, but I still love the cobb stuff and these vids and info I'm getting from these. damn good vids

[@dsport]

Thank you so much. We love your comments and interactions. Let us know if you have any questions or requests.

[@santoscarrillo2996]

I know this is 4yrs old you still running the MAP? I have a 2021 wrx looking at getting an AP from them says it comes with a 91 tune not looking for crazy power just more reliability

[@richporak]

Thank you so much for this video! It answered so many of my questions and clarified many things for me! I currently own a 2021 WRX Limited and get so frustrated with its power output from being somewhat aggressive to just plain dull at times. I now run 91-93 octane in it and it seems to be more consistent in its performance. I’ll for sure be upgrading to a access port 91 tune then later a stage 2 in the near future. I want to motor to stay safe and reliable. I’m confident now after learning more that I’ll see nice gains and a more consistent power output when I tune the car. Thanks guys !

[@headhuntersixx8164]

From what I understand, all of the peak hp and torque numbers drop in high rpm because the air going into the engine gets too hot as you pull through a gear. When this happens, the ECU will start pulling timing and boost to save the engine from damage. Heat=bad. The main fix for this is a larger intercooler to keep the air temp down while pulling through the gears, then your ECU will like what it sees and give you the numbers you are looking for, assuming you are tuned for it. You can only tune so much before having to do this upgrade.

[@johnnyVGtran]

this is great .Getting the cobb engineers in the house too .I really needed a channel like this .Im stock atm just catback exh and on panel filter .I wish we could put a cai kit without having to tune it though but il hoard parts then get the cobb ap and custom tune done all at once

[@Steve-qr2lm]

What’s happening with this FA WRX guys? Was looking forward to seeing it’s progress and updates?

[@Davethehorse321]

Going with a stage 1 etune from a local tuner, should be the best tune I can get without a dyno!

[@mustangecoboosthpp3869]

I wish you would do a video on negative ignition correction explaining it and showing when you need to be concerned and when negative ignition correction is ok and not a concern. Too many people in the Ford Mustang forum tell everyone that any negative ignition correction is bad and you will blow up your engine. My understanding of negative ignition correction is it is the ECU monitoring for engine knock/pre ignition and it pulls timing and that is where your negative ignition correction comes from. Again from my understanding a problem would be when the gauge shows constant negative ignition correction i.e. the gauge reads negative ignition correction for long periods of time and or has a large amount (number) for negative ignition correction. Some of the Ford owners brag that they never see negative ignition correction, I would think the reason they never see negative ignition correction is because their tuner has went the safe route and back off the tune thereby leaving some power on the table. I have a 2021 Ford Mustang 2.3L High Performance Package so it has the upgraded parts from the discontinued Ford Focus RS so it is a little more robust package than the standard 2.3 liter Mustang engine. On my Mustang 2.3L HPP I can see small amounts of negative ignition correction for individual cylinders but when I monitor overall ignition timing I never see negative ignition correction on the gauge. What negative ignition correction I see on individual cylinders is minor and will only show up for a split second either when accelerating from a stop or on deceleration it will again for a split second show negative ignition correction. Also I see that COBB seems to use cylinder number 1 on the 2.3L Mustang on their tunes, so wouldn't that be the best cylinder to monitor by the customer as well? Some say monitor cylinder 3, others say cylinders 2 and 3 and still others say 1 and 4 and finally you have those who say monitor all four cylinders. They are just all over the place so what you read on the forums becomes less than helpful.

[@anthonywrx449]

Great videos... good information on stock wrx. I have the 2018 premium with sti sports package 6spd. Shrtthrw... still stock for now besides exterior.. going to get Cobb stage1 package soon. Thanks for your comments.. good stuff.

[@dsport]

Hey Anthony, Glad you liked the video. Let us know if you have any questions regarding the Cobb Accessport or anything related to the WRX.

[@calitreez87]

Great video! Just went stage 1+ cobb

[@ikratos_3246]

What’s stage 1 plus?

[@benbattista5035]

@@ikratos_3246 Its a stock car just with an intake as well

[@millhouse313]

I see a lot of people saying the basic tunes that come on the Cobb access port sucks. Is that true.

[@tony4213]

I just got a stock 2018 WRX 6spd manual a month ago with 66k miles and looking to just getting a ots 91 octane stage 1, so my question is what hp and tq gains will I see? Thanks

[@daveburney4879]

What causes these Wrx’s to have issues with a/f mixtures. Seems to be a common issue shortly after tuning. Within 15,000 miles

[@Kradle]

It seems like with the COBB OTS stage 1 tune, boost is delivered more effectively, every time. I can almost always hit peak of 19psi with a tune but with the stock tune sometimes my car would struggle to get 14-15lbs of boost. Also, my Focus ST had a stock FMIC and it suffered from heat soak, bad. Worse than my TMIC wrx. I think maybe the size of the IC and the piping has something to do with it too.

[@napoleonrossjr8414]

Was this tuned on a dyno jet? I got tuned on a mustang so my WHP was 234 and WTQ 268. What would that read on a dyno jet? 15%-20% more than a mustang? My tuner says 20% but when I look online it’s 10%-12% more?

[@kimofromkalihi]

Is there a OTS Cobb map for Cobb intake, Perrin fmic, Cobb bpv and stock exhaust?

[@ronin7183]

Great info thanks gentlemen 🤘🏾🤘🏾

[@brandonpetrilla1731]

I have a question the COBB stage 1 91 octane tune, Is this tune designed to work with the stock airbox and exhaust and just fine tunes the ECU with stock parts? Its my understanding the stage 1+ tune is designed for an intake, What exactly is the difference between Stage 1 and Stage 1+ with the 91 octane tune?

[@loganr4102]

The difference would be stage 1+ is specified for the Cobb intake hence why they sell them together as a stage 1+ package. But I would assume they are pretty similar but you basically said it, the difference being stage 1+ is an intake. Different tune.

[@JiBenJiBee]

Love the idea of an extra 100 hp just from flex fuel. I assume this works on older WRXs too? I have an 09 with tons of recent maintenance done, new Accessport, and itching for a tune! :D

[@dsport]

It wouldn't be identical results. But the concept is similar. E85 and a tune will realize more power than any other upgrade short of a turbocharger upgrade.

[@seanmoore1399]

Does E-85 deteriorate the stock fuel lines/fuel system on 2018+ WRXs?

[@nikesbeast]

Get dw300 fuel pump and cobbs flex fuel kit to run an ethanol blend

[@gottagofest1610]

Sorry for the noob question but would the Cobb stage 1 or 1+ work with a grimspeed drop in filter?

[@stephenmargetjak6989]

I have a 2021 STI, with a cobb intake and stage one ots tune how many ponies will it add on 93 octane over stock??

[@doubletee4391]

My Gd Sti made that kind of power stock. Thats an impressive number. Do you use different dccd settings for different dynos? Linked and unlinked rollers for example.

[@dsport]

We used our standard dyno settings. In fact, we always use the settings that show the smallest values and the most imperfections (SAE, Smoothing set to 1, etc.) We use linked rollers for the AWD applications. It is an impressive number indeed, but the WRX didn't stay consistent with this number from run to run. Our worst run was 217whp.

[@jakethesnake1503]

Does the car limit boost in below zero weather? To 16.5

[@MonRoeTheory]

Seriously with e85 and a tune I could put down roughly 100 more horsepower overstock? Do you recommend an intake and exhaust as well? I have a 2018 and I'm using a cobb 93 stage 1+ tune w/ intake and an axel back exhaust. Been on it for a year and loving it; Hung with an STI on the highway. Love this car.

[@Bixnoodle]

for your WRX, an intake, downpipe/j-pipe, injectors and maybe pump, and it's going to be an animal. combine that with a good protune and you'll be happy for years if you treat it right

[@frankENZC]

Getting my 2020 WRX Premium soon. If I use 93 octane all the time, even being stock, will I have more consistent WHP and TQ? Ill be getting the Cobb Accessport shortly after i get my new WRX. Thank for the informative video.

[@Infozzo]

You have to use 93 all the time

[@frankENZC]

@@Infozzo Traded in my WRX. The Air fuel sensor failed while driving and almost killed me. I have a 2021 Veloster n DCT now.

[@kendricklewis3220]

@@frankENZC what happened

[@frankENZC]

@@kendricklewis3220 It happened on Easter Sunday morning! I was on a straight country rode. Speed limit 55 MPH. I was able to drift into a gated driveway. I sat there for an hour and finally a tow truck found me. Towed me to my house. Was only 4 miles to my house. Next day was Monday so it was towed to the Subaru dealer. Within a week I had my Veloster n. If there had been traffic I may have it may have turned out completely different.

[@gmo3255]

What map should I use with just an k&n drop air filter? Everything else is stock.

[@dsport]

You should be able to use the Stage 1 91 Octane (or 93 octane if you have it where you live), but to be safe, I'd recommend checking with Cobb - they have great customer support.

[@chichisuave1872]

Will cob tunning my sti with basic Bolton’s void warranty ?

[@kmpaton]

If you have any engine or transmission issues, yes. Subaru can tell if the car had been previously tuned and will more than likely not pay to repair it.

[@76cruiserAustralia]

@@kmpaton fyi subaru can’t tell if a accesport has been installed if you unmarry it prior to taking it to subaru. I’ve tested this theory a few times at subaru. I told the techy about the accesport and he purposely scanned for it and the only thing that popped up was similar to a disconnected battery. So no subaru don’t know.

[@joshuathomas4934]

Got a pro tune right when I got my 14 Wrx. Drives 100000x better.

[@severx3822]

Wow Mike from innovative buffalo NY. Hi

[@tonyg3535]

Will a Cobb tune affect MPG?

[@thepebblesexplore83]

Theoretically if it’s putting power where it previously didn’t have power, maybe the tiniest bit. But still the way you drive will be the biggest factor.

[@tplurnt447]

-20 I give my sti like 10 seconds to warm up but I drive slow for at least 15 minutes. 150k on stock engine and stock turbo baby

[@Siiiiiikk]

How much horse can a stock clutch hold?

[@dsport]

We ran ours at 365whp and the clutch held up as a daily and the drag strip.

[@Siiiiiikk]

@@dsport damn impressive, thanks for the response!

[@averagecarguy2214]

Intake - tune - exhaust - e85 - clutch

[@INvertPb4Life]

Great info!

[@huntercooper5161]

Hey guys, I have a WRX it has 140,000 miles on it. Would it be smart to run a stage one tune

[@barsaf9989]

Check with cobb. I'm sure its fine though. People run tunes on cars with high miles all the time.

[@b6sline937]

Bad advice. Not all cars are the same and built the same. I definitely would not on the FA.

[@nhilist5774]

Depends on the health of your engine

[@76cruiserAustralia]

As long as you’re motor is healthy 100% run a cobb mate. Wil probably benefit your motor a bit too. Ignore the keyboard warriors mate. They know absolutely nothing.

[@MrDjrecon]

Ahhh the damn knock my krypotonite. 😡

[@jeffjackson9483]

Your guys got some dope parts and accessories , but you Maps for the wrx are trash sorry guys IJS ..

[@eddieguns7091]

mhm *sniff... mhm *sniff

[@K03sport]

Run 93oct here in OH. I take it the Cobb AP (stage 0) would help my car act/perform more consistently? Merging on to the hwy (near full throttle), I can feel the car pull back (stutter); is that the factory ecu being safe, protecting the engine? How do the tunes work at 0*F (or colder)?

[@dsport]

The Cobb Accessport Stage 0 is basically stock/factory settings. Since your car is completely stock, the stutter is potentially something else that you should look into, dirty fuel injectors, etc. Each tune should have a description that would tell you what it's used for. We don't get that cold of a weather here in California, but a stock tune/Stage 0 should calibrate fine under extreme cold.