Subaru Wrx & STI FMIC Vs TMIC | The Pros and Cons

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[@MrD08]

Videos are always legit. I can tell you as a 17 Sti owner that lives in west Texas where I see temp from 105 to 110 in the summer I had to get rid of my tmic. I have the grimmspeed front mount on my car and have had it for almost a year now. After tune and a few more mods I still love my car. I don’t feel like it has lag and is still super responsive. Your va is just crazy clean and one of the top va sti’s in my book. Love the channel bro 🤟🏾

[@AngryRangrey]

I love this content and your honest opinions. Keep it going!

[@juliomiranda6801]

switched to fmic and im getting cool temps and less knock. the car was more sluggish after install, so i did a etune for the mean time and the car is running great plan to get a pro tune next. catback also made the car faster/smoother at WOT peaking at 20psi lovinn it 👍

[@treeeyn5721]

Great Video As Always Bro loved the comparison 💯

[@thryftgod3272]

I love this channel man simple as that

[@donslahern4602]

Love the content🤘🏻 How about a tips and tricks vid on the TMIC removal/install process you have come up with?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

I have shared some of them in my videos where I am removing it.

[@newguynasti2008]

Another great video for information. Thanks a million. Also I was the first to see it for a change lol.

[@clementezamudio1653]

The main benefit from a front mount in my opinion is the reduction in IAT’s for a longer duration which decreases the possibility of detonation due to heat, for a street car maybe not such a big deal as a pull is only a few seconds but for a car that is under continuous abuse very important. great vid 👍🏼

[@18zips80]

IMO the biggest benefit of a fmic is reduced engine bay temps, which result in less knock events. the "lag" is a little blown out of proportion especailly on a stock turbo car running 18-20 psi

[@chrisvong5118]

I ran a FMIC on my 05 WRX for years when I was commuting about 3-500 miles a week. The car ran better and I even saw an increase in fuel economy. Though, I switched back to a TMIC b/c I didn't want to risk driving without the front crash beam (even though it doesn't do much, still a big insurance thing). I'm running huge singular motorsport hood louvers to help keep down temps now along with the cylinder 4 coolant mod. And yes, I've driven in heavy rain without any issues. Going to stick with a TMIC b/c of the OEM look and having pipes rubbing everywhere from the FMIC got rather annoying.

[@MoJoNinjaGarage]

Great info sir!

[@Taintsmear]

I went with a TMIC for my 2021 wrx. For the 400 hp range I just felt it was a better option. Cobb TMIC with charge pipe.

[@arltvrs8485]

Nice video and informative 👍

[@omialmanza1900]

I went with the cobb top mount. The ets front mount I wanter was too expensive at the time. But over all Im pretty happy with the top mount for now😏 .

[@TheLastS209]

Personally I am pro-tmic. The main reason is because of better throttle response, and how it aerodynamically functions with the hood scoop. A huge con for the fmic is that it negatively affects the f/r balance of the car, as well as the efficiency of air flowing through the radiator, and the additional piping which makes zero sense with the location of where the turbo is. The stock tmic is actually quite good and not subject to heat soak as much as people think, just look at the STI motorsports division race car in Japann, they literally use a stock tmic for 24 hour endurance racing at the NBR.

[@andrewm8598]

My tmic keeps temps the same as my friends Cobb fmic unless it’s summer time then his is better. But cruising around they’re pretty close esp in colder temps. 500$ vs almost 2k I’d say it was a good buy lol.

[@igorushka]

I remember I had Process West top mount, car dynoed 420/420 , so I go up the mountain really hard and fast, it took ~ 15 minutes to get to top, as I check under hood - the top mount was so hot that I could not put a hand on it for one second. The turbine’s hot side was glowing red. After that I installed ets front mount 4 inch core and the problem was gone. I take it on 3 hr trips with extreme driving conditions even in the middle of the summer. Lag only exists at initial throttle press, after system is pressurized there is no lag.

[@TheLastS209]

@@igorushka does pw have good ducting for the tmic? I find most aftermarket tmic don't take this into account, which is why the stock oem tmic outperforms even much larger tmics due to it's lower thermal mass and ability to shed heat much faster using the optimized ducting from the oem hood scoop setup

[@igorushka]

@@TheLastS209 it did not have additional ducting , just what was left under the hood from stock top mount. But yes, the thermal mass is much larger and it needs super nice ducting to seal it around the scoop + turbo needs to be heat shielded also.

[@FuvNtsimKhaab]

TMIC for baby turbos like your STi to 20G sized turbos. Anything larger.... FMIC. Your throttle response is meaningless when the other car is pulling away from you, pull after pull. The STI NBR is baby turbo. That TMIC is modified. End tanks welded because they are known to split. Baby boost, not much heat. Please run an intercooler sufficient for your setup.

[@dorianleclair7390]

I like top mounts more. Cheaper, faster turbo spool, does not block off flow to radiator and ac condenser.

[@Silbaru]

I switched to a FMIC on my Gti and it’s by far the worst buy on my Mod list. I lost a lot of power or torque during low rpm’s, i struggle to get out of the way when the light turns green

[@Lucifurian66x]

Correct me if I'm wrong don't you still need to tune after upgrading tmic. You are introducing more airflow with a bigger, better functioning core than stock. Wouldn't changed values alone be a big enough reason to warrant a tune? Also would love to hear what you think of the process west vertical intercooler

[@danielo22]

Big issue with the wrx atleast is the when it comes to an aftermarket tmic like the grimmspeed one I have, the tmic comes with air funnel that sends air from the scoop to the tmic and that funnel doesn’t work with most carbon hoods. It’s almost like if you want a carbon hood, you either have to stay stock tmic or switch to a front mount.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

That is why I went with the vis racing hood. It retains the factory scoop air dam.

[@danielo22]

@@Scoobyfreak86 I was about to pick up the VIS VRS style hood tonight but the air damn that is supplied by grimmspeed doesn’t line up on the VIS hood so I would have to run the tmic with no dam at all.

[@MrBwkhattab]

How did you get to fit the White Perrin Strut bar while running the AOS? I'm having issues fitting my Perrin strut bar because the AOS is preventing it from sitting properly on its base. Thank you! Miss your subie content, but happy for your Bimmer. I always come back to your videos for my subie build.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Had to move the aos down a few notches to fit the bar

[@Jay_Silvia]

It depends what your using it for why it's a rally car most wrc was top was keep it from getting destroyed form things off road.

[@donmerrigan2362]

You missed an option. Top mount located air to water intercooler. Qwatastik's build inspired me to do a rotated g30-660 setup with a grimmspeed tmic. The car made 475/467 on e50 @24-25 psi. I'm currently switching to an ets fmic for a couple reasons. I know I want more power. I thought 450 awhp would keep me happy for a while but it didn't. Also the I've got a built, cammed and mildly ported head. I was looking to rev out to at least 7500 rpms. The tmic was just getting too hot to really rev past 7k. Finally I wanted to swap to a different intake manifold and most of them don't allow the use of a tmic. The only one I know of that can is a cosworth manifold and I couldn't find one for a price I was willing to pay. 1500 was the cheapest I could get and there are people asking 2k. I ended up going to a 2.5i na short runner manifold. I'm going to miss having full spool by 3900 rpms in 4th. But my tuner assures me that they can play around with the davcs system to help keep the fast spool and I'm willing to lose a little low end of I gain more than I lose in the top end. I've also got a set of ets headers sitting to the side to swap in to help spool time if I think I need it.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Definitely a solid option, but more so for a custom setup like yours. Just wanted to discuss the main two options that people choose between.

[@donmerrigan2362]

@@Scoobyfreak86 there's a few guys who have done it but it's not very common. It really isn't any more expensive than a quality fmic w/ piping which seems to cost between 1500-2000. It sounds like the ideal setup to me. Short piping and intercooler core size like a tmic but has the ability to cool the intake charge even below that of a fmic.

[@gbilya2]

FMIC is always best! Less knock, lower intake temps and forces you to switch to speed density which is better than STI maf tune!

[@Okaydogo_]

Good video man. I do have a question tho, what’s makes more power ? Top Mount or Front mount ? Of Course when Properly Tuned !

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Front mount will hood more power overall. But it just depends on your power goals. 500 and under, a proper tmic is plenty.

[@Okaydogo_]

@@Scoobyfreak86 Thanks man. Subbed.

[@luiscordero8944]

I agree with everything you said. But I do like the look of TMIC.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Hard to deny that. Fmic definitely has that cool factor.

[@pw85___]

I thought you had the ETS kit from the thumbnail 🤔. My Cobb fmic goes on in the next couple weeks. After a new fuel system.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

I want the ti ets fmic, but the piping doesn’t work with the Cobb redline intake, unfortunately.

[@pw85___]

@@Scoobyfreak86 yea you are the Titanium freak. Lol. But there are other options that should besides Cobb with that intake.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Cobb is the only one currently. Unless going custom.

[@pw85___]

@@Scoobyfreak86 the Cobb system is one of the best. Definitely fits the best behind the bumper.

[@ytdweller23]

Have you also changed the y-pipe for the TMIC? If so, is it the Grimmspeed one? And what do you think of it compared to the OEM?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHmcqaiinrd5ppI kept stock y pipe

[@ytdweller23]

​@@Scoobyfreak86 The reason I asked is because I've purchased an ETS TMIC and thought why not change the Y-pipe along the way. So, I looked everywhere and found solely the Grimmspeed y-pipe and it is supposed to fit the ETS TMIC, but I'm quite skeptic as to whether it is really an upgrade or contrarily a downgrade. You can watch this link kzbin.info/www/bejne/npmrqZuZrNKhb7c&ab_channel=Mechanicology the casting, weight, surface, flanges and diameters are all disappointing. It's too late for me, I guess I have to sell it to someone instead of installing it since the OEM seems way better in every aspect which is the opposite of what Grimmspeed claims their y-pipe to be in their website but I'll keep their couplers nevertheless.

[@zokusharuuku1091]

Actually front mounts can get heat from the sun, sunlight heats things up pretty hot. Don’t believe me stick your hand on the top of your car on a warm sunny day.

[@robsti669]

As much as I’d love to go front mount, I can’t sacrifice the oem front crash beam in the event something happens. Knock on wood.

[@georgerabel3760]

If you add a fmic, can you install a oil cooler in its place? Or 2.

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Yes, I’ve seen people put the oil cooler in the tmic spot.

[@JLeo21STI]

I’ve asked this before but what’s the wheel set up again??

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q2jXmJ-kgL2popI

[@brandanhoover4146]

do you have a install video of the cobb coolant overflow tank?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYnJeHmtnq99osk

[@brandanhoover4146]

@@Scoobyfreak86 very nice! Bought mine before you put out the video so now when it comes out of storage I can install the tank!

[@LagunaOba]

TY FOR THE EXPLANATION IN PLAIN ENGLISH🥳🥳🥳🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽!!!! Bc when ppl speak with fancy words and mechanicals terms my brain goes💨🔥🍳😂😂

[@dylanwirkus2119]

🔥🔥

[@toooodie8750]

where did your titanium hardware come from ?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoKzo4KGidiZiMU

[@MultiBlock43]

the heritage is with the tmic

[@olrzyn]

Hi, what radiator do you have ?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4XUoJ1orpmtrbs

[@socialscaper312]

Another con about the fmic is damage, rock chips, bent fins, if you hit an animal or anything like that, car accidents

[@FuJiNF]

Keeps rocks from hitting the AC core. Yay!

[@SuperSlowSTi]

Motec and a big turbo kit and we’re good. Small turbos for these cars Are awful

[@kgalbreaith]

So I noticed my iag aos is lekaing a small amount of coolant, what should I do to try and fix this?

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Tighten the hoses and connections

[@Poptaro]

My IAG AOS also leaked coolant, but that was because one of the coolant line's spring clamp was the incorrect size. It was leaking from the hose below the intercooler. Make sure that the hose is far over the metal tube and clamped well. Could go for worm clamps as well. I used two. REMEMBER TO BLEED YOUR COOLANT SYSTEM AFTERWARDS TO PURGE AIR BUBBLES.

[@kgalbreaith]

@@Poptaro Its leaking from the bottom coolant line goes from the aos and then basically plugs into another hose.

[@Poptaro]

@@kgalbreaith A metal hose correct?

[@kgalbreaith]

@@Poptaro yes

[@mengdynasty6034]

But I don’t have a wing on my STI 😔

[@thedon9670]

Same. But I'm getting one installed!

[@justinturner4850]

The most frustrated I’ve ever been working on my car so far was re-installing the TMIC 😂

[@Scoobyfreak86]

Haha least fun job to do on these cars.

[@Jkline63012]

Just put a new motor in mine, and I agree. The main reason I'm getting ready to pull the trigger on a cobb front mount. Just wish the price wasn't so salty.

[@austinramey7444]

What happened to ur carbon hood?…

[@Scoobyfreak86]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJCceIWAfZ6Mj7c