The SUBARU Surgery #27 | Subaru Q & A

Anything Subaru related, ask me and I will give you my honest answer or opinion. What mods are good, what mods are bad, how to self tune, ecu related, power potential...

[@hakology]

another great Q & A joined late just checking what I missed, car still in garage, was going to try and get to PP on the 7th but looks like car won't be ready, will have to catch you in the future

[@racedynamix]

@@hakology no worries mate.. I will be there again beginning of Aug 👍👍

[@jchalmers28jc]

Thanks for your help Duncan I eventually got to the bottom of my low voltage code p2503 . Turned out to be the wrong alternator 23700-AA430 .but my o5 uses the the 23700-AA420 got one of eBay ten minutes later engine light away now yeeeeehaaaaaa

[@racedynamix]

@@jchalmers28jc wow..brilliant. Well done 👏👏

[@JoelZerr]

As a Subaru enthusiast from the States who has had a Cobb access port with a pro tune, in my opinion they are not worth it. They are very limiting and you are absolutely correct. You can no longer turn off any cel codes at all. Pro tuners can actually lose their access to the software if they do this and are subject to hefty fines from the EPA. Either open source with oem ecu or standalone are the way if you care about having flexibility for things like disabling tgvs, evap systems, air pumps etc. No offense to Cobb, as I believe they still produce quality aftermarket products. It seems their hand was forced due to recently updated regulations imposed by the EPA.

[@racedynamix]

@@JoelZerr Totally agree 👏

[@curtsylvester335]

Q, can the sf5 be tuned? I'm watching from Dominica 🇩🇲

[@racedynamix]

yes some of them have an open source tunable ecu. if you look under the dash to the test mode connectors, if they have 1 wire then the ecu can be accessed in open source software. If they are 2 wire then it is Ecutek only 👍

[@BarumBTS]

Hi Duncan, thanks for all your help over text in the past! I am now at the stage I have my JDM legacy GT ‘sorted’ after engine rebuild. I’m running a hybrid VF38, 8.5:1 (down from 9.5:1) pistons and pretty much stock everything else. What sort of power can I achieve with this when I come to you for a map? Would I be better off switching turbos now I have lowered compression? Cheers, Isaac.

[@racedynamix]

@@BarumBTS Hi Isaac .. no problem with helping. Power is difficult to predict as it depends on who did the hybrid and what bits they used. You would hope more than the 290bho potential for an oe vf38.

[@BarumBTS]

@@racedynamixthanks for the reply, turbo was done by turbo performance (Vince). If you’ve got time, I will try and ring you this week, I understand you’re very busy! Got a question regarding my exhaust AVCS and a small issue I’m having with a cam seal👌🏼 thanks again Duncan!! Going to be booking in with you very soon 👍🏼👍🏼

[@DamianJDP]

Thank you Duncan mate, it never gets boring! Did you get any further with the Newcastle mapping day plans? I'm near Leeds.

[@racedynamix]

@@DamianJDP Hi Damian... I left it with the guys up there to contact me when they have a few to do, happy to drive up but would need to be a good use of time iykwim 👍

[@mranderson3927]

Q 6 speed STi 'shifter rattle' (GRB STI spec c ) I've replaced all the transmission bushes and installed a Cobb reverse pull up ring that was claimed to fix the issue, it still rattles... You've fixed the GR stutter and the cold stumble in the 15min since I've found the channel, keen to hear your thoughts on the rattle. Stoked to find your channel, you have a new subscriber

[@racedynamix]

that's very kind of you to say. tbh I haven't experienced the 'rattle' but will endeavour to find out what it is and what the solution is for you 👍

[@liamcushley9866]

Any chance your coming to Scotland anytime soon? Best Subaru tuning channel on KZbin great work 👍. My car is my pic

[@racedynamix]

thank you very much Liam. Glad you enjoy the content 😎 Just trying to do videos that would be useful to the Subaru world. Scotland... I haven't any plans unfortunately .. but if there were a few of you then I am sure I could make the trip up 👍

[@stevenfarman6154]

Q. With your recommendation for a syvecs to run fresh air anti lag , would the s6 be capable, also could a link do the same.

[@racedynamix]

Hi Steve. Yes the s6 would be easily capable of this using EGR recirc function and enabling for when antilag is on. Output control is PWM and could assign on a fuel output. Ie. it brings output to 0v to activate the solenoid. I haven't installed one yet so don't know the ons and out of the control of it, but Syvecs will be able to handle it.

[@phemz172reallife7]

I just bought my second Impreza it's a wrx blobeye I'm putting a 6 speed sti gear box what's the max power I can get out of the wrx engine which is safe and what's the best turbo for high end power ?

[@racedynamix]

Hi. Congratulations on your purchase 😎 Normally safe max is 350 bhp for the engine, but I have had many customers over the years push way beyond that. Record so far is 495bhp on std unopened blob wrx engine. But...be prepared for an engine build at any point on that. 350 is roughly where I would say. It's the best power level anyway 😎👏

[@R00567]

Love your content! Can you help me find a clean set of the GR sti recaros that are used in your thumbnail? 👍

[@racedynamix]

@@R00567 thanks 😁 They don't come up for sale often tbh

[@bunsofsteeeel]

Hi Duncan, enjoying the vid I’m keeping my sti now, do you know any differences between vab and vaf sti’s information is very thin on the ground online, I know the Jdm is a 2L with equal length manifolds and I presume a twinscroll turbo it has different wheels and a rear wiper just like most Jdm models before it that’s all I know, any info would be appreciated

[@racedynamix]

That's most of the info that I know tbh. the jdm is always better though

[@bunsofsteeeel]

⁠@@racedynamixthanks Duncan well if we get one in the family I will let you know any major differences that are interesting

[@Gummsi]

Hi Duncan, Thank you for the informative content. Is there a possibility to buy your xml definitions for ecuedit somewhere. I havent found anything about it, and Id like to tune my 2007 wrx for pops and bangs but cant find the overrun fueling table with default map definitions

[@racedynamix]

@@Gummsi Hi. If you join as an academy member I share them in the discord channel 👍

[@Gummsi]

@@racedynamix perfect, where do I do that?

[@racedynamix]

@gesarinn under each video there is an option to join. Academy Member is the level you want/need 👍

[@dredre9484]

This my experience ej25 for me sux(I've blown four know what problem was the oil pickup cracks and it acts like a hole in a straw so result no oil to engine got ej20 have had no problems at all even thinking to rebuild with stronger bearings,etc

[@racedynamix]

yeah those pickup pipes are a nightmare .. bad quality control and they kill engines 😔

[@dredre9484]

@@racedynamix g'day another quick question won't waste time what's the best rpm to set on a stockist na ej20 I was going to set 5000rpm (after market rev limiter)after that don't feel much difference just wasting fuel and more wear cheers m8

[@LetsDriveGarage]

What days are you q & a on? I keep missing them

[@racedynamix]

hi. normally it is on a Wednesday evening but that has had to take a back seat to health, work etc recently. It will be back to normal schedule from end of this month 👍

[@LetsDriveGarage]

@@racedynamix okay thank you all signed up now I have quite a big project I will be bringing to you eventually I’ll Chuck you an email over somepoint explaining but it be a good one ☝️

[@racedynamix]

cool. There is an academy live stream on Thursday this week 👍

[@RSADYNAMICS]

what is the best new Short block you can buy ? 2018 Type RA . I ask as I need to rebuild my engine

[@racedynamix]

@@RSADYNAMICS Hi.. The Ra257 block is the best off the shelf 257 engine but it has limits. What happened to the previous / current engine ?

[@RSADYNAMICS]

@@racedynamix thank you for taking the time to reply basically I bought the car with no engine hopefully I can get the blown engine from the guy I'm just add the new short block

[@racedynamix]

@@RSADYNAMICS ah cool. Always useful to know how a previous engine died. Worst thing would be to replace the symptom not the cause 👍

[@RSADYNAMICS]

@@racedynamix I think the ring land cracked after it was remapped and the bore is damaged thanks for trying to help . your a gentleman

[@racedynamix]

@@RSADYNAMICS ah. The RA block and pistons are stronger.

[@heartlessyaj1128]

Hi so my question is i just recently got done rebuilding my 205 usdm wrx motor and I change oil 3 times already. But I had to put new tunes on it map it it’s pushing 400whp as of now is it normal for my oil to have fine glitter in it from motor rebuild or is something wrong happening pleases ty. I am pushing a bigger turbo in it as well fuel and running e85. Ty much

[@racedynamix]

Hi. If you took it really easy during the run in procedure until you had done oil swaps eg no boost... you are only just pushing the rings out to the bores so the glitter/silver sheen will be just the rings bedding in. E85 dries the bores out a lot in my experience and strips it of oil so that may be accelerating that process. I would say normal from my experiences.

[@heartlessyaj1128]

@@racedynamix thanks I really appreciate your knowledge and enthusiastic in keep the Subaru true. Wish there more legacy like you in this world much love from USA ty.

[@magicka000]

Hi Duncan, appreciate you taking the time to do these Q&A's as well as helping to feed my Scooby content addiction :) I've a bugeye sti that is running speed density opensource maps (switchable for 95/99ron). A while back I had an overheating issue which led me to have heads & block skimmed. Admittedly my knowledge is still minimal (which is partly why I appreciate this series of videos), so while I understand the need to adjust the map for a variety of mods/parts... it didn't occur to me that the remedial engine work might also compromise the state of play (with the map being unchanged). So I'd like to ask if you'd mind addressing this scenario in a future Q&A - presumably the smaller combustion chamber is still receiving the original amount of fueling, so it'll be running rich - or is it likely to be compensating? And what about timing etc... am I at a much greater risk of detonation? All nuggets of wisdom gratefully received. All the best from the Scottish islands :) - hence the 95 map ;(

[@racedynamix]

@@magicka000 Hi..thanks for that. Glad I can help with the addiction 😂 The issue is the changed compression, this dictates how much ignition timing that the engine needs/wants. Almost no change to Afr. If you are running 95 then the tolerance for ignition or higher compression is less so have the map checked for detonation.

[@magicka000]

@@racedynamix Thanks, I'll do that.