I didn't see any mention of the heatsoak/octane losing power issues these cars had?
Its such a shame Mazda screwed this car up so badly.
I've followed the Mazda forums for years and haven't heard about this as an issue. Can you provide some more details.
Overall, I think Mazda's execution was good.
I do know the TMIC was rather inefficient and prone to some heat soak with the stock ducting, nothing a quality FMIC couldn't fix. Also, I heard the engine is rather allergic to big power gains if those are sought after. Weak pistons or fiddly engine management? Maybe someone else can elaborate...Still, love this car.
A FMIC, oil cooler, oil catch can, exhaust, intake should be pretty well standard modification for every turbo out there. Also a turbo timer is a good thing as well. I thought this was common knowledge.
depends on the gains you want to see I guess. FMIC ususally are not needed until about stage 3 in most cases, but not all - I understand that. Other than that air in and out are usually common mods, I agree. The catch can is a case-by-case basis in my experience - some turbo cars dont need them really, some REALLY do [MINI S for example]. Never seen aftermarket oil coolers as a 'standard' requirement for modding a car unless big power gains were sought after...
FMIC make sense and they are more efficient. Sure, the little cooler above the engine on a WRX looks cool, but hot air rises and the flow through it wouldnt be nearly as good as if they stuck it out front. An oil cooler for a turbo is almost a no brainer to me, something that runs as hot as a turbo needs effective cooling, its cheap insurance.
I agree on both counts there. It is just that FMIC are expensive and I usually only see them on stage 3+ cars where the cost is justified by the gains. I only have done one oil cooler, in my old MINI Cooper S, and it seemed to help things. Sold it so I dont know the effects it had on long term reliability, but I am sure it didnt hurt it. Now thanks to this thread I am looking into going to stage 3 on my Saab...ouch pocketbook.
Im trying to get my buddy with the Supra to do a nice FMIC. Hes really bent on leaving the vehicle stock, but Im trying to get through to him that a FMIC is better for the cars longevity and fuel mileage Also, Ive never understood this whole "stage" thing on cars....whats that all mean?? Is it a government standard?? Are there ISO standards you must meet?? Help me out here
power levels are usually done in stages according to roughly what hardware you are putting in the car. Here is an example from my tuner JZW for a Saab 9-3 Aero 2.8 V6T:
Stock: 250bhp and 260ft-lbs
Stage 1: 320bhp and 409ft-lbs
Stage 3: Full Exhaust, 335bhp and 439ft-lbs
Stage 3+: Add IC and custom tune, 357BHP and 456ft-lbs
Stage 4: Full Exhaust, 19T Turbo Upgrade, stock injectors, 375bhp and 483ft-lbs
Stage 5: Full Exhaust, 19T Turbo Upgrade, larger injectors 415bhp and 532ft-lbs
stage 2 is missing as it is merely a CEL delete and retune for a cat-back exhaust - most go full exhaust in the aero so he didnt list it
hope that explains it