TMIC's?
04-30-2013, 02:22 PM
#32
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 369
Car Info: 02 WRX sedan
Stock IC is fine for stock turbo. Pretty much no gain with an IC.
When I've tuned eBay TMICs, they give small to zero additional tuning benefit compared to WRX ICs. The fin density is low and my experience seems to match with others that they just don't perform like the other options available.
08+ STi TMIC is actually a pretty good price from the discount online OEM parts places. The only weakness of this IC is the crimped endtanks. They do tend to split in sustained 20+psi conditions. The quality aftermarket TMICs are more or less equivalent... ETS, PW, Spearco, TurboXS, Hyperflow all more or less equivalent and capable of supporting most common turbo upgrades.
The STi TMICs would be the perfect options if they didn't have a tendency to split at the clamp seams. My version 8 TMIC was split at the clam seams and I've seen stories of other people finding leaks along these seams when used at high boost pressures. For this reason it may make more sense to use an aftermarket brand with welded tanks. Just stay away from the chinese knock-offs, which give up significant cooling capability to the point that they're about equal in performance to the stock 02-05 WRX intercooler.
When I've tuned eBay TMICs, they give small to zero additional tuning benefit compared to WRX ICs. The fin density is low and my experience seems to match with others that they just don't perform like the other options available.
08+ STi TMIC is actually a pretty good price from the discount online OEM parts places. The only weakness of this IC is the crimped endtanks. They do tend to split in sustained 20+psi conditions. The quality aftermarket TMICs are more or less equivalent... ETS, PW, Spearco, TurboXS, Hyperflow all more or less equivalent and capable of supporting most common turbo upgrades.
The STi TMICs would be the perfect options if they didn't have a tendency to split at the clamp seams. My version 8 TMIC was split at the clam seams and I've seen stories of other people finding leaks along these seams when used at high boost pressures. For this reason it may make more sense to use an aftermarket brand with welded tanks. Just stay away from the chinese knock-offs, which give up significant cooling capability to the point that they're about equal in performance to the stock 02-05 WRX intercooler.
Last edited by Concillian; 04-30-2013 at 02:26 PM.
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