Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's?

The_Juggernaut · 02-06-2010, 09:30 AM

Hi guys! I'm new to the Forum and new to the STi. I just bought a 08 STi and I called the local Subaru dealership asking about mods. When I asked him about cold air intakes, he suggested I don't go that rout because they have been causing the motors to blow in GD series STi's. Has anyone upgraded their Intakes and had any issues? Or have heard of this happening? I'm looking forward to modding my car, and I'm trying to put a list of stuff together. I just want to keep it simple, nothing to extreme but enough to give it some extra kick, and still stay dependable.

Thanks for the advice!

***BAD STI*** · 02-06-2010, 09:35 AM

If untuned they can cause damage (depending on the intake). Search and read the stickys.

user1029 · 02-06-2010, 09:40 AM

Yeah you can't mod STi's like Hondas where you can put on an intake without tuning. The MAF sensor is very sensitive on these cars so any changes in air flow pattern without calibration will cause the car to run lean. There are intakes out there that are claimed as being "safe without tuning" but it isn't worth risking a blown motor for 10hp and whooshing sounds. That being said, you can put an intake on if you get tuned for it.

The_Juggernaut · 02-06-2010, 10:01 AM

Cool, thanks for the heads up! I've been looking at some stage 2 and stage 3 upgrade packages from different places. I'm looking for somthing I can do myself, without needing to much assistance from a shop. Crawford performance looks like they have some good packages. But I'll stay away from intakes for awhile, until I learn more about my car.

scubie33 · 02-06-2010, 10:15 AM

Stage 2 it and call it a day. I am not going to lie. It's fast...

A1ainSTI · 02-06-2010, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scubie33

Stage 2 it and call it a day. I am not going to lie. It's fast...

+1

i did TBE + protune and i'm satisfied power-wise.

Suspension though.........

***Turbineguy*** · 02-06-2010, 10:22 AM

Intakes don't do it. It's crappy tunes that do it. STIs come with crappy tunes so do the math. Your best bet is to go the already recommended route and do the stage 2.

WantSTI74 · 02-06-2010, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Juggernaut

Hi guys! I'm new to the Forum and new to the STi. I just bought a 08 STi and I called the local Subaru dealership asking about mods. When I asked him about cold air intakes, he suggested I don't go that rout because they have been causing the motors to blow in GD series STi's. Has anyone upgraded their Intakes and had any issues? Or have heard of this happening? I'm looking forward to modding my car, and I'm trying to put a list of stuff together. I just want to keep it simple, nothing to extreme but enough to give it some extra kick, and still stay dependable.

Thanks for the advice!

On one hand....That is odd what your local subaru dealership said to you considering that they endorse and sometimes try to push on you SPT performance parts and they carry the SPT cold air intake that they are always eager to rip you off with and put on your car, maybe that guy who you talked to lacks knowledge on the subject.......On the other hand the guy at the dealership may have just wanted to scare you away from doing mods on the car, but really they have cold air intakes at the dealership so....what's up with that?

RedThing · 02-06-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WantSTI74

On one hand....That is odd what your local subaru dealership said to you considering that they endorse and sometimes try to push on you SPT performance parts and they carry the SPT cold air intake that they are always eager to rip you off with and put on your car, maybe that guy who you talked to lacks knowledge on the subject.......On the other hand the guy at the dealership may have just wanted to scare you away from doing mods on the car, but really they have cold air intakes at the dealership so....what's up with that?

I did not know that there was a SPT cold air intake for the 08s? Plenty of threads on how lean the USA stock tune is, so leaning it out further with a higher flowing intake is likely not a good idea.

WantSTI74 · 02-06-2010, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedThing

I did not know that there was a SPT cold air intake for the 08s? Plenty of threads on how lean the USA stock tune is, so leaning it out further with a higher flowing intake is likely not a good idea.

Well I'm not sure if they have cold air intakes for the '08, I know they have cold air intakes for the GD body, but my point was that they do carry cold air intakes regardless of which body style and that should show something about what the guy at the dealer was saying being a little hypocritical

02-06-2010, 09:30 AM	#1
The_Juggernaut Lurker Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: Blue 08 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon... Hope to mod soon! Location: Wichita KS Posts: 5 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2010	Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? Hi guys! I'm new to the Forum and new to the STi. I just bought a 08 STi and I called the local Subaru dealership asking about mods. When I asked him about cold air intakes, he suggested I don't go that rout because they have been causing the motors to blow in GD series STi's. Has anyone upgraded their Intakes and had any issues? Or have heard of this happening? I'm looking forward to modding my car, and I'm trying to put a list of stuff together. I just want to keep it simple, nothing to extreme but enough to give it some extra kick, and still stay dependable. Thanks for the advice!

02-06-2010, 09:35 AM	#2
*BAD STI* Formerly 240sxsexy Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: 06 SGM WRX STI My Stuff: Subaru Parts Fav Mod: Coolingmist CMGS-FS Location: Plano, Tx Posts: 4,210 IWSTI Addict since: Aug 2009	Re: Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? If untuned they can cause damage (depending on the intake). Search and read the stickys.

02-06-2010, 09:40 AM	#3
user1029 Professional STI Racer Feedback Score: 2 reviews Car: 2008 WRB STi Fav Mod: IAG 35R 3.7k spool Location: Library. Posts: 617 IWSTI Addict since: Oct 2008	Re: Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? Yeah you can't mod STi's like Hondas where you can put on an intake without tuning. The MAF sensor is very sensitive on these cars so any changes in air flow pattern without calibration will cause the car to run lean. There are intakes out there that are claimed as being "safe without tuning" but it isn't worth risking a blown motor for 10hp and whooshing sounds. That being said, you can put an intake on if you get tuned for it.

02-06-2010, 10:01 AM	#4
The_Juggernaut Lurker Feedback Score: 0 reviews Car: Blue 08 WRX STi Fav Mod: Coming Soon... Hope to mod soon! Location: Wichita KS Posts: 5 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2010	Re: Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? Cool, thanks for the heads up! I've been looking at some stage 2 and stage 3 upgrade packages from different places. I'm looking for somthing I can do myself, without needing to much assistance from a shop. Crawford performance looks like they have some good packages. But I'll stay away from intakes for awhile, until I learn more about my car.

02-06-2010, 10:15 AM	#5
scubie33 Professional STI Driver Feedback Score: 1 reviews Car: Aspen 08 STI Fav Mod: JL Audio Location: Oklahoma Posts: 408 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2009	Re: Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? Stage 2 it and call it a day. I am not going to lie. It's fast...

02-06-2010, 10:22 AM	#7
*Turbineguy* Non Reformed Meth Addict Feedback Score: 8 reviews Car: '06 WRB My Stuff: Subaru Parts Fav Mod: A laptop, tuning software, and a little common sense. Location: Louisiana Posts: 3,197 IWSTI Addict since: Feb 2006	Re: Cold air intake blowing motors in STi's? Intakes don't do it. It's crappy tunes that do it. STIs come with crappy tunes so do the math. Your best bet is to go the already recommended route and do the stage 2.

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