Installed intercooler, not hitting hard???

[eclipse_spyder]

Today my buddy and I installed a FMIC and an intake pipe on my cousin's 2gb Gst and it feels like it does not pull as hard as it did before to me. Before it would pull me back to the seats but after the install, it seems like it doesn't pull but it accelerates. His car was ALL stock except BOV and spark plug wires. We left the OEM upper rubber piping from the t/b to the lower intercooler piping and re piped the rest from there on.

My cousin seems to notice it goes faster from mid to high rpm but slower at low end. He says the boost gauge doesn't go all the way up like how it use to when he full throttles it. We checked for boost leak but couldn't find any. Maybe there are some somewhere but we didn't detect it. It also spools a lot louder than before. The spool sounds similar to my b16g setup(550's, Injen intake pipe, same FMIC, 2.5"-3" downpipe back, at 22psi).

The intercooler spec size is about 6" high, 2.5 or 3" thick, and 16-18" wide. We used 2.25" pipings for the intercooler pipes.

Are there really a noticable gains from a FMIC? Could the spool come from the intake pipe or the FMIC setup or else both?

 

[romeen]

Unless you actually pressurized the entire intake using an air compressor then the boost leak test you did is inadequate. You need to pressurize it and spray soapy water on all areas that could leak and make sure that the system can hold the pressure so that it only slowly bleeds off.

What you are describing sounds like a classic boost leak.

 

[Achelea]

I am guessing it's because there is more volume to pressurize compared to the SMIC. The reason it hit harder before, is because the turbo pressurized the smaller intercooler quickly, and that pressure moved on to the intake at a high speed, whereas with the FMIC, it has to pressurize the additional piping, and the intercooler.

Obviously there is a bit more too it, like how well the intercooler flows, how sharp the corners are, the smoothness of the interior walls etc etc.

 

[DSMDemond]

Do another boost leak test!!

 

[pboglio]

Common. You'll lose some spool with a big FMIC but the turbo should hit harder. Without fuel control and tuning, especially on a near stock setup I'd very much expect the car to feel slower. Thats how my FMIC felt when I first installed it. When its tuned the turbo should hit harder and snappier with it. You are so far away from the right amount of mods to run an FMIC that it'll take a while to take advantage of it.

 

[eclipse_spyder]

Unless you actually pressurized the entire intake using an air compressor then the boost leak test you did is inadequate. You need to pressurize it and spray soapy water on all areas that could leak and make sure that the system can hold the pressure so that it only slowly bleeds off.

What you are describing sounds like a classic boost leak.

We will try that, thanks!

I am guessing it's because there is more volume to pressurize compared to the SMIC. The reason it hit harder before, is because the turbo pressurized the smaller intercooler quickly, and that pressure moved on to the intake at a high speed, whereas with the FMIC, it has to pressurize the additional piping, and the intercooler.

Obviously there is a bit more too it, like how well the intercooler flows, how sharp the corners are, the smoothness of the interior walls etc etc.

I was thinking that since the intercooler is right up front, wouldn't it hit more harder since it's direct air? I know the side mount is up front to but the air has to travel through the side to get air to it. But what your saying sounds right to. Since there are more pipes than before.

Common. You'll lose some spool with a big FMIC but the turbo should hit harder. Without fuel control and tuning, especially on a near stock setup I'd very much expect the car to feel slower. Thats how my FMIC felt when I first installed it. When its tuned the turbo should hit harder and snappier with it. You are so far away from the right amount of mods to run an FMIC that it'll take a while to take advantage of it.

Lose spool time??? To me it seem like it gained spool. Or maybe I'm just exaggerating. I know bigger fuel system and a SAFC would help but my cousin doesn't want those yet as he's scare it might blow. He has 220,000 miles on his stock 7 bolt and it's still running.

 

[1timehondalover]

Sounds like a pretty sizeable boost leak. Make a tester and use it every time you work on the piping system.