subaru-offroad
Forum Member
I drive a 02 wrx, but these tips can be easily used on other subarus.
Keeping it Cool
You need to think of every single imaginable way to keep your engine cool if you intend on going off road. There are several free tricks, and a few not so expensive mods that can help.
Larger Intercooler and Water Spray System
Swapping out your stock wrx intercooler for the STI's intercooler is a good way to keep subaru parts in your car and upgrade to a cooler intake. However, this is not always affordable. Ebay intercoolers work just as good too!
Whether or not you buy a larger intercooler, you can still rig up an intercooler spray system. This is a system using the stock windshield washer fluid reservoir with water in it, pumped through a system of tubes and then through nozzels which atomize the water turning it to vapor and cooling the surface of your intercooler. This will work for both top mount and front mount styles, but you see the most results using a top mount. You can find the nozzles at lowes or home depot for $5.00 for a 6 pack, but I only used three. They are called "FOGGER" nozzles and can be found in the plumbing section of each store. You want foggers and misters, not spray jets. The key is to get the water to vaporize so that its cooling the air in the intercooler intake tract. I placed on in the center, and one on either side. You can see an example in the video above!
Free Mods
Move & wrap the coolant lines away from your intake. A simple snip and trim will relocate and remove excess hose.
Bypass the coolant going through the throttle body.
Remove the clip that holds your front wideband sensor wire lead (in your up pipe). This clip comes out from the motor and can be seen from above. Use a zip tie and secure the lead to your brake lines. Don't overtighten.
Clean Idle Control Valve and MAF Sensor
Remove air intake silencer
Expand the chimney port in your hood scoop to let more hot air out and more cool air in. Cut out the grating and make it about .5" wider on all sides, this will increase flow and you wont loose rigidity of the scoop plate.
Phenolic Gaskets
Phenolic material can resist up to 300F and totally isolate heat from the engine block. I used phenolic gaskets, 3mm, in between my intake manifold and TGV. This is best done while doing the TGV delete. Now after a hard run, my intake manifold stays ambient temp with the engine bay. Combine this with coolant line & exhaust wrapping, and you will have a very cool intake charge!~
Wrapped Coolant Lines
:biggrin:
Exhaust wrap!
It's smart to wrap your downpipe, up pipe, cross over pipe, and headers. This will cut down spool time by retaining thermal energy in the pipes, and keeping the intake charge cool by reducing under hood temperatures. It's normal for exhaust wrap to smoke for a couple of hours after installing it, don't worry if you see smoke. Don't install exhaust wrap on a leaky engine! Exhaust wrap will not burn, but the stuff it soaks up can still burn.
Keeping it Cool
You need to think of every single imaginable way to keep your engine cool if you intend on going off road. There are several free tricks, and a few not so expensive mods that can help.
Larger Intercooler and Water Spray System
Swapping out your stock wrx intercooler for the STI's intercooler is a good way to keep subaru parts in your car and upgrade to a cooler intake. However, this is not always affordable. Ebay intercoolers work just as good too!
Whether or not you buy a larger intercooler, you can still rig up an intercooler spray system. This is a system using the stock windshield washer fluid reservoir with water in it, pumped through a system of tubes and then through nozzels which atomize the water turning it to vapor and cooling the surface of your intercooler. This will work for both top mount and front mount styles, but you see the most results using a top mount. You can find the nozzles at lowes or home depot for $5.00 for a 6 pack, but I only used three. They are called "FOGGER" nozzles and can be found in the plumbing section of each store. You want foggers and misters, not spray jets. The key is to get the water to vaporize so that its cooling the air in the intercooler intake tract. I placed on in the center, and one on either side. You can see an example in the video above!
Free Mods
Move & wrap the coolant lines away from your intake. A simple snip and trim will relocate and remove excess hose.
Bypass the coolant going through the throttle body.
Remove the clip that holds your front wideband sensor wire lead (in your up pipe). This clip comes out from the motor and can be seen from above. Use a zip tie and secure the lead to your brake lines. Don't overtighten.
Clean Idle Control Valve and MAF Sensor
Remove air intake silencer
Expand the chimney port in your hood scoop to let more hot air out and more cool air in. Cut out the grating and make it about .5" wider on all sides, this will increase flow and you wont loose rigidity of the scoop plate.
Phenolic Gaskets
Phenolic material can resist up to 300F and totally isolate heat from the engine block. I used phenolic gaskets, 3mm, in between my intake manifold and TGV. This is best done while doing the TGV delete. Now after a hard run, my intake manifold stays ambient temp with the engine bay. Combine this with coolant line & exhaust wrapping, and you will have a very cool intake charge!~
Wrapped Coolant Lines
:biggrin:
Exhaust wrap!
It's smart to wrap your downpipe, up pipe, cross over pipe, and headers. This will cut down spool time by retaining thermal energy in the pipes, and keeping the intake charge cool by reducing under hood temperatures. It's normal for exhaust wrap to smoke for a couple of hours after installing it, don't worry if you see smoke. Don't install exhaust wrap on a leaky engine! Exhaust wrap will not burn, but the stuff it soaks up can still burn.
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