Cobb Tuning Mazdaspeed 3 FMIC (Front Mount Intercooler) Part 2 - Follow Up » Stock TMIC vs Cobb FMIC

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2 - Stock TMIC vs Cobb FMIC

Stock TMIC vs Cobb FMIC:

So, let's get down to the nitty gritty of this whole test. I tooled around roughly for 3 days with the stock TMIC in place. I must say, going from the ETS 3.5 back to stock, was very noticeable. The question in my head was, will i notice the FMIC like the ETS?

There's alot of argument of which is better for a car. FMIC or TMIC. Both have their advantages and both, have their cons.

TMIC's cannot outflow a front mount simply because not only does it lack the needed surface area to remove heat, their depth is also limited to hood and engine clearance. Core thickness plays a part in how successful a intercooler can work, but so does length and height. Again, this all equates to surface area to remove unwanted heat. We've seen aftermarket MS3/6 TMICs that make a difference on the car, but going say from a 3.25 inch core to a 3.5 inch core, showed very little difference. The stock hood with the air scoop doesn't seal very well on the 3.5 thick core and unfortunately, doesn't give much air flow across the top of it due to the loss of depth. There is also some rubbing issues you may have to deal with.

Tmic's are easier to deal with when headed to the dealership for warranty work, but also can be a pain when it comes to a simple plug change. They also get heatsoaked very easily sitting at a light, since they rest atop of the motor and get zero airflow in that position. TMIC's also exhibit more restriction only because of the limitation of space we have in these cars.

Front mounts have less heatsoak while sitting still. They are great when it comes to less restricted flow, greater surface area for cooling, and can have virtually no turbo lag or spool delay. It's all about the design of the FMIC. They all are not created equal. If you are someone who drag races a lot, a FMIC is a good choice. Im a believer that a FMIC is even a better choice for road racers. A FMIC allows easier access to your plugs, cleans the engine bay up nice and tidy and can give you the edge in performance due to the flow and cooling characteristics. Greater care must be taken when owning a front mount, such as avoiding curbs, dips in the roads, road debris. Also, its a good idea to perform yearly maintenance consisting of flushing the core out from the inside with simple green to remove any oil ingested and straightening of the fins. This will ensure a properly, high performing core for years to come.

Front Mounts flow a lot of air, but at what cost? Well, depends on who manufactures the kit. Bigger isn't always better, i assure you, but dealing with a company who does their homework, pays off. Cobb is one of those companies who spent a great deal of time testing various cores. Pressure drop on their core is roughly .65. That is incredible and some will even argue, unbelievable. That's ok, the data is out there and if you look at the Subaru community, they too have front mounts out there that have just as low as a pressure drop, as the Cobb FMIC does for the Mazdapseed 3.

Boost Drop, Lag And Performance:

Im convinced that I've only seen roughly 1/2 pound of boost loss, if even that. Going through 15 days of data has shown me there was no loss in pressure between the two systems. Ive seen boost spikes in the 18-19 psi category just like i have with the stock tmic on there. Ive seen boost hold at 16 psi running spirited on some freeways.

Lag? I can honestly say, i don't feel lag. The Cobb FMIC transforms the car into something different and its alot more fun to drive than it ever has been. The powerband through the upper rpm range is incredible. There is no longer restriction holding the little K04 turbo from doing its thing. Power transition is smooth and plentiful. 2nd gear will just roast the tires if you allow it... something the stock TMIC will never accomplish.

Temperatures flat plummet while driving. Sitting at stoplights over the last 11 days has shown that although temp creep is there, just like a TMIC, its not as high depending on the ambient temperature outside. Below, you will see a chart of the Cobb FMIC sitting at various stoplights for over 6 mins. Note the different temps seen in different ambient temp conditions.

During all of the above conditions, the slightest forward movement showed temperatures immediately drop, and quickly. If you truly are concerned at all with heatsoak because you're a diehard racer, you have two really good options at your disposal. You can either run methanol/water injection which may keep you a few degrees above ambient, or design and install a intercooler water sprayer. Over the next month, we are going to do both.

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