Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Friday March 29, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC General > Newbies & FAQs

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-30-2009, 03:57 PM   #1
kwan_1104
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 127781
Join Date: Oct 2006
Chapter/Region: E. Canada
Default Which to pick: Methanol Injection or Downpipe?

Hi
I have a totally stock STi w/ proper engine management.
Now that I saved up some money for ONE engine mod and after some research on the forum, I am looking to either do methanol injection or downpipe.

But I can't decide.....

From what I gathered so far and these are my thoughts:

Methanol injection can cool the intake temp and raise the octane, so in another word, I will be increasing the reliablity of the engine, prevent detonation plus gain a little more power (althought I am doing it mainly for the reliability factor). Also, wont have to upgrade the intercooler later down the road since methanol injection itself provides the necessary cooling.

Cons: complication and regular refills

Cost: Price of the kit (~450) + installation (~250?) + tuning + Denatured Alcohol

I know downpipe is a very popular mod and for a lot of ppl the very first mod to increase power as it provides very noticable gain. Also, there's a big chance that the cats in the stock system would clog under track/ extreme conditions.
But it doesn't do it while increasing reliablity like methanol injection.

Cost: Price of catted downpipe (~500) + installation (~90) + tuning

So what should I do?
PLease advice!!!
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
kwan_1104 is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 08-30-2009, 04:03 PM   #2
dankster
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 54592
Join Date: Feb 2004
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: pittsburgh
Default

I would get a catless downpipe from ebay. I think they're like $100.
dankster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 04:06 PM   #3
smurfwrx
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 151928
Join Date: Jun 2007
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Columbia, SC
Vehicle:
09 Triumph S3

Default

get the dp first. meth should be farther down your priority list right now if your car is completely stock.
smurfwrx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 05:51 PM   #4
Fhantom-rex
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 114072
Join Date: May 2006
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Melbourne Florida
Vehicle:
2003 Impreza Wrx
Midnight Blue

Default

downpipe first, no need for methanol yet since you really are not running high enough temps to warrant its use. When people go for meth its usually after a bigger turbo install. Go downpipe because it is one of the supporting mods for the future of maybe even more power
Fhantom-rex is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 06:04 PM   #5
magicstop
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 206853
Join Date: Mar 2009
Chapter/Region: RMIC
Vehicle:
2004 WRX Wagon
TXS Stage 4

Default

I'd recommend the downpipe. You don't need to worry about engine reliability right now on a stock setup. With the downpipe in place, you are building the foundation for a faster, more powerful car. You can't / shouldn't do much down the road without it. Also, I don't recommend an ebay downpipe. You absolutely get what you pay for . . . shell out the money for a quality DP. Make sure you do your research on volume levels, tone, efficiency, looks, etc.
Meth. injection is great, but isn't needed right now. When you get into more powerful mods (for which you'll need a DP!) then you can consider it, I say.
magicstop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 06:10 PM   #6
Marlons101
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 137569
Join Date: Jan 2007
Chapter/Region: AKIC
Location: East SIDE! of anchorage
Vehicle:
WRX Twinscroll
Dez in yo mouth!

Default

the downpipe will bring the best out of the meth... =) along with a full tbe and other tid bits. keep kickin your almost there pat'na.
Marlons101 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 06:14 PM   #7
viper74656
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 84758
Join Date: Apr 2005
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Dover DE
Vehicle:
'04 WRB WRX

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fhantom-rex View Post
downpipe first, no need for methanol yet since you really are not running high enough temps to warrant its use. When people go for meth its usually after a bigger turbo install. Go downpipe because it is one of the supporting mods for the future of maybe even more power
+1 to this. DP should be your #1 power mod.
viper74656 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 09:12 PM   #8
dankster
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 54592
Join Date: Feb 2004
Chapter/Region: SCIC
Location: pittsburgh
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by magicstop View Post
...I don't recommend an ebay downpipe. You absolutely get what you pay for.
I figure you pay for a downpipe and get a downpipe. You can pay as much or as little as you want. You can gut the stock cats. On a stock turbo there's not going to be much of a difference between any of them. You can check the car parts review section. I don't think there are any major complaints about any of the ebay downpipes. I would rather have a cheap bellmouth than my HKS plate style. It wouldn't make much(any?) of a difference though.

I wouldn't say water/meth is useless on a stock turbo. I have no personal experience with it but it would lower temps so you could run leaner. A down pipe gives nice proven gains though.

Last edited by dankster; 08-30-2009 at 10:00 PM.
dankster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 11:09 PM   #9
CynicX
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 48199
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Vehicle:
06 WRX
WRB

Default

Downpipe first. The stock cats wont let heat out fast enough to do any decent tuning. You can just get so much more out of any other mod with a downpipe...
CynicX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 11:55 PM   #10
AllAWD
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 17079
Join Date: Apr 2002
Chapter/Region: MAIC
Location: Alexandria, VA
Default

Better get quotes on the meth install. I've heard a lot more than $250 depending on the kit. If meth injection fails your engine may/will blow.

I'd stick with a downpipe.
AllAWD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-30-2009, 11:56 PM   #11
gopsu
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 96448
Join Date: Sep 2005
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: NY
Vehicle:
02 WRX VF34

Default

yes, get the DP first and good tune.
gopsu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-31-2009, 12:30 AM   #12
UFOpilot
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 189525
Join Date: Sep 2008
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Portland Oregon
Vehicle:
2007 WRX Wagon
Invisible Plain

Default

Same. DP and most importantly a good tune. There aren't any power modifications you can do that will net as much if the engine is choking for air, or fighting to get the exhaust out. Gotta let it breathe, that is key.
UFOpilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Which to buy, Forester, Legacy, or Impreza Wagon? Utility comparison pics inside. satrya General Community 19 06-29-2011 11:14 PM
Water/Methanol Injection or Race Fuel or Both ejh25 Factory 2.0L Turbo Powertrain (EJ Series Factory 2.0L Turbo) 7 03-28-2005 06:35 PM
OT: which to get? Cannon S45 or Nikon 4300 facs Vancouver Impreza Club Forum -- VIC 23 10-02-2003 03:17 AM
I need buying advice. Which to get, the 2002 or 2003 WRX? (MT Issue) Space Boy Matt Transmission (AT/MT) & Driveline 0 08-31-2002 09:29 PM
which to buy? Impreza Brighton or Outback Sport? Garvinator Canada Region Forum 12 12-20-2000 07:35 PM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:24 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.