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Old 01-29-2017, 08:13 AM   #1276
LedDriver
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Model/Year: '15 WRX
Milage: ~41k
EM: Cobb Stage2+ BigSF 91 v301
Mods: Cobb Stage 2+ kit
Fuel: 92 oct
Oil: Subaru 5w-30syn
Circumstances: Just made a right turn from a dead stop. Gently cruising down the road, the car was still cold. Shifted from 2nd gear into third. RPMs were less than 3k when i shifted. Heard a clattering and the engine died. Pulled over and had oil dripping down from the top of the engine. Pulled the intercooler shroud to see what was up and found a chunk of metal.
Actual engine failure: Unknown just happened last night.


Actual engine failure: #3 rod failure.
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Last edited by LedDriver; 03-13-2017 at 09:51 AM.
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Old 01-29-2017, 09:22 AM   #1277
tramp
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LedDriver View Post
Model/Year: '15 WRX
Milage: ~41k
EM: Cobb Stage2+ BigSF 91 v301
Mods: Cobb Stage 2+ kit
Fuel: 92 oct
Oil: Subaru 5w-30syn
Circumstances: Just made a right turn from a dead stop. Gently cruising down the road, the car was still cold. Shifted from 2nd gear into third. RPMs were less than 3k when i shifted. Heard a clattering and the engine died. Pulled over and had oil dripping down from the top of the engine. Pulled the intercooler shroud to see what was up and found a chunk of metal.
Actual engine failure: Unknown just happened last night.


Just curious.....protune or OTS?
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Old 01-29-2017, 11:48 AM   #1278
mrlj86
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His post states "Cobb Stage2+ BigSF 91 v301" as the engine management, which is Cobb's OTS.
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Old 01-29-2017, 12:12 PM   #1279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by playslikepage71 View Post

I'd say there's a huge dichotomy in the WRX/STi crowd. If it looks ricey and runs like ****, they probably aren't an engineer/IT professional. That isn't always true, but my engineer friends all have really tastefully modded Subarus. More often than not, they tend to be JDM replica crazies that spend all day looking for the right dome light lenses so they can almost have a real Ver 6 STi to beat off to.
So this is going to sound snobby, but IT != Engineering. Engineering coursework consists of lost of higher level math and physics; statics, dynamics, etc. IT coursework simply isn't relevant to most of these discussions.
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Old 01-29-2017, 12:21 PM   #1280
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown1428 View Post
So this is going to sound snobby, but IT != Engineering. Engineering coursework consists of lost of higher level math and physics; statics, dynamics, etc. IT coursework simply isn't relevant to most of these discussions.
Bro, do you even CAD? lol :P

Completely off topic, but I'd argue there's a difference between an IT tech and a software engineer. Just as there's a difference between an electrician and an electrical engineer. Sorry for the thread jack.
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Old 01-29-2017, 12:28 PM   #1281
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A bit....Especially since he wasn't saying about these discussions but how a large amount of Subaru owners are from those two groups and generally those to groups have the same analytical Mindset. It's obvious that an IT professional does not carry the same amount of schooling related to a direct mechanical engineering background.
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Old 01-29-2017, 12:28 PM   #1282
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Originally Posted by ScoobNoob89 View Post
Bro, do you even CAD? lol :P

Completely off topic, but I'd argue there's a difference between an IT tech and a software engineer. Just as there's a difference between an electrician and an electrical engineer. Sorry for the thread jack.
Pfft, real engineers don't CAD, we tell mechanical and industrial designers to do it for us.
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Old 01-29-2017, 01:08 PM   #1283
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrlj86 View Post
His post states "Cobb Stage2+ BigSF 91 v301" as the engine management, which is Cobb's OTS.
Yep. Doesn't mean that's how the story ended. I'd still like LEDdriver to answer. Sometimes the whole story isn't included for brevity's sake.
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Old 01-29-2017, 01:10 PM   #1284
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where i work i have to do engineering and cad this includes mechanical and electrical work.

but yeah a proper engineering company would have engineers doing design and drafters doing cad.

i didn't initially mean to group IT and engineering as the same thing, all i meant was subaru owners generally tend to be a little more on the technical side... which is good because cars are technical machines.

oh look, another engine failure using oem oil... scary the engine can go at light load like that though.
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Old 01-29-2017, 01:20 PM   #1285
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I read on a tuner/builder's website where to the FA20DIT has serious oil pressure shortcomings due to system routing . They claim to have a remedy which they do not share any details to. They do refer to a simple oil pump upgrade not being the answer. Anyone here got any additional information on that?
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Old 01-29-2017, 01:24 PM   #1286
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mishapopa View Post
oh look, another engine failure using oem oil... scary the engine can go at light load like that though.
I'm skeptical it has anything to do with oil.

Fatigue failures can happen at the strangest times...
Save</span>
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Old 01-29-2017, 01:38 PM   #1287
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveC113 View Post
I'm skeptical it has anything to do with oil.

Fatigue failures can happen at the strangest times...
Save</span>
i was skeptical at first but seeing how many of these failures are running oem oil, my skepticism is decreasing, blowing a hole through the block just isn't an oil failure but who knows, maybe bad oil doesn't lubricate the cylinder walls enough causing more friction than necessary... or something. other than that, we've all established the stock rods suck.
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Old 01-29-2017, 02:19 PM   #1288
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brown1428 View Post
So this is going to sound snobby, but IT != Engineering. Engineering coursework consists of lost of higher level math and physics; statics, dynamics, etc. IT coursework simply isn't relevant to most of these discussions.
It very much does, and you took what I said way out of context. I understand what goes into engineering degrees, being that I have one... I wasn't saying anything to the effect of the other discussions (which have been a lot of my posts, if you didn't notice). I was just commenting on the dichotomy between the people who keep their WRX/STi "classy" vs ricey. There are a significant amount of IT AND OR ENGINEERING people that have bought the VA WRX. And a lot of them own older ones, too. They tend to keep the cars stock or stock-like, as opposed to the ricemobile crowd that instantly slaps an N1 on it, lowers it, and adds a VTA blowoff.

Maybe its a good sign that this thread has come so far off the tracks. Not enough failures to talk about, perhaps.
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Old 01-29-2017, 05:36 PM   #1289
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tramp View Post
I read on a tuner/builder's website where to the FA20DIT has serious oil pressure shortcomings due to system routing . They claim to have a remedy which they do not share any details to. They do refer to a simple oil pump upgrade not being the answer. Anyone here got any additional information on that?
Routing? I'd love to hear this. Is this based on assumptions or actually collecting data and testing changes?

The FA has WAY more oil pressure and flow capacity than the EJ engines. EJ Engines 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm (rare JDM versions with crank modified with additional oiling). FA oil pump 14mm.
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Old 01-29-2017, 05:48 PM   #1290
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KillerBMotorsport View Post
Routing? I'd love to hear this. Is this based on assumptions or actually collecting data and testing changes?

The FA has WAY more oil pressure and flow capacity than the EJ engines. EJ Engines 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm (rare JDM versions with crank modified with additional oiling). FA oil pump 14mm.
its probably element tuning again. with their solution being what i'm imagining is a glorified accusump (which is a bandaid anyway), but they claim to have not lost any engines since then (NA FA20). still waiting for someone on here to buy that package from them.....
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Old 01-29-2017, 06:47 PM   #1291
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Brian's right Element Tuning where I saw it.

I'm skeptical as well that's why I brought it up here w/o naming them. I don't want to start a flame war between different companies. I want to know the truth based on empirical evidence not sales hype. I'm new to this part of the performance world but far from a beginner on making horsepower. However I've enough experience to know when to ask for help and advice when I simply do not know. Been at it too long to let ego make stupid mistakes for me. I can f things up easy enough w/o any help from my brain.

So KillerB what have you to say on that theory? Or anyone else who's got research to back it up.
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Old 01-29-2017, 07:49 PM   #1292
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tramp View Post
Yep. Doesn't mean that's how the story ended. I'd still like LEDdriver to answer. Sometimes the whole story isn't included for brevity's sake.
OTS tune(I know, I know...). Was waiting to do a few more mods before getting a protune.

From what I can see through the whole in the top of the engine looks like a rod broke and/or piston seized.

As far as the story goes, it's as I said. Started her up after work, sat for a minute or two. Headed down the road shifting around 3k, light throttle...clunking...died. Pulled over and waited for a tow.
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Old 01-29-2017, 08:05 PM   #1293
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KB: Thanks for the information WRT oil pressure/flow. Makes me feel even better about running as high as a 15w50...on T6 ATM because it is just too cold in the mornings.

About the factory rods: Not FA, but a 3.6r i had failed. The teardown determined the factory rod was fatigued. They noted the scrapes on one side of the cylinder wall.

One may argue it the other way. Rod bearing failed and rod was pushed to one side causing the scuffing/friction which led to rod failure.

It all happened in less than one minute.
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Old 01-29-2017, 08:17 PM   #1294
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LedDriver View Post
OTS tune(I know, I know...). Was waiting to do a few more mods before getting a protune.

From what I can see through the whole in the top of the engine looks like a rod broke and/or piston seized.

As far as the story goes, it's as I said. Started her up after work, sat for a minute or two. Headed down the road shifting around 3k, light throttle...clunking...died. Pulled over and waited for a tow.
Oh I'll not give you any grief about your tuning choices. I'm just trying to figure out what I want to do with mine and taking all the info I can get. Honestly sorry to hear of catastrophic failures.

It appears my '17 is different or all the time I spent riding high outout motorcycles skewed my perspective on what's a tolerable daily driver. My WRX took some time to get used to but I chalked it up to being a high output small displacement hot rod. Either that or the latest flash is much improved over earlier stuff. As long as it's under factory warranty I believe I'll leave it alone. I would like to monitor detonation though. A guy at the dealership told me the AP sets a hard code when installed so might be leaving that alone for now. He did have one in his '17 STI though.
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Old 01-29-2017, 09:03 PM   #1295
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tramp View Post
So KillerB what have you to say on that theory? Or anyone else who's got research to back it up.
IIRC Phil's findings are based on the BRZ FA20. The BRZ FA20 uses a different block and heads vs the WRX FA20.
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Old 01-30-2017, 07:52 AM   #1296
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tramp View Post
My WRX took some time to get used to but I chalked it up to being a high output small displacement hot rod. Either that or the latest flash is much improved over earlier stuff. As long as it's under factory warranty I believe I'll leave it alone. I would like to monitor detonation though. A guy at the dealership told me the AP sets a hard code when installed so might be leaving that alone for now. He did have one in his '17 STI though.
Honestly the AP solved some issues with the factory tune that made it a better daily driver. Due to time constraints I was running the AP for a few days with out installing the intake and exhaust. The stage 1 tune got rid of the rev hang and smoothed out the peaky stock boost. Plus a few more miles to the gallon.

I don't know about newer models but the OEM tune, even the updated one, was horrible.
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Old 01-30-2017, 07:56 AM   #1297
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LedDriver View Post
Model/Year: '15 WRX
Milage: ~41k
EM: Cobb Stage2+ BigSF 91 v301
Mods: Cobb Stage 2+ kit
Fuel: 92 oct
Oil: Subaru 5w-30syn
Circumstances: Just made a right turn from a dead stop. Gently cruising down the road, the car was still cold. Shifted from 2nd gear into third. RPMs were less than 3k when i shifted. Heard a clattering and the engine died. Pulled over and had oil dripping down from the top of the engine. Pulled the intercooler shroud to see what was up and found a chunk of metal.
Actual engine failure: Unknown just happened last night.




Did you buy the car new? How long were you running the OTS Map?

These kind of posts are why some people think the FA motors are blowing up left and right. This guy's only two posts ever are about his 40k mile motor blowing up with a stage 2 box tune on it for god knows how long. IMO a stage 2 OTS tune should be used solely to drive the car to your tuners shop for a protune.
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Old 01-30-2017, 08:23 AM   #1298
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I bought it used with 17k on the odo. Parts and stage 2 tune was installed around 30k. Also, I don't beat on my car. I'm not a stranger to WOT but im not a 20 something ricer either.

On a side note, after the install I was having under boost issues. Turns out the previous owner had removed the first boost pill.

I understand what you're saying about a pro tune but I have a hard time blaming the OTS tune for the problem. After the initial learning most readouts were within norms. The TD boost error was a little out of the norms but I'm blaming Subarus crappy EBCS for that. That and a BOV were next on my list with a protune.
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Old 02-04-2017, 05:46 PM   #1299
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Just want to chime in here as my car has been running very well.

2016 WRX Limited:
Milage: 11k
Fuel: 93
Cobb Stage 2+ Non-Res Catted
Grimmspeed Intercooler
Cobb EBCS
EGR/TGV Deletes
All professionally installed and the car went from the install to the Dyno with no driving in between.

My car was tuned by EFI Logics in CT by Calvin who is a pro tuner from Cobb originally from Plano Texas. Calvin is incredible and he is like a wizard when he is tuning. He takes his time and goes conservatively thought the tuning process.
The dyno pulls went great and the car was tuned on a Mustang Dyno. During the pulls the car exhibited no abnormalities or noises.
Currently making 270WHP and 307 for torque, boost 21 lbs and stable throughout the curve.

For me 270 is plenty of power and the car feels very stable. I'm a spirited driver when need be, you know those Sunday drivers

I hope this helps some and feel free to ask me questions and I will be happy to reply.


~Joe
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Old 02-04-2017, 05:59 PM   #1300
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This is the motor failure thread. Check out the FA20DIT reliability poll thread and add your info there!
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