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Old 03-13-2011, 06:47 AM   #1
xabre1200
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Default Does running an intake seriously require a tune?

I've searched around on this question and I seem to keep getting mixed answers. Some people say that a tune is required to run an intake and some people say it's not necessary. I don't have the cash right now to buy an AP but I would like to get an intake on my car just for the sound. I have a '11 WRX btw.

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Old 03-13-2011, 08:48 AM   #2
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I wouldn't trust it, especially if all you want is the sound.

You can pick up a used AP for ~$400 and an OTS Stage 1 map will provide better gains than any intake will. You'll also be ready to add a downpipe and intake down the road and flash to Cobb's other OTS maps to make even more gains and be safer while doing it.

My $.02
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Old 03-13-2011, 09:10 AM   #3
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What is it with newbs and intakes... I'll never understand.
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Old 03-13-2011, 09:37 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by atf78 View Post
I wouldn't trust it, especially if all you want is the sound.

You can pick up a used AP for ~$400 and an OTS Stage 1 map will provide better gains than any intake will. You'll also be ready to add a downpipe and intake down the road and flash to Cobb's other OTS maps to make even more gains and be safer while doing it.

My $.02
Give this man a dollar in exchange for his $0.02.
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Old 03-13-2011, 09:41 AM   #5
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Because:

A - Your MAF sensor in YOUR INTAKE is calibrated ONLY to THAT intake.

B - Your factory intake, with its calibrated MAF sensor, is the reference for fuel injection.

C - ANY OTHER INTAKE must be RE-calibrated to the MAF sensor, by calibrating the new intake's flow of air, however slight, to match the MAF sensor's voltage output.

Failure to recalibrate the intake/MAF will ALWAYS negatively affect the operation of the fuel injection system. ALWAYS. Sometimes people are lucky, and between one thing and another they "get away with it." But sometimes, too often, people who install an intake without recalibrating their MAF (called A TUNE, BTW ) get...

D - Burned and cracked pistons, which result from fuel injection running on a bad MAF calibration.

Don't install an intake without retuning your ECU, or bet your engine you can "get away with it."
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Old 03-13-2011, 10:08 AM   #6
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You have a 2011 wrx, but cant afford a 400-600 piece of tuning equipment. You should have never purchased the car IMO.
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Old 03-13-2011, 11:07 AM   #7
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you need to get that thing on a mustang man!

Last edited by derkaderka121; 03-13-2011 at 11:17 AM.
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Old 03-13-2011, 11:23 AM   #8
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I'd wait till you can afford an AP then get the AEM intake and use cobbs map thats calibrated for it. Why risk something going wrong on a brand new car just for sound? Plus when you get the AP and load stage 1 or 2 + AEM you will be amazed.
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Old 03-13-2011, 12:10 PM   #9
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to the OP, you are getting trashed in here because you come to a technical forum (which is ok) but ask about an intake because you like the sound it makes.

from my experience, do not run an intake without getting it tuned. it is hit or miss and it would be a shame to be a miss on a sweet 2011 WRX.

further, I would ask that you enjoy your 2011 WRX as it is. try out a few auto-crosses to see what your car is really all about. maybe come back to the forums and read the FAQs (suspension and power mods) and then have a real sense of what they mean such as the dynamics of our suspension, boost creep in downpipes, etc. Plan out what your goals are for your car, research the HELL out of them, budget and then save for them. By the time you save up that budget, there should be enough R&D into the 2011 models where you know companies didn't just spit out products based on the previous model year. You might even see some posted developments here in the technical forums by companies.

You have a nice WRX, enjoy it first.
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Old 03-13-2011, 12:46 PM   #10
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save up for a downpipe and exhaust, get a intake of your choice, then opensource tune it RIGHT AWAY. will provide you with WAY better gains (and less headaches) than just any crappy intake will
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Old 03-13-2011, 12:54 PM   #11
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Subaru makes an aftermarket short ram intake. The company is SPT. Not sure if they make one yet for the new 2011 WRX, but every other year you can get one. The MAF housing is matched to factory intake, so you wont have any issue with that. Subaru make them specifically for the reason of not having to re-calibrate the MAF. Best way to go if they make it for the new WRX already! Just search for 2011 WRX SPT intake.
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Old 03-13-2011, 12:55 PM   #12
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Could have been worse... He could have asked if he needed a tune for his new BOV... Like everyone else has said man save up and go stage 2. Then youll get the sound your looking for as well as performance.
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:00 PM   #13
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No spt intake +08 wrx. You absolutely need a tune for an intake. I suggest the access port with the cobb intake.

I own a 09 wrx and have done my research. And yes after purchasing a 30k car I would not cut a 500 dollar corner, lol.
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:07 PM   #14
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0subie2: Please don't give advice if you haven't done the research on the subject... cobb has actually shown that some of the spt intakes are leaning out the cars... and, subaru is not making any intakes for 08+ wrx because they could not prevent the cars fron leaning out.

Last edited by moonrider_99; 03-13-2011 at 01:30 PM.
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:11 PM   #15
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Guess I got lucky then, I have an 02 WRX. SPT intake works perfect without a tune. Obviously a tune is the best way to go with anything, but SPT makes it so you dont have to. But like the above mentioned.....dont cut corners on a 30K car!
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:17 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 0subie2
Guess I got lucky then, I have an 02 WRX. SPT intake works perfect without a tune. Obviously a tune is the best way to go with anything, but SPT makes it so you dont have to. But like the above mentioned.....dont cut corners on a 30K car!
Have you had you car dynoed to prove your afr is safe? Just cause it runs like a raped ape don't mean its safe.
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:31 PM   #17
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No I havent had it tuned, but spt makes the intake match the stock intake so the afr readings are all accurate. Subaru makes it, not some other brand that makes them how they feel like, so they claim there are no worries or issues. But Im sure a tune still wouldnt hurt!
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Old 03-13-2011, 01:38 PM   #18
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I run the SPT on my 05 STI, and i have been told by multiple tuners that even though the SPT is similar even the slightest differences will change how the MAF reads. That is why everyone recomends a tune for all intakes.
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Old 03-13-2011, 02:15 PM   #19
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Perrins CAI is specifically designed to work WITHOUT a tune, they even specify to not run their intake unless you get a tune that is specific to their intake. So IMO get yourself a perrin intake and enjoy. Your car will not run lean and you don't have to worry about breaking anything, the intakes dyno proven and they have the research to back it up. Hope this helps
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Old 03-13-2011, 02:18 PM   #20
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Old 03-13-2011, 02:42 PM   #21
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As I was told back in the day. Short ram intake wont do much beyond extra sound unless you have larger upgrades above 300whp. For the most part will not require a tune because it's only a minor change in flow. But if you go cold air intake you must get a tune. It requires scaling the maf part of the tune.
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Old 03-13-2011, 04:00 PM   #22
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I was also going to ask about the SPT intake as well. I was at my Subaru dealer a few weeks ago and asked about their SPT intake and asked how that would affect my warranty since I'm sure dealers don't flash your car for you. The tech said that as long as they installed the Subaru approved part for you it will be covered by the warranty... which is sort of confusing because majority of people here say it requires a tune.

Also in this thread on IWSTI a user says that AEM claims that "AEM is claming +/- 36hp with intake system(no tune)"

Anyways I won't get an intake atm since I don't have an AP yet. But if the SPT intake really is designed for the stock maf and produces similar results as COBB, AEM, etc I might take a look at that.

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-lite...pics-vids.html
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Old 03-13-2011, 04:29 PM   #23
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There is no spt intake for +08 wrx.
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Old 03-13-2011, 04:37 PM   #24
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xabre1200
I was also going to ask about the SPT intake as well. I was at my Subaru dealer a few weeks ago and asked about their SPT intake and asked how that would affect my warranty since I'm sure dealers don't flash your car for you. The tech said that as long as they installed the Subaru approved part for you it will be covered by the warranty... which is sort of confusing because majority of people here say it requires a tune.

Also in this thread on IWSTI a user says that AEM claims that "AEM is claming +/- 36hp with intake system(no tune)"

Anyways I won't get an intake atm since I don't have an AP yet. But if the SPT intake really is designed for the stock maf and produces similar results as COBB, AEM, etc I might take a look at that.

http://www.iwsti.com/forums/2-5-lite...pics-vids.html
There is now way you are gaining 30+ up on a turbo motor with out a tune, safely...
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Old 03-13-2011, 04:53 PM   #25
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There's a reason SPT stopped offering intakes as an option on the WRX; it was causing them to run lean. If you want an intake, be safe and grab either an AccessPort or a custom OpenSource tune from a qualified tuner. Another benefit from getting tuned is getting rid of the lean spots in the factory tune. It's a win-win situation; you get your intake with all its glorious sounds, some additional power and a safer tune than what comes with the car.
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