Lack of performance WRX
Lack of performance WRX
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Discussion

edar

Original Poster:

463 posts

215 months

Thursday 3rd June 2010
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Can anyone help?

It always seems that in hot temperatures especially over 23 degrees, I notice that the turbo on my 2003 Impreza WRX doesn't always seem to pick up very well under relatively hard acceleration. I've only noticed this because I can't hear the turbo whistle as usual, plus, I feel that the engine seems 'suffocated' and a little underpowered. It only happens for around 12-15 miles after a consistant run then will suddenly clear and perform normally (with turbo whistle). Its typically an intermittent problem and not really consistant but seemed to have began last year - during the summer. In the winter it's absolutely fine. Has anyone experiened this before and do these impreza's reduce power when the engine gets realy hot? I would really appreciate your advice and help

Thanks

CrammyJay

163 posts

195 months

Friday 4th June 2010
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heatsoak - tmic's are pants

GravelBen

16,375 posts

254 months

Friday 4th June 2010
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You can get heatsoak if sitting still or moving slowly for some time on a hot day (ie 26°+, I wouldn't call 23° hot) but it shouldn't happen while moving at any sort of speed.

Animal

5,648 posts

292 months

Friday 4th June 2010
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When was the last time you had the car serviced? Have you done all the usual things like check the oil level etc?

edar

Original Poster:

463 posts

215 months

Saturday 5th June 2010
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GravelBen said:
You can get heatsoak if sitting still or moving slowly for some time on a hot day (ie 26°+, I wouldn't call 23° hot) but it shouldn't happen while moving at any sort of speed.
Excuse my ignorance, but what is heatsoak?

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

250 months

Saturday 5th June 2010
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Because topmount intercoolers sit so close to the turbo and are situated under the bonnet they tend to soak up all the underbonnet heat when stationary. Once you're on the move though you should be OK. Above 16deg you will start to notice some loss of power although only very minor, however as ambient air temps rise so do charge air temps, underboonet temps, fuel temps, etc etc...

Your ECU in this weather will no doubt have detected some DET due to high inlet/charge air temps and will remove timing as neccessary. Equally the air is not as dense this time of the year as it is in cooler weather so that will effect performance. In hot weather most cars run lean and although that saves a bit of fuel it's not really great for the engine.

If you have done some mods to your car but haven't already had a remap now is the time.

edar

Original Poster:

463 posts

215 months

Saturday 5th June 2010
quotequote all
ScoobieWRX said:
Because topmount intercoolers sit so close to the turbo and are situated under the bonnet they tend to soak up all the underbonnet heat when stationary. Once you're on the move though you should be OK. Above 16deg you will start to notice some loss of power although only very minor, however as ambient air temps rise so do charge air temps, underboonet temps, fuel temps, etc etc...

Your ECU in this weather will no doubt have detected some DET due to high inlet/charge air temps and will remove timing as neccessary. Equally the air is not as dense this time of the year as it is in cooler weather so that will effect performance. In hot weather most cars run lean and although that saves a bit of fuel it's not really great for the engine.

If you have done some mods to your car but haven't already had a remap now is the time.
Thanks. That explains a lot as to why every summer my Impreza goes through this lack of power stage in hot temperatures. You mentioned a remap. Can you recommend one and are there any that aren't over £300 as I recently descovered?

ScoobieWRX

4,863 posts

250 months

Sunday 6th June 2010
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If you can get a full custom remap that's specific to your car and for your specific mods, and is properly mapped on the road (can take several hours to do it properly assuming there are no faults to rectify first), done by someone that really does know what they are doing, and for £300, you can call me a horny toads uncle!!

Not a chance!!

You get what you pays for....For £300 you're not going to get a proper remap as above. Quick flash and go maybe, or even someone that doesn't know what they are doing and only taking about an hour to do it, if that.

Whoever you go to DO NOT get a remap on the cheap otherwise it may well end up costing you more in the long term.

YHM

Edited by ScoobieWRX on Sunday 6th June 01:04