Help A N00b Out

[910trx]

Hi,

just got a hold of my rs4 series 2 stagea yesterday and drove it back 600km's to my home.

i know not to expect a reasonable fuel economy but i found (altough my pace was above - lets call it "average") it was not the most ideal figure i had hoped for.

now i'm all up for efficiency - if i do something i'll do it properly, but if it is not worth doing then i wont.

a mate of mine owned a wrx and said he recieved not only a noticable power gain but decreased consumption with a 3 inch system, high flow cat and split dump.

he also put a k&n panel filter (more legal this way) and said the car spooled up quicker but under general driving the fuel economy was far better and similar to an average aussie six (which my stagea now is definately not)

so i'm wondering if it is worth getting a full turbo back exhaust or just front or rear section

and if there is a significant increase in efficiency or is worthwile expendature in having a split dump over a bell mouth

is there anything else worth doing (other than reducing my distance to time ratio ) which would significantly reduce fuel consumption in both high and low speed applications.

the last turbo i had was a 25psi suck through l20b in a datsun - far from efficient - so any teachings would be greatly appreciated

Edited February 28, 2009 by 910trx

[910trx]

and a double post to prove i'm new at this...

Edited February 28, 2009 by 910trx

[loymclure]

you cant go past an aftermarket ECU and tune for fuel economy and a little more power. Plus once you have this, every mod you do after can be tuned in through the after market ECU. I'm sure people will suggest other options but thats my 2c.

[_Ryan_]

ECU+apex'i panel(dry element unlike a K&N which may foul your AFM), and a full 3" TBE- JJR bellmouth(splits often foul on aftermarket turbo's internal wastegates), 3" catco cat(175bux, EPA legal) and a 3" catback with two good mufflers(mine is 86.4db) will drop your usage

i have the above minus the ECU(still a stocky) and i use 30% less fuel than i did!

[webng]

Most stag owners have found that if you let the rb breathe better you'll get better consumption with general driving. I found that after the 100k service the car ran far more efficiently as well. But don't forget, you're still lugging 1700+kgs so you won't get much better then 11-12L/100km around town. But jeez you'll do it with a smile on your face!

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

i drove mine 672km's on one tank . . . .

turbo back three inch, single rear muffler, FMIC, K&N panel. with auto trans leak

country driving for 3hours one way, a bit of around town driving then back home another 3 hours.

1700kgs (minus fuel) on the way up 1715kgs (mines fuel) + Bugs !

[KiwiRS4T]

Hi,

just got a hold of my rs4 series 2 stagea yesterday and drove it back 600km's to my home.

i know not to expect a reasonable fuel economy but i found (altough my pace was above - lets call it "average") it was not the most ideal figure i had hoped for.

now i'm all up for efficiency - if i do something i'll do it properly, but if it is not worth doing then i wont.

a mate of mine owned a wrx and said he recieved not only a noticable power gain but decreased consumption with a 3 inch system, high flow cat and split dump.

he also put a k&n panel filter (more legal this way) and said the car spooled up quicker but under general driving the fuel economy was far better and similar to an average aussie six (which my stagea now is definately not)

so i'm wondering if it is worth getting a full turbo back exhaust or just front or rear section

and if there is a significant increase in efficiency or is worthwile expendature in having a split dump over a bell mouth

is there anything else worth doing (other than reducing my distance to time ratio ) which would significantly reduce fuel consumption in both high and low speed applications.

the last turbo i had was a 25psi suck through l20b in a datsun - far from efficient - so any teachings would be greatly appreciated

You don't say what consumption figures you were doing. When modified mine ranged from 20L per 100km to 11L per 100km.

Your plans are sound - full 3in system from turbo back (I have a split dump), smash out the guts of the cat (or buy a high flow if you are rich) and get a high flow filter for the standard airbox (Pipercross PP1128MX same as Impreza). A Vipec or Link computer would be ideal but cheaper would be an Apexi SAFC and SITC which would make your engine tunable ( stock they run very rich at high revs). With these mods your engine will be heaps more efficient which means you can go faster OR use less fuel if you cruise with a light throttle opening (but not both!!)

[Punk72]

What is the normal fuel consumption on hwy and town?

[910trx]

i got 450kms to 3/4 of the fuel guage - being a new car to me i didn't want to get stuck on the bruce hwy with no fuel

this also included the initial "oh my god listen to the turbo" and boosting it every single time i went past a pedastrian thinking i was the shiz (which there is now no doubt i am).

so i think if maybe i manage to stick to 100 and avoid unnecessarily dramatic accelerations to the posted speed limit or overtaking.

i'm not ready to start spending $ on an ecu so i was aiming for more "bolt on" modifications

also with a stock tune and engine, what fuel octane should i be running? is standard ulp ok if i dont wind up boost etc?

Edited March 1, 2009 by 910trx

[msports180]

Took the Autech 2 perth last week, did 460kms to a full tank. Exactly the same as before it was tuned .

[910trx]

i think at this stage i'll aim to get a hold of a better air cleaner as it is the cheapest bang for buck item

2nd the exhaust and go all out on a nice big but quiet system turbo to tip

3rd fit a slightly bigger intercooler

is this the most logical progression or should it be another way

like exhaust before filter or cooler before exhaust.

not experienced with efi or intercoolers - very noob at this stage and having trouble finding consistent answers through the search option

[RBPOWA-(TJ)]

i say, get another car for daily duties, and stagea for the fun times and long drives

well thats what i've done bloody fuel is cheap, 1.3tr 4cyl 2 1/2 weeks a tank

[66yostagea]

I've got an S1 so not all things are equal, but R34 smic, cold air deflector. Red Line panel filter, two stage boost control, intake pipe mod, jj 3" bellmouth dump, 3" X Force hi-flow cat, just fitted 3" cat back with very small resonator (SL1230)

and a full flow 3' cannon that is 6" dia. The last two so I have better ground clearance for when I fit some new suspension.

I have a DFA but may go new ecu path. Not sure yet.

I must confess that early on the consumption, 15/16 per 100, was something I wanted to lower. Now however I am looking for a tad more power and smoothness, and I am getting there slowly and economically and enjoying the process.

Other things that help with economy is the choice of oils and addatives. I run Nulon for the engine and Lubrimax for the transmission wit Nulon adds. Engine every 5k, trans 25k. Other owners do it different. The DIY section has a lot of info.

Incidently living on a mountain is no way to conserve fuel. Life would be so DULL.

[southern_tango]

My little opinion is ...

1st.go with a apexi panel filter

2ndyou can do full 3" exhaust system(or you can do cat back first then do dump pipe+cat converter)

3 air fuel computer

You don't need a FMIC untill you start to raise your boost (If it's a S2 the smic is pretty efficient)

again it's just my opinion...

[_Ryan_]

My little opinion is ...

1st.go with a apexi panel filter

2ndyou can do full 3" exhaust system(or you can do cat back first then do dump pipe+cat converter)

3 air fuel computer

You don't need a FMIC untill you start to raise your boost (If it's a S2 the smic is pretty efficient)

again it's just my opinion...

dump pipe and cat made the biggest difference, catback was a minor difference... new dry element panel and full exhaust ~1200bux and expect 8-10l/100 on the fwy, 11-14l/100 around town

[KiwiRS4T]

i think at this stage i'll aim to get a hold of a better air cleaner as it is the cheapest bang for buck item

2nd the exhaust and go all out on a nice big but quiet system turbo to tip

3rd fit a slightly bigger intercooler

is this the most logical progression or should it be another way

like exhaust before filter or cooler before exhaust.

not experienced with efi or intercoolers - very noob at this stage and having trouble finding consistent answers through the search option

Yes

1. high flow air filter panel is cheap and easy.

2. Exhaust is expensive but a necessary next step.

3. Don't bother with the Front Mount - S2 stock intercooler will be fine up to 200AWKW or so.

4. By the time you have done the exhaust you will already have more boost and you can crank it up to about 12psi for free but by this point to get the economy and or power you will need some means of tuning the motor - there is none (none, nothing) at present so you need ideally a Vipec/Link afterrmarket computer (at least $2000+ fitted and tuned) or an SAFC and SITC (second hand, $1000 fitted and dyno'd)