Silicone vs. Aluminum charge pipes

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#1
Couldn't find much info on this topic, so I want to know are there any pros/cons to each type of charge pipe? I want to replace my hot and cold side charge pipes at the same time, and I know that both will be better than stock. Plans for the car for adding power long-term are intake, catless DP and turbo back exhaust, a tune, and possibly an intercooler upgrade much later on. The car will not be tracked or auto-crossed or anything like that, just a street car. I'm new to forced induction cars, but understand the concept. School me...
 


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#2
I've heard of a few people breaking the mount points on hard pipes as engines tend to flex and move around and few people having fitment issues with the large dhm intercoooler and hard pipes. Ultimately it's your personal preference I have the hard misihimoto hard pipes and am pretty happy with them
 


Siestarider

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#3
Buy an AP and good intercooler. The rest are insignificant compared to those two upgrades.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #4
AP is definitely on the list. Do they offer new tunes after you add upgrades? Like, if I'm stock now and get the AP, I'll get how many tunes loaded onto it? Say down the road I get a catless DP and an intercooler. Will they send me the files to support those mods or do I have to pony up some more cash?
 


haste

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#5
Stock charge piping is sufficient, imo. I've found the donuts on the stock piping actually catch oil which wouldn't happen with different piping.

If you are looking to add meth at some point CP-E has a great cold side pipe.
 


AzNightmare

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#6
AP is definitely on the list. Do they offer new tunes after you add upgrades? Like, if I'm stock now and get the AP, I'll get how many tunes loaded onto it? Say down the road I get a catless DP and an intercooler. Will they send me the files to support those mods or do I have to pony up some more cash?
COBB includes a set of tunes in there. You can see the full list on their site. Stage 1 tune, stage 2, stage 3, 91 and 93 octane, etc.

When you have the appropriate upgrades on your car, then you can select the appropriate tune for what you have installed.

The tunes in your AP will cover it all for the most part. But most people don't stick with the Cobb tunes since they are "off-the-shelf" and not customed to your actual car.

Most people pay pro tuners for tunes where they can modify them based on your data log runs.
 


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#7
COBB includes a set of tunes in there. You can see the full list on their site. Stage 1 tune, stage 2, stage 3, 91 and 93 octane, etc.

When you have the appropriate upgrades on your car, then you can select the appropriate tune for what you have installed.

The tunes in your AP will cover it all for the most part. But most people don't stick with the Cobb tunes since they are "off-the-shelf" and not customed to your actual car.

Most people pay pro tuners for tunes where they can modify them based on your data log runs.
True story, I picked up 45-50 wheel TQ going from the OTS Stage 1 to Adams E30 tune, he also modified traction control, launch control, and how the car drives in general (way better IMO). Literally feels like he added a 75 shot of nitrous above OTS Stage 1.

Sent from my SM-G935U using Tapatalk
 


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Thread Starter #8
Which tuner is Adam? I've seen a bunch of different people tuning on the site, and really like where some people go with the car. Ideally, I need to be tuned for 91 octane E10, since I cannot find 100% gasoline or 93 octane out here. I also need the freedom for an inexpensive re-tune down the road when I add more upgrades or move, since I am active duty and will be moving every 3 years or so. It would be nice to be able to change my files quickly and easily if I move to Colorado like we plan to, as the elevation change is a big one from here.

Also, what's the process of getting a custom tune? You buy the AP, run some logs, upload them and email them, then they tweak them and send them back, then repeat until it's a good setup?
 


M-Sport fan

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#9
Do the aluminum charge pipes heat soak any more than the stock hard plastic, or all silicone ones??

I understand that aluminum alloys tend to dissipate heat much quicker than other metal compounds, but I could also see it taking on more heat (from external engine bay sources) than a thermoplastic composite, or even silicone.

Is the ONLY reason so many of these are made from aluminum the relatively low cost involved with manufacturing it and 'working it' (as opposed to setting up molds for thermoplastic composites and silicone), and it's strength/resistance to collapse, or am I missing something here? [dunno]
 


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#10
Yes, pretty much that's it.

Also, what's the process of getting a custom tune? You buy the AP, run some logs, upload them and email them, then they tweak them and send them back, then repeat until it's a good setup?
 


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#11
Anyone know how much benefit you get from replacing the hot side charge pipe? I think I saw Mountune say they gained an extra 2 kPa over the stock pipe, anyone think thats significant enough to warrant changing it? How much will temp drop if I change the hot side pipe?
 


Siestarider

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#12
Check out Razorlab's post on running E25 on totally stock car with Cobb OTS tunes. Then think about how much E85 you can buy for the cost of a hot side charge pipe that may or may not produce a measurable difference.
 


AzNightmare

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#13
Which tuner is Adam? I've seen a bunch of different people tuning on the site, and really like where some people go with the car. Ideally, I need to be tuned for 91 octane E10, since I cannot find 100% gasoline or 93 octane out here. I also need the freedom for an inexpensive re-tune down the road when I add more upgrades or move, since I am active duty and will be moving every 3 years or so. It would be nice to be able to change my files quickly and easily if I move to Colorado like we plan to, as the elevation change is a big one from here.

Also, what's the process of getting a custom tune? You buy the AP, run some logs, upload them and email them, then they tweak them and send them back, then repeat until it's a good setup?
Adam is the name of the tuner.
http://adamtuned.myshopify.com/collections/2014-ford-fiesta-st
Check out vendor section for more info about him.

It'll be nice if you have access to E30 fuel. It makes a big difference. If you're planning to move a lot, it's probably better to get a lifetime tune so that Adam can continue to give you different tunes down the road depending on what type of fuel is available at your location.


Anyone know how much benefit you get from replacing the hot side charge pipe? I think I saw Mountune say they gained an extra 2 kPa over the stock pipe, anyone think thats significant enough to warrant changing it? How much will temp drop if I change the hot side pipe?
Unless your car has an upgraded turbo... probably not much.

Have a look at this:
http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchan...tp&Product_Code=ATP-FIE-004&Category_Code=FIE

ATP even tells customers to not buy their hot pipe product unless you have or plan to upgrade the turbo.

NOTE: ATP Turbo high flow charge air pipe NOT recommended or necessary for Fiesta ST owners without turbo upgrade plans. Stock charge pipe system provides adequate flow for stock turbo and bolt-on performance modifications. The choking point occurs at turbo outlet (1.5? outer diameter and slightly above 1.25? inner diameter). Alternatively, intercooler upgrade will yield better returns and greatly enhances performance from even the stock turbo.
If a vendor is willing to hamper their own sales with an honest pitch like that, that's all the evidence I need. lol
 


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#14
ATP even tells customers to not buy their hot pipe product unless you have or plan to upgrade the turbo.



If a vendor is willing to hamper their own sales with an honest pitch like that, that's all the evidence I need. lol
That's all I need as well, thanks for saving me $120 haha
 


frankiefiesta

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#15
Adam is the name of the tuner.
http://adamtuned.myshopify.com/collections/2014-ford-fiesta-st
Check out vendor section for more info about him.

It'll be nice if you have access to E30 fuel. It makes a big difference. If you're planning to move a lot, it's probably better to get a lifetime tune so that Adam can continue to give you different tunes down the road depending on what type of fuel is available at your location.




Unless your car has an upgraded turbo... probably not much.

Have a look at this:
http://www.atpturbo.com/mm5/merchan...tp&Product_Code=ATP-FIE-004&Category_Code=FIE

ATP even tells customers to not buy their hot pipe product unless you have or plan to upgrade the turbo.



If a vendor is willing to hamper their own sales with an honest pitch like that, that's all the evidence I need. lol
But mountunes pipe is 2" is it not?
I know the ATP and Cobb pipes are 2.5" and are a little overkill, but the mountune or mrbp pipe is not a bad upgrade
 


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#16
But mountunes pipe is 2" is it not?
I know the ATP and Cobb pipes are 2.5" and are a little overkill, but the mountune or mrbp pipe is not a bad upgrade
Possibly, but if the outlet of the turbo is ~1.25 OD it really doesn't matter if your charge pipe is 6" wide, the turbo outlet is going to be what limits the airflow. If you have a bigger turbo, then upgrading the CP is probably a good bet.
 


OP
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Thread Starter #17
Adam is the name of the tuner.
http://adamtuned.myshopify.com/collections/2014-ford-fiesta-st
Check out vendor section for more info about him.

It'll be nice if you have access to E30 fuel. It makes a big difference. If you're planning to move a lot, it's probably better to get a lifetime tune so that Adam can continue to give you different tunes down the road depending on what type of fuel is available at your location.

Thanks for the info. Did not realize we had so many options on tuning remotely now days, pretty amazing stuff really. Hopefully after winter I can get me the Cobb Access Port, an intake, and a mid-pipe. As soon as all that happens, it looks like I'll be giving Tune+ a call. $175 for lifetime tunes, remotely, is not a bad deal at all.
 


frankiefiesta

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Possibly, but if the outlet of the turbo is ~1.25 OD it really doesn't matter if your charge pipe is 6" wide, the turbo outlet is going to be what limits the airflow. If you have a bigger turbo, then upgrading the CP is probably a good bet.
I agree. Money can be better spent if you still have a stock turbo
 


AzNightmare

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#19
Thanks for the info. Did not realize we had so many options on tuning remotely now days, pretty amazing stuff really. Hopefully after winter I can get me the Cobb Access Port, an intake, and a mid-pipe. As soon as all that happens, it looks like I'll be giving Tune+ a call. $175 for lifetime tunes, remotely, is not a bad deal at all.
It's actually $300 for the lifetime.
The $175 is an upgrade price only if you have already paid for the Single tune ($150).

From what I've been reading, seems like everyone is happy with their adam tune.
 




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