2013 Subaru WRX Hatch, Satin Pearl White
Cobb Tuning SF Intake + SF Intake Box + PTP Turbo Blanket
Torqued Performance Stage 1 E-Tune
Whitelines Anti-Sway Bars, Kart boys Endlinks, Back to black bushings.
Roof Rack,Bike Rack, Cobb Knob, Gorilla Mud Flaps
91 Octane Shell fuel
Backstory:
Over the last 2 weeks I have been working with Eric at Torqued Performance and one of the parameters he requests that you log is intake temps. Living in SoCal we see daytime highs around 90 in March and evening lows around 40. The concerning part is that I was seeing intake temps between 130 - 160 degrees just putting around town. So I started looking into solutions.
Solution:
PTP LAVA Blanket, I choose this model because it looked the best, There were also a number of reviews online suggesting that there isn’t a fiberglass itch when installing ( Mostly true Ill explain more in the install column ). All of the turbo blankets made claims that you could put your hand on the head shield over the turbo after hard driving and That sounded great. I had some extra money at the end of last week and I pulled the trigger.
Install:
So I need to preface this with a confession. I watched install videos online and I did NOT remove my intercooler for this install, We are working on the kitchen at the moment and my workbench was a mess, I just didnt want to pile the intercooler on a knife block and other assorted kitchen supplies. So my install review is based on leaving the intercooler on for the length of the process. I also had a nice workout 20 miles from home before I started so I needed to cool the engine aby before starting. I used a box fan and a mister to rapid cool the system. Rapid cooling took about 30 minutes but it gave me time to get my head straight.
The most difficult part of the install was removing the stock heat shield. It would appear that over time the bolts have heat treated themselves and made themselves very rough. the threads were not smooth at all even after a good cleaning. The only tools I used were a 10mm Socket, hand ratchet and 10mm Closed end wrench. I counted 7 bolts to remove the stock shield ( the website said there were 8 ) and I lifted off the old unit exposing the turbo.
Sliding the turbo blanket on was pretty simple, I made a loop on one of the pegs and pulled it through, It was a pretty tight fit but I suppose that means more contact with the turbo so thats good news. This is where the itch started, Because the outer mesh of the blanket is sewn on with steel wire it is very sharp. I can’t even count the number of scrapes on my palms and fingers from feeding the blanket into position. There may be no fiberglass itch but there is definitely an itch while the scratches heal. Installing the tubro shield back onto the brackets after the blanket was easy enough. One of the screws refused to thread back into place because the blanket was in the way but the shield is held very snug in place with no rattle.
Difficulty of install 4/10 : Most regular tinkerers with a standard tool set can handle this job themselves. It takes patience and lots of light. Im sure it would be easier to pull your intercooler but for my purposes it went well enough.
Results:
I let the car get up to running temperature and took a few spirited runs around the local back roads. I opened the hood, half scared of what would happen I licked my finger tips and tapped the heat shield… Nothing, not even a hiss. With more confidence I put my hand on top of the shield and it was cool to the touch. I also touch tested the Cobb SF intake Box and it was also cool to the touch. In my previous experience after spirited runs the intake box would be hot enough to steam water. I am exceptionally pleased with the performance. Reading intake temps during WOT logs shows similar temperatures but logging time spent driving around town shows a marked improvement. During morning traffic intake temperatures were down almost 60 degrees with similar outside temps and traffic.
/ Edit Added /TLDR : PTP Blanket goes on easily and lowers under hood temperatures by containing turbo heat in the turbo and exhaust path. there will be minimal difference when the vehicle is moving at speed but during stop and go traffic intake temps with the PTP blanket show approximately a 50 degree difference.
Cobb Tuning SF Intake + SF Intake Box + PTP Turbo Blanket
Torqued Performance Stage 1 E-Tune
Whitelines Anti-Sway Bars, Kart boys Endlinks, Back to black bushings.
Roof Rack,Bike Rack, Cobb Knob, Gorilla Mud Flaps
91 Octane Shell fuel
Backstory:
Over the last 2 weeks I have been working with Eric at Torqued Performance and one of the parameters he requests that you log is intake temps. Living in SoCal we see daytime highs around 90 in March and evening lows around 40. The concerning part is that I was seeing intake temps between 130 - 160 degrees just putting around town. So I started looking into solutions.
Solution:
PTP LAVA Blanket, I choose this model because it looked the best, There were also a number of reviews online suggesting that there isn’t a fiberglass itch when installing ( Mostly true Ill explain more in the install column ). All of the turbo blankets made claims that you could put your hand on the head shield over the turbo after hard driving and That sounded great. I had some extra money at the end of last week and I pulled the trigger.
Install:
So I need to preface this with a confession. I watched install videos online and I did NOT remove my intercooler for this install, We are working on the kitchen at the moment and my workbench was a mess, I just didnt want to pile the intercooler on a knife block and other assorted kitchen supplies. So my install review is based on leaving the intercooler on for the length of the process. I also had a nice workout 20 miles from home before I started so I needed to cool the engine aby before starting. I used a box fan and a mister to rapid cool the system. Rapid cooling took about 30 minutes but it gave me time to get my head straight.
The most difficult part of the install was removing the stock heat shield. It would appear that over time the bolts have heat treated themselves and made themselves very rough. the threads were not smooth at all even after a good cleaning. The only tools I used were a 10mm Socket, hand ratchet and 10mm Closed end wrench. I counted 7 bolts to remove the stock shield ( the website said there were 8 ) and I lifted off the old unit exposing the turbo.
Sliding the turbo blanket on was pretty simple, I made a loop on one of the pegs and pulled it through, It was a pretty tight fit but I suppose that means more contact with the turbo so thats good news. This is where the itch started, Because the outer mesh of the blanket is sewn on with steel wire it is very sharp. I can’t even count the number of scrapes on my palms and fingers from feeding the blanket into position. There may be no fiberglass itch but there is definitely an itch while the scratches heal. Installing the tubro shield back onto the brackets after the blanket was easy enough. One of the screws refused to thread back into place because the blanket was in the way but the shield is held very snug in place with no rattle.
Difficulty of install 4/10 : Most regular tinkerers with a standard tool set can handle this job themselves. It takes patience and lots of light. Im sure it would be easier to pull your intercooler but for my purposes it went well enough.
Results:
I let the car get up to running temperature and took a few spirited runs around the local back roads. I opened the hood, half scared of what would happen I licked my finger tips and tapped the heat shield… Nothing, not even a hiss. With more confidence I put my hand on top of the shield and it was cool to the touch. I also touch tested the Cobb SF intake Box and it was also cool to the touch. In my previous experience after spirited runs the intake box would be hot enough to steam water. I am exceptionally pleased with the performance. Reading intake temps during WOT logs shows similar temperatures but logging time spent driving around town shows a marked improvement. During morning traffic intake temperatures were down almost 60 degrees with similar outside temps and traffic.
/ Edit Added /TLDR : PTP Blanket goes on easily and lowers under hood temperatures by containing turbo heat in the turbo and exhaust path. there will be minimal difference when the vehicle is moving at speed but during stop and go traffic intake temps with the PTP blanket show approximately a 50 degree difference.