2011 WRX Stock vs. Stage 1 vs. Stage 2

[xluben]

I finally was able to install my COBB downpipe and get my 2011 WRX retuned. Baseline, Stage 1 and Stage 2 information is included. Stage 1 tune was done with the SPT cat back already installed. Only change since then was adding the downpipe. Tuning was done on 16" steelies and winter tires (just like the baseline and Stage 1 tune). RomRaider log was used to create the dyno plot using Virtual Dyno. I set CF=1, which makes the Virtual Dyno read similar to COBB's dyno (LINK).

I am really happy with the tune. Nuke kept it conservative enough that I shouldn't have to worry about my car, but still made it much, much quicker than Stage 1. The mid range pull is great! Nice big torque numbers from 3k and up. Car feels so much stronger now. The COBB downpipe also makes it sound a bit meaner.

Feel free to discuss!

Event: Stage 2 Road Tune
Location: MN
Ambient Temp: 20F
Elevation: 725ft
Weather: Cloudy
Road Conditions: Flat
Tires: General Altimax Artic 215/55R16





Car: 2011 WRX 5 Door
Tuner: Nuke
Dyno Info: Virtual Dyno - CF=1, Smoothing=5
Transmission: Stock 5 Speed
Gear: 3rd
Target Boost: 18.5psi
Target AFR: Unknown
Fuel: 93 Octane Unleaded
Engine/Power Modifications: SPT Cat Back Exhaust, COBB Downpipe
Driveline Modifications: None
Suspension Modifications: None
Other Modifications: 16" Steel Wheels
Baseline:
Peak HP at RPM: 239hp@6,000rpm
Peak Torque at RPM: 259lbft@3,200rpm
Stage 1:
Peak HP at RPM: 251hp@6,000rpm
Peak Torque at RPM: 294lbft@3,400rpm
Stage 2:
Peak HP at RPM: 298hp@6,100rpm
Peak Torque at RPM: 342lbft@3,500rpm

[greenc51]

nice steelies man. i did that to my ex's eclipse for winter mode.
nice numbers too! 8)

[TougeMonster]

The steelies look very nice. Very conservative tune but I like the plot. Most people would ask me to get highest average hp out of the tune which would result in more of a bell shape and flatter curve with as much power coming on earlier as possible. You have a plot similar to my personal STi. Good approach, easy to drive at WOT.

Here is a sample (not one of mine) of what most people tell me to do:

[Turbospeed]

Nice numbers, car sounds amazing btw!

[xluben]

nice steelies man. i did that to my ex's eclipse for winter mode.
nice numbers too! 8)

Thanks. Steelies work great for me. Had them on my last car for winter tires as well. Easy/free to swap each season, and I think they look pretty good on a black car

The steelies look very nice. Very conservative tune but I like the plot. Most people would ask me to get highest average hp out of the tune which would result in more of a bell shape and flatter curve with as much power coming on earlier as possible. You have a plot similar to my personal STi. Good approach, easy to drive at WOT.

Here is a sample (not one of mine) of what most people tell me to do:
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/y...comperison.jpg

Basically to peak the torque sooner, and then have it drop off more quickly? That's the only way I could see the hp curve flattening out. The plot you posted has the torque curve peaking at a higher RPM than my car, and it dies off sooner, not what I would want. Power delivery from this tune is smoother and strong up to the top, very nice for daily use. I'm really happy with how it feels around town and on the highways.

Nice numbers, car sounds amazing btw!

Thanks!

[TougeMonster]

Basically to peak the torque sooner, and then have it drop off more quickly? That's the only way I could see the hp curve flattening out. The plot you posted has the torque curve peaking at a higher RPM than my car, and it dies off sooner, not what I would want. Power delivery from this tune is smoother and strong up to the top, very nice for daily use. I'm really happy with how it feels around town and on the highways.

As stated, your tune is nicer to daily but lots of people do the bragging rights deal. The tune posted was from P&L and just a sample of curvature. Your tq graphs are actually pretty similar if you scale them.
The biggest difference would be that the pic posted was a stage 1, with no mods added but a tune. At stage 2, the numbers would be well past your own with much higher peaks and boost coming on sooner.
Just to show you your conservative/linear approach against a peak power approach
P&L stage 1 gains were 35whp and 75wtq against your stage 2 35whp 55wtq gains

[xluben]

Ah, that makes sense. I'd be curious to see the boost, AFR, and timing for that tune.

The torque curve for the baseline run looks a bit off to me. Pretty much flat with the peak at 4.5k

I do agree that that Stage 1 shows about as much gain as my Stage 2. I'm OK with a conservative tune, still is lots of fun!

[ofspunk7]

Did nuke talk to you about switching to E85? He did my E85 tune and man, i am happy i switched over.

[TougeMonster]

Ah, that makes sense. I'd be curious to see the boost, AFR, and timing for that tune.

The torque curve for the baseline run looks a bit off to me. Pretty much flat with the peak at 4.5k

I do agree that that Stage 1 shows about as much gain as my Stage 2. I'm OK with a conservative tune, still is lots of fun!

It would be similar to yours actually but applied at stage 1 as opposed to with stage 2 hardware. 18-19 psi 10-11afrs at boost with some advanced timing. However, this just means that it is running higher WGD to compensate and probably a bit more fuel to cool because of restriction from the DP not letting the gas out fast enough. Yours is definitely better for the long run.

If it was stage 2 they bump up to about 22-23psi on STi and to about 20-21 on the WRX just because of the WRX IC. This shifts the curve up to show gains of about 100whp and 120wtq against stock which IMO is pretty damn aggressive.

I prefer your approach

Here are AMR numbers for reference (aggressive?)
Numbers
Dyno: Dyno Dynamics (1.0CF)
Tuner: AMR
Wheel HP: 325whp (stock: 215whp)
Wheel TQ: 340wtq (stock: 225wtq)

[xluben]

Did nuke talk to you about switching to E85? He did my E85 tune and man, i am happy i switched over.

Yeah, he mentioned you by screen name He had brought it up when he did my Stage 1 tune and I hadn't even thought about it at the time. Since then I've been looking up more about it and I am strongly considering it (and supporting mods) for sometime this summer.

We should meet up sometime so I can see what to expect

It would be similar to yours actually but applied at stage 1 as opposed to with stage 2 hardware. 18-19 psi 10-11afrs at boost with some advanced timing. However, this just means that it is running higher WGD to compensate and probably a bit more fuel to cool because of restriction from the DP not letting the gas out fast enough. Yours is definitely better for the long run.
If it was stage 2 they bump up to about 22-23psi on STi and to about 20-21 on the WRX just because of the WRX IC. This shifts the curve up to show gains of about 100whp and 120wtq against stock which IMO is pretty damn aggressive.

I prefer your approach

Yikes, that definitely doesn't sound like what I want. Those Stage 2 numbers sound pretty crazy. I'd be curious to see how long those cars last... I'll wait until I have some more mods (TMIC, BPV, Fuel Pump, and Injectors are planned for an E85 tune).

Nuke does a good job of talking sense into me while tuning (I'm sure I could be convinced into getting an aggressive tune, but I'd probably regret it later). He doesn't want to see brand new cars blown up any more than the owners. He doesn't even use the Virtual Dyno program to tune for big numbers. In fact the logs don't get loaded into it until he is done, and that's only because I like looking at graphs