FI Question. too cold? which to choose? - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

davidpjr · 08-14-2014, 06:19 AM

Hey im new here and i have been browsing the forums for months doing research on which FI i want to go and its down to 2 systems. My question is which would be better suited for my location? im stationed in Minot, ND and we see -20 to -40 for almost 4-6 months of the year. My too choices are either a Vortech SC or a FullBlownMotorsports turbo system. Either way my goal is 300hp. Which would handle better in the cold north?

midnight23 · 08-14-2014, 07:37 AM

go for the turbo, I think I read that vortech has issues with very cold temps.

AdrianG · 08-14-2014, 07:57 AM

Vortech says in their documentation somewhere that you void the warranty by running it below 0c.

Have you looked at PTuning?

- AdrianG

SamS · 08-14-2014, 08:24 AM

Why not Minot?

MAPerformance · 08-14-2014, 09:56 AM

The Vortech is not super cold friendly from what we have been told. The turbo would be your best bet. I drove my car through our harsh winter without any issues at all with our turbo kit. Just be slightly cautious with boost on the snow and ice

sklimo · 08-14-2014, 09:59 AM

If you go SC the JR kit does well in the cold. Ask me how I know

davidpjr · 08-14-2014, 01:56 PM

oh man

really liked the vortech setup. but hey i guess i just gotta deal with it. I've looked at allot of the kits for turbo's and FBM works best for me and i think they are really close too (MN).

King Tut · 08-14-2014, 01:58 PM

Make the drive to LJ @FullBlown . You Air Force or up there for the oil moneys?

davidpjr · 08-14-2014, 02:03 PM

Air Force. How far away is he?

EquiFox · 08-14-2014, 02:04 PM

Isn't the Rotrex in both JR and KW kit viable in cold temp ?

davidpjr · 08-15-2014, 05:48 AM

So vortech would probably break something if i drove it in the winter? I believe skatery1989 has a vortech and he is up in colorado, any proof its bad in real cold? how would a turbo handle this differently? this car is my DD and i do not plan on tracking or autox'ing. just a fun DD. Any and all replies appreciated. This will be my first FI car ever. coming from mustangs to the brz now. Never going back

Foobar · 08-15-2014, 07:00 AM

I have a Vortech, 2 winters in the northeast. No problems.

Just be sensible, warm it up properly before beating on it. Same goes for turbo or NA for that matter.

There are plenty of us with winter driven vortechs and real world conditions in the northern climates that have no issues.

In sub freezing weather, you likely use an engine block heater anyway.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Sellout · 08-15-2014, 11:48 AM

Vortech paperwork says they don't recommend using it in low temps. Obviously it's to limit warranty claims due to stupidity.

That wording in the manual translates into "has issues in the cold" on an online forum. Nobody I know has ever actually seen or heard of a Vortech head unit dying because of the cold.

King Tut · 08-15-2014, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidpjr

Air Force. How far away is he?

My brother in law is stationed there currently, and my sister has driven, flown, and taken the train to the MSP area a couple times as we have family just over the border in Wisconsin. She has made the drive in under 8 hours.

08-14-2014, 06:19 AM	#1
davidpjr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2013 white BrZ Location: Minot, ND Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	FI Question. too cold? which to choose? Hey im new here and i have been browsing the forums for months doing research on which FI i want to go and its down to 2 systems. My question is which would be better suited for my location? im stationed in Minot, ND and we see -20 to -40 for almost 4-6 months of the year. My too choices are either a Vortech SC or a FullBlownMotorsports turbo system. Either way my goal is 300hp. Which would handle better in the cold north?

08-14-2014, 07:37 AM	#2
midnight23 dying bird under the hood Join Date: Mar 2013 Drives: 2013 SWP Limited BRZ Location: Disneyland, California Posts: 1,331 Thanks: 546 Thanked 451 Times in 295 Posts Mentioned: 34 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	go for the turbo, I think I read that vortech has issues with very cold temps. __________________ GReddy Turbo BRZ tuned by Evasive Motorsports Build Thread Instagram

08-14-2014, 01:58 PM	#8
King Tut NASA SpecE30 Racer Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2006 Honda S2000 Location: Gulf Breeze, FL Posts: 7,279 Thanks: 607 Thanked 5,759 Times in 3,055 Posts Mentioned: 274 Post(s) Tagged: 10 Thread(s)	Make the drive to LJ @FullBlown . You Air Force or up there for the oil moneys? __________________ - King Tut Street/Track Car: 2006 Honda S2000 TT3 \|\| Race Car: 1987 BMW 325is SpecE30 \|\| Tow Vehicle: 2014 RAM 1500 EcoDiesel Sold Cars: 2012 BMW M3 \|\| 2013 Subaru BRZ \|\| 2012 Porsche Cayman R \|\| 2009 Chevrolet Z06 \|\| 2009 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 BMW M3 \|\| 2004 Nissan 350Z

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08-14-2014, 07:57 AM	#3
AdrianG Generally Well Liked Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: '08 STi Hatch, '11 Outback 3.6R Location: Ontario Posts: 419 Thanks: 43 Thanked 197 Times in 125 Posts Mentioned: 9 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Vortech says in their documentation somewhere that you void the warranty by running it below 0c. Have you looked at PTuning? - AdrianG

08-14-2014, 08:24 AM	#4
SamS Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: '13 BRZ, '99 Forester,'06 Duc S2R1k Location: WI Posts: 36 Thanks: 5 Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Why not Minot?

08-14-2014, 09:56 AM	#5
MAPerformance Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Asphalt FRS Location: Cottage Grove, MN Posts: 1,272 Thanks: 669 Thanked 981 Times in 540 Posts Mentioned: 84 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	The Vortech is not super cold friendly from what we have been told. The turbo would be your best bet. I drove my car through our harsh winter without any issues at all with our turbo kit. Just be slightly cautious with boost on the snow and ice

08-14-2014, 01:56 PM	#7
davidpjr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2013 white BrZ Location: Minot, ND Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	oh man really liked the vortech setup. but hey i guess i just gotta deal with it. I've looked at allot of the kits for turbo's and FBM works best for me and i think they are really close too (MN).

08-14-2014, 02:03 PM	#9
davidpjr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2013 white BrZ Location: Minot, ND Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Air Force. How far away is he?

08-14-2014, 02:04 PM	#10
EquiFox Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2014 FRS Firestorm Location: Canada Posts: 57 Thanks: 4 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Isn't the Rotrex in both JR and KW kit viable in cold temp ?

08-15-2014, 05:48 AM	#11
davidpjr Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Drives: 2013 white BrZ Location: Minot, ND Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	So vortech would probably break something if i drove it in the winter? I believe skatery1989 has a vortech and he is up in colorado, any proof its bad in real cold? how would a turbo handle this differently? this car is my DD and i do not plan on tracking or autox'ing. just a fun DD. Any and all replies appreciated. This will be my first FI car ever. coming from mustangs to the brz now. Never going back

08-15-2014, 11:48 AM	#13
Sellout Mr. Cranky Pants Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: 2013 Argento FR-S Location: San Diego Posts: 449 Thanks: 76 Thanked 147 Times in 103 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Vortech paperwork says they don't recommend using it in low temps. Obviously it's to limit warranty claims due to stupidity. That wording in the manual translates into "has issues in the cold" on an online forum. Nobody I know has ever actually seen or heard of a Vortech head unit dying because of the cold.

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