Stock Engine / Drivetrain Power Limits

[lokiwho]

So, how much can the FA20 actually handle RELIABLY?

[go_a_way1]

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by lokiwho

So, how much can the FA20 actually handle RELIABLY?

200HP at the crank

/Endthread before sh*tshow

[Lynxis]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

200HP at the crank

Not going to disagree with you. If you are at all concerned about reliability, then you really shouldn't modify the car. Even people running completely stock have had engines blow up.

That said, general consensus seems to be that you can go to ~200whp (full exhaust, intake and tune) without negatively impacting reliability. Some have suggested the tune may actually improve reliability over the stock tune and certainly, the number of people running good NA tunes reporting engine problems seems to be low. Still, the reality of the situation is that if you do modify, then unlike stock people, your warranty will not back you up if you run into problems.

Now, if you want more power, the obvious solution is adding forced induction. The second you add FI, complexity increases significantly and reliability goes down comparatively. In the 200-300whp range, there are plenty of people who have reported in excess of 60000 miles in an otherwise stock car but there are also plenty of people who have had catastrophic failures at these power levels, usually attributed to a bad tune or another failing component.

Above 300whp, you will start to break things. I understand that clutches and axles are the first things to go. The diff is liable to blow up too and depending on a variety of factors, the engine is at risk too. For every person who is running 30000+ miles at 400whp on the stock block, it seems someone else blew up at 340whp. Many attribute this to a bad tune but you are seriously rolling the dice at this point.

[FRS Justin]

Originally Posted by lokiwho

So, how much can the FA20 actually handle RELIABLY?

That depends on who you ask on this forum. Some will tell you 300hp F/I others will say 500hp F/I. Some will say they have seen 300hp n/a motors while others will say 200hp N/A have failed. So this is one of those questions that you have to pick someone you trust and follow that lead. Caution There are a lot of cliques on this forum who have never scene the inside of a FA20 but seem to know everything about them. Personally I wouldn't listen to anyone on this forum I would go to a reputable shop not a parts garage that just want to sell you everything they can a real Subaru Shop and get your info there on what they have experienced.


If you really want to get involved on this forum Start in the build threads pick your poison and enjoy the ride. Just understand their will always be 2 sides of the coin. Good luck PM me if I can help.


Edit:


I will list the things I have broke on my car maybe it will help you make your own formed opinion, I truly hope you find what your looking for.

Bought car in 2012 it now has 36000 on it
Broke left axle and the right one at a different time at the dragstrip launching at 7800rpm
Blew the factory clutch racing at the strip Im guessing around 12 to 15k, coil pack did go out once fixed under warranty.
Went 2 years running E85 full exhaust over 200hp n/a daily and racing 2 nights a week during the season no problem with engine, trans and diff.


Got bored built another motor put original on the stand. Now I have a 644whp 521wtq turbo setup running, factory diff, original transmission works perfect still. (but I have 2 extras on hand just in case) I broke more wheel studs than anything on this car. I might be lucky that this is all I have broken or maybe my maintenance to the car is keeping the car up either way I'm very pleased.


On race night I try to break it, not by doing something stupid holding wide open to show off the exhaust but to put the best times I can down. Speed shifting breaking the tires loose thru 4th are all risks I'm aware of and willing to take. So the car has had no easy life.


I'm blessed enough to have some of the best in the industry help on my car, so I always have the latest and greatest.


I want you to know how it's been treated, how the maintenance has been, everything it's been thru so you can make a informed opinion.
And again good luck.

[FRS Justin]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

lol, SMH

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

200HP at the crank

/Endthread before sh*tshow

That's not proven.

[FRS Justin]

Originally Posted by Lynxis

Not going to disagree with you. If you are at all concerned about reliability, then you really shouldn't modify the car. Even people running completely stock have had engines blow up.

That said, general consensus seems to be that you can go to ~200whp (full exhaust, intake and tune) without negatively impacting reliability. Some have suggested the tune may actually improve reliability over the stock tune and certainly, the number of people running good NA tunes reporting engine problems seems to be low. Still, the reality of the situation is that if you do modify, then unlike stock people, your warranty will not back you up if you run into problems.

Now, if you want more power, the obvious solution is adding forced induction. The second you add FI, complexity increases significantly and reliability goes down comparatively. In the 200-300whp range, there are plenty of people who have reported in excess of 60000 miles in an otherwise stock car but there are also plenty of people who have had catastrophic failures at these power levels, usually attributed to a bad tune or another failing component.

Above 300whp, you will start to break things. I understand that clutches and axles are the first things to go. The diff is liable to blow up too and depending on a variety of factors, the engine is at risk too. For every person who is running 30000+ miles at 400whp on the stock block, it seems someone else blew up at 340whp. Many attribute this to a bad tune but you are seriously rolling the dice at this point.

This is solid info

[weederr33]

Here we go again -_-

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

That's not proven.

Lol Toyota thinks 200hp will be reliable so do I. But your right our cars might not even make it past 160,000 kms

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Lol Toyota thinks 200hp will be reliable so do I. But your right our cars might not even make it past 160,000 kms

From what I understand of the collaboration Subaru was likely responsible for design and test to Toyota's standards.

[go_a_way1]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

From what I understand of the collaboration Subaru was likely responsible for design and test to Toyota's standards.

That sounds about right. To be totally honest I think it will come down to how people maintain their cars.

[Marco_86]

221 whp

[totopo]

Originally Posted by go_a_way1

Lol Toyota thinks 200hp will be reliable so do I. But your right our cars might not even make it past 160,000 kms

if you pump crappy cali 91 octane gas, the ECU might not even think 200hp will be reliable :
http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticl...strations.aspx