Genuine SEAT Parts and Accessories.

SMIC or FMIC?

Mr OCD

Mr OCD

Active Member
May 1, 2008
1,964
4
Manchester, UK
Cracking on with a few jobs on the LC now ... its coming along nicely.

Next step is to bring the EGT's down... last Summer I could see clearly in VCDS the effect lack of sufficient cooing due to higher CF's ... so next step is more cooling.

Thing is I'm not prepared to pay £700 for a FORGE FMIC ... heck its a quarter of the cars value ... on the other hand I don't install crap on my cars.

Looking around I can get an uprated SMIC for £100 that is twice as thick as the original cooler ... and should bring EGT's down 20degC over substained runs ... not bad at all and is rated to 275bhp which is fine for a AUQ engine.

On other hand I can get a cheap FMIC for £200 but having looked at the size of the core I'm not convinced it will be any better than the SMIC ... possibly a bit better due to slightly bigger surface area but what I'm not impressed about is the huge amount of piping require so has a longer flow path which creates lag...

Any options I've missed?
 
Another one here for the TX Cooler. Mine managed 285 on bills rollers do can't be too bad ;) I'm upgrading the core on mine soon though...
 
Spirit Furtive said:
FMIC is better. End of.
Click to expand...

Better than what and why?

Got evidence that it is better on a stage 1 AUQ LC than a uprated SMIC?

Fact is the LC is never going to do more than 235bhp without changing turbo... I'm not interested in doing that ... therefore for the power output an uprated SMIC 'may' be sufficient for my needs ...it will certainly spool easier than an FMIC kitted car ...

As I said I'm looking for evidence of both really to base my decision on.
 
Was looking at the TurboRevs kit ... its only down the road from me...

Admit the TX kit looks good ... not wanting to lose the fogs though TBH.
 
Look at it like this, whatever intake temps you get from the side mount will be higher than a front mount. You already appear to be stage one and you won't find anybody on here that would suggest stage two is a good idea before you get a front mount they are mounted in a much better position and the surface area is bigger too.
 
Main problem with the stock set up SMIC is the lack of air flowing over it.... increase this and you might find you have enough cooling for your power levels. When I first joined SCN some people cut slits into the plastic wheel arch to improve flow... might be worth searching for this on the audi/golf forums. I dont think anyone produced figures but I'd imagine it gave some improvement over stock.

Not convinced an uprated SM would fair any better as the air still has no where to go in its standard position.
 
Spirit Furtive said:
Look at it like this, whatever intake temps you get from the side mount will be higher than a front mount. You already appear to be stage one and you won't find anybody on here that would suggest stage two is a good idea before you get a front mount they are mounted in a much better position and the surface area is bigger too.
Click to expand...

Agree with the temp differences ... but if flow is improved to the SMIC and it is uprated its not going to be a HUGE difference. Then you have the longer flow path of the FMIC which means lag... on an approx. 240bhp car I think the difference is going to be neligable tbh.

traumapat said:
Main problem with the stock set up SMIC is the lack of air flowing over it.... increase this and you might find you have enough cooling for your power levels. When I first joined SCN some people cut slits into the plastic wheel arch to improve flow... might be worth searching for this on the audi/golf forums. I dont think anyone produced figures but I'd imagine it gave some improvement over stock.

Not convinced an uprated SM would fair any better as the air still has no where to go in its standard position.
Click to expand...

I've already improved the flow to the cooler in some respects but the main issue I guess is that it sits behind the bumper out of site.

Dan1720v said:
You dont need to loose fogs with the tx. i didnt..
Click to expand...

Ah cool... any thread on your build so I can gander?

LEE69 said:
No, but tests against the standard one http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=306893&highlight=smic
Click to expand...

See... thats pretty impressive for an uprated SMIC ...

Hmm... undecided ... :)
 
You won't need a FMIC if you live in the UK and don't uprate the turbo: a good SMIC (e.g. Eurojet) will keep your EGTs under control, and prevent heatsoak enough to keep you revving/accelerating.

Eurojet SMICs are more expensive than the eBay Turborevs cheapies which you've seen at £100. Eurojets are hard to get, but when I researched it, I found that the Eurojets are a lot better quality than the Turborevs.

The Turborevs ones do work, and would be a budget install IMO. You say you don't fit crap to your car, so I'd be wary about Turborevs SMIC, and I've heard because they're cheapo they don't have the MAP sensor hole drilled, so you have to drill that yourself and that they are often awkward to fit.

I also don't know if the Turborevs ones would completely stop heatsoak in your case, but I'm sure the Eurojet would, because I know other people who are definately ok with them.

On top of that, you will need proper vented fender liners, or as a budget option you can drill loads of holes in the right place in the wheel arch liner where the SMIC is.

Good luck and let me know if you find a good source on the Eurojets, cheers!
 
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Lol having seen some of the intake temps on my LCR before and after a front mount, I'd certainly say the above is bollocks about not needing one without a bigger turbo.
 
Dan1720v said:
Lol having seen some of the intake temps on my LCR before and after a front mount, I'd certainly say the above is bollocks about not needing one without a bigger turbo.
Click to expand...

Have you even tried using a decent SMIC, or are you talking bollocks yourself?

All you seem to be doing is comparing a bog standard intercooler with an uprated FMIC, and ignoring what a good SMIC could do.

The OP also wasn't talking about an LCR; his profile lists a standard Cupra.
 
Spirit Furtive said:
But a FMIC is still going to be better than an uprated SMIC.
Click to expand...

It's not that black and white: at Stage 1 tuning, an FMIC will increase lag, so that that would be a compromise for a few more horses (and a lot more expense), plus, a lot of people don't want FMICs because they're so visible to police, etc.

I know the OP would be ok with a Eurojet SMIC as it stands, as long as he doesn't want to increase the power further down the line. Then an FMIC would be the sensible way to go.
 
csd_19 said:
Random :D

A FMIC isn't going to get you pulled, driving like a fud will...
Click to expand...

It's not random, because some people definately don't want a big f*ck off silver intercooler with big pipes at the front of their car, me included...ever heard of stealth?

Talking performance, a good SMIC will see 300+ BHP (Americans have done this and proved it).

The only way you're going to get temps up high enough to need an FMIC on a Stage 1 car is either on a track, or driving like a "fud" as you put it for a long enough time.

I need an uprated SMIC myself and doing a search I remembered that Tyrolsport USA uprated SMICs are either the same as Eurojets or very similar. Both are much better than the Turborevs eBay cheapies, which are a Eurojet/Tyrolsport knock-off I believe.

This is a link to a finished auction of a Tyrolsport uprated SMIC, so you can see what I mean and read about it. They guy imported it from the States: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TYROLSPOR...tem45fe6a365a&clk_rvr_id=320166740929&afsrc=1
 
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