I too have to agree with many of the comments here that there are a lot (TONS) of videos out there that are either conflicting, confusing, wrong or all together bad so thank you for being clear concise and on point. Well done. Coming from a long line of Audi S4...I just bought my first ever subaru (2021 WRX Limited) and the ride so far is almost too much fun. The thought of what is to come next is beyond exciting. Thanks so much for putting this out there. Good stuff. [insert goofy happy as a clam emoji here]...
I'm from the VW/Audi world but the downpipe thing is interesting because, at least for our cars, nearly every OTS stage 2 tune tells you an upgraded cat/catless downpipe is needed.
Good video. I got a Cobb AP when they first came out (had to wait) in 2004. Ran Stage 1 ots on my wrx from ‘04-‘17, except when I ran Stage 2 ots with a catted dp. Never had an issue. That said, I had no other mods, and the stage 2 downpipe was a bellmouth design required by Cobb. Been running Cobb Stage 1 ots on my 2010 STi for last 2 years. Car is bone stock. The tune didn’t add any noticeable power gains, but it did get me much smoother and consistent throttle response and overall much better driveability. Stock, my car’s turbo would not have smooth power delivery. It was frustrating to drive. I bought the car used, from original owner, and it was bone stock - not returned to stock. Never modded. Thought about holding off on the tune but in less than a week, I ordered an AP and tuned Stage 1, 91 CA gas tune. Runs great now. Gotta figure these cars leave the factory with an oem ots tune. A custom tune will get best results, if you find a tuner you can trust - but I find the Cobb ots tunes fine if you are only modded to what they say for the tune. It’s typically a conservative tune too - you’ll get better results from a custom tune if you want to go that route, but I don’t bounce my car off the rev limiter. I drive conservatively, knowing I have the hp to move when I need to. (ok, sometimes I lay into it just for fun... but never have launched the car from a dead stop)
Your video it’s exactly what I needed. I have a 2020 STI deadstock. Just got my accessport and since planning on keeping it stock for sometime just went to a pro tuner and I’m super happy with the results. I was gonna go OTS maps but did follow your advise going to pro tuner. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks man.
As a recently new Ford Focus RS owner. I appreciate your video. I'm new to the whole turbo scene. and don't know what to do and what not to do. thank you very much!
yes I've been researching this for weeks now!! but you nailed it for me thank you!!! I'm in Wisconsin and the weather here is screwy all the time. giving me weird numbers drive after drive I'm going for a custom tune soon.
Nice video man. Your comment about older wrx's being more tolerant to OTS maps is correct. Mine is a 2002 with a perrin intake and tbe but hardly any feedback knock or fine learning. It does occur sometimes, but for a split second and always back to 0. It never happens on WOT. My DAM has always been 16
Great video brother! Bought my first STI back in June and I love watching your videos. Just today I bought a new exhaust and I’m planning on getting a COBB intake with their OTS map. My concern so far is that I don’t want my car to be acting weird until I get a proper tune.
Awesome video! Picked up my first WRX (2006) last year and have been slowly adding modifications. Planning on going stage 2 soon and this video helped me understand OTS maps vs pro tuning and the risks involved. Thanks so much!
Totally anecdotal, but my STI had ringland failure on cyl 4 with Stage 1+ SF tune with just a Cobb intake & Nameless catback after several months. SOA agreed to replace the motor after the investigation and working with the dealer. Put the stock airbox back on the car after, and waiting until I have more funds for some more mods before a protune. Great video man and excellent advice.
@@Smeedia yup, Subaru of Wichita was very helpful in working through the process. They also mentioned that being part of the local Subaru community helped my case.
A friend of mine got the same issue on his 2019 STI, never tuned and less than 10k miles.. SOA did investigate and replaced his engine.. this was a weird one for sure..
Kelbaez no doubt... mine is a 2016. Glad he got it covered! Definitely less to discuss with if no mods, but they also look for signs of abuse or racing too.
I just bought a 2015 WRX, and the previous owner already had a stage 2 +big sf COBB tune all ready to go. He had it catless and the dealership couldn't sell it without putting cats on. Then I learned, like you said in the video, I should look up what parts the COBB tune asks for. Now, I have to get it in the shop to put high flow cats on, cause the dealership ones aren't cutting it. I'm afraid to let loose with it not having the right parts.
Good advice bro, I want to get my car down to AWD Performance but haven't had the time.... three years later... yeah so, I'm still on that OTS map, lolz. Keep up the good content dude!
I'm one of those guys who's been using the OTS tune for years with good results so far with my 2018 WRX. Using the Cobb stage 0 93 OCT no mods. If I was to start modding I would start with a catback exhaust (stage 2). At that point I think I'd probably spring for a pro tune, from what I've heard the Cobb OTS tune is not that great once you start doing serious mods.
You need a TURBO BACK exhaust to run Stage 2. A catback doesn’t change the hp. That said, I’m not familiar with mods on the FA engine, but stage 2 has always required a downpipe (J pipe on the FA?).
@@stephen3164 You're correct. To push power on these cars you need a J Pipe. Catbacks and axlebacks do not need a tune. (As per Smeedia, and many others.)
I’ve got a mk7 GLI, with all FBO’s. Got COBB AP. I’m probably going to run the OTS for a little until I get a chance to get a pro tune done. I’ve already checked the map notes. I think I should be good for a little. But thanks for explaining how everything is.
@@Smeedia loving it so much. Rides so nicely and pretty fast. Love all the features it has. And the best it surprising people on how fast it actually is. Also it’s an automatic so I got the DSG ;)
Tan-man, just cracked open the AP. This video is really valuable & clear. You are building a library of helpful knowledge. Thanks Man! Ur car looks great in that color.
OTS maps are fine for the basic mods as long as your using Cobb products, but your not going to see better performance. With a protune there's a noticible difference in power as the tuner can make the map more aggressive.
A custom tune from an experienced Protuner is always a good idea, but OTS maps are objectively safe to use if used properly....remember...the OEM tune is also an OTS tune. They ain't custom tuning any cars coming out of the factory, its a one size fits all tune as well. And if you datalog most OEM tunes compared to COBB's OTS maps with the same conditions of fuel and environment, the COBB maps actually tend to knock less and run safer fueling. So yes, protune when possible because no OTS map can account for all variables, but it is a massive fallacy that COBB OTS maps are "dangerous". 90% of the major failures to cars using them are from the owner doing dumb things, or simply from the fact that stuff breaks when you drive it hard and may have happened regardless of the tune. Unfortunately the modern "tuning" scene is full of a lot of people that do stuff wrong and then blame the products instead of themselves.
Most of the failures I see is that people do not follow the map notes with OTS Tunes, the farther people deviate away from the map the higher potential for issues to happen. And while cobbd maps may be safer the moment you upload one you throw any warranty out the window. While aftermarket OTS aren't the ideal tune to use they do work relatively well for some cars
I had 2017 wrx that I ran MAP (modern automotive performance) intake, DP and their stage 2 and had zero issues for 3 years. From the New England area so had similar weather to where they were located. Like you said, not everyone will have the same results, but it ran excellent for me. Had I been down south definitely would've ran a protune for heat and humidity. Now I've gone 20' STi...plan on protune only for this one.😁
After watching this I realized what happened to my car. I 100% had boost creep. I’m sure the OTS tune I was using is supposed to be for the stock turbo and stock bypass valve which is 19 psi(?) I believe, but when I would get on the throttle, I would see 21+ psi on my boost readings. That’s exactly why I had detonation, which ended up blowing up the rod bearing on cylinder 4. I had a gut feeling the high boost reading wasn’t right... I should have went with my gut feeling. Oh well, rebuild is halfway done now. Can’t wait to have her back on the road.
Smeedia I’m shooting for around 350 whp. I don’t think I have all the right parts for it though. I’m installing a Crawford S2 short block. I need to either replace/ rebuild my stock turbo, but I’m not really sure which turbo to go with. I’ve been told stock turbo so what I should go with.
Overall I've had a positive experience on the Cobb stage 1 map. My only modification under the hood is an AOS and I don't buy cheap gas. The stage 1 doesn't really add any power but it's a huge improvement in the smoothness of power delivery. It's a great driving feel mod. However I will not be continuing with the Cobb maps when I begin to mod for power.
thanks man this comment helps just as much as the video itself. I'm studying automotive technology but I'm going at this alone with my 2017 base wrx ... I don't want to increase hp I really just want to smooth it out and make a few small alterations to the gearbox so for now I think cobb stage 1 is enough for me. the wrx is my daily driver I have two years left paying on it and I dont want dealerships playing with me damaging sensors and then trying to charge me for diagnosis/repair
i was on cobb stage 2, drove my car like a grandma for 4 months until i could get dynoed. i just did not trust it enough to drive how i want to without much worry on a pro tune.
Really good video! Quesiton regarding the stage 2 you mentioned. Is that strictly just adding a downpipe? Or is that downpipe, catback, and the intake? Got some coming in, and want to make sure i dont upload the wrong ots. Befote i get a pro tune.
Might sound dumb just getting into this but if I start with a OTS tune and go to a pro tune can u still leave the access port plugged in to monitor everything or does it mess up the tune.
I’m new to Subarus. What tune would you need for an intake downpipe? Do you pay for a pro tune after installing parts? How do you e tune. If there’s no ots map for downpipes. I can’t find anything, I’m also a noob! Someone give me a answer lol
The car effects the tune, the tune effects the car reminds me of the chicken and the egg dilemma, “which came first the chicken or the egg?” Similar insightful circular thinking 🤔. Now Smeediavision is thought provoking too, who knew !
so i just got a 2020 wrx and it came with a cobb intercooler and cobb intake and charge pipe aswell as an exhaust...should i go accessport or pro tune?
i have a 2016 wrx premium and i am new to cars. my car feels like it has a powerband and it hesitates when im around 4k rpm and once it gets to abt 5k rpm it flys. how to i fix this? I am running stage 2 frn 91oct
Hey, I have an 06 WRX with stage 2 mods from previous owner. Sti intercooler, catless downpipe and catback exhaust. I’ve been driving the car for 1200 miles over the course of 3 months and it’s been running smooth. My butt dyno was telling me that it was probably open sourced tune since it was running rich and smooth from what I felt. I’m getting an accessort this weekend to play it safe and to monitor feedback. Will the Cobb stage 2 OTS tune work with my setup until I’m ready to get etune ?
I feel like a lot of people don't fully understand OTS tunes. If so many folks were blowing up their engines on OTS tunes, then why has no one gone after Cobb for it? just because a manufacturer says "no warranty provided" doesn't mean they aren't liable if their product doesn't work. sure they are absolutely less precise, but the OEM isn't sending every car to the dyno to be tuned before it gets shipped off either. that's why things like knock and reduction to DAM are still happening. fueling a car you've never sat in or have specific logs for is a LOT harder than setting a baseline from other cars, detecting knock, and cutting timing when it does. it sucks to drive with, but it's also not a bad thing. it's the quickest way to harm reduction, and why the new +15 WRX has such a major issue with timing being retarded constantly. I think the reputation these tunes get is more likely to be that the quantity of people who are willing to drop $600 once is a lot larger than the quantity that is willing to spend that $600 twice. the only reason people are blowing up engines on OTS tunes is the same reason our insurance is so high. every 20 something with an instagram and lack of knowledge of cars in general owns a wrx. I see a lot more wrx's as first cars or first manual cars than people like myself who are in one several cars deep. while I have run OTS tunes in the past, I am myself am currently properly tuned. but that's also because I understand the benefits of having precise fuel, timing, and boost. there's a good reason dyno graphs on OTS cars are so much weaker to their tuned contemporaries.
Agree that nit every car that comes off the production line is individually tuned, but the tunes provided my manufactuers are much more conservative than an aftermarket OTS Tune. I have not looked into it so not 100% sure on this but cobb has to have some type of legal protection with the tunes. They know that not every car will want to accept it and run 100%.the majority of time I see OTS Tunes fail is when people deviate away from the map notes and required parts and they think the tune will adjusted for whatever they throw on there, which you and I know is not the case.
@@Smeedia I imagine they do, exactly because of the kind of people you mentioned. unfortunately I have seen plenty of people myself in locally ask if running x on y tune will be okay. OTS tunes really are never meant to be anything besides the stock tune caffeinated. in the context of the 15+ WRX all they really do is smooth out the power curve and reduce the frequency of timing cuts. they actually even run less boost than stock or even what most proper tuners will run. I really these are clearly meant to be step stones. because I get it, dropping $600 on the accessport and whatever else you spent on accompanying mods just to drop another $400-$800 is tough. I guess at the end of the day, if people who would have mixed and matched parts with OTS tunes stop and do it right instead of thinking everything will be fine then it's a win, right? anyways, enjoy the videos man.
@@anthonyruan6976 Not really. It's honestly super useful to have for troubleshooting the health of your car too. I figured out I had a boost leak on my charge pipe from analyzing the data logs...there was no CEL so I wouldn't have known otherwise.
I came across your video today. I purchased a 2019 WRX with COBB mods on it already including Catback exhausts. I am currently seeking a COBB accessport to find out the amount of tuning on the car if any.
Hey brother nice video..just bought 15 sti with 100k it has Cobb intake exhaust..not sure what kind yet..has burnt blue tips and maybe some other modes but not sure since bought from dealer..no accesport was with car but I have one..I was told on wrx that once I did big sf intake I needed to use that map selection or engine light may turn on..this sti has no engine light and don't know if it's been pro tuned..should I try accessport?
If you buy a used WRX and it doesn't have the AccessPort is there a way to know or tell if a tune has been added? Also, are there other Access Ports besides Cobb?
Right now I have a 2016 Lexus IS 200t f sport and I'm running a HPS air intake, ark exhaust, downpipe, HPS charge pipe, and a racechip gets tuning box, do you think I'm better off switching to a high flow catalytic converters ? Also if I do switch to a high flow catalytic converter will my cel go on? Will I be able to pass emissions?
What is a good way to just get more induction noise that doesn’t require a whole lot of tuning and is safe? I’ve looked into the COBB SF intake and it seems like the thing I’m after. Do you have any recommendations or better ways to increase induction noise on a 2019 STI all stock? I wish they made an SPF intake for newer models like they did for the 04-07 sti gens
i just got a v3 accessport for my 2011 wrx. I have a stock air box (with a k n n air box filter) and a stock downpipe with a custom exhaust job. what tune should i use OTS on my accessport?
This video is very helpful thank you . Just got a lapis blue pearl 18 Sti car came with borla cbe and Cobb intake and no AP . Original owner says he never had a AP or tune according to salesman as I ask him to call him to verify . Knowing me cobb intake no tune freak me out bought a AP , waiting for my laptop to get here this week . My question is I’m not planning on doing anymore mods besides buying a Cobb air box since the car only has the Cobb intake . What map should I run ? Stage 1 or 1 + . Car has Cobb intake ( buying airbox soon) and borla exhaust)
Different perform but I have a flame tune and oil dilution is a problem but not a major one if your tune otherwise is good and you change your oil frequently. If you are someone that likes extended oil change intervals, don't do a flame/ gurgle tune. Speaking from experience here. I can see a difference in oil pressure fairly quick from a be fresh change when I have the flame map on. Also can smell the gas in the oil much stronger when I do change it. Still love the sound and look of a flame tune. However I don't think I make friends when I decide to drive that car to work in the morning at 5am.
Lol I'm sure the neighbors love it 😅 out of curiosity how much of a change do you see in oil pressure from a fresh change to after it's been diluted a bit?
I recently bought an 2020 STI, I was watching all your videos but I’m not sure what I need. Is my daily drive but I’m a little disappointed of the stock performance so I would like to install an exhaust, air filter, blow off valve and I’m assuming a pro tune. Could you help me? What will you suggest?
I have a OTS tune. APR. It was flawless stage 1 but when I went IS20 tubo with tune I started having high rpm WOT misfires. This is for 2015 VW golf 1.8T FWD auto. I'm still trying to figure it out or find a better suited option.
my question is, will Cobbs OTS maps compensate for things like, say, if you happen to get a tank of "bad gas" completely unbeknownst to you, like the stock tune will just in order to keep things safe? very curious, thanks!
@@Smeedia gotcha! thank you, i appreciate your reply. to add, i have a 2021 STi and im thinking of eventually going with cobbs stage 1 + kit (AP with SF intake and box, and running their matching appropriate map of 93 octane & normal waste gate. i can readily get 93 octane from a top tier fuel station where i live) i already have a crawford V3 AOS and the GetaDomTune Cylinder 4 coolant hose mod. i dont drive the pants off the car, and i dont track it, just want the induction and turbo noises, to add, and do 2000 mile oil & filter changes (overkill i know, but the sti is also my 2nd vehicle). but, in your opinion , do i need any further supporting mods to completely safely run the cobb stage 1 + with my desired map? like, should i get a killer b pickup tube or perrin oil cooler, and koyo radiator because im now asking for more of the car? or is the stock stuff sufficient to handle the intake and tune with my already installed AOS and Cylinder 4 mod. thanks in advance. would appreciate your input
@@kcm732 bro im in the same boat, 2021 sti limited, and want turbo sounds. honestly it is easy to revert it back to stock, but the cobb stage 1+ with the intake is actually better than the stock intake apperantly. and if you run the 91 ots tune instead of 93 you also get extra knock protection. i would say send it man. its not like your modding the car by a huge margin, nor are you actually really increasing any performance.
Hey out of curiosity, where do you go to get your pro tunes? I’m asking because I’m pretty sure we live around the same area and I wanna find a good place to tune my car.
Could I run a grimmspeed intake with a cobb stage 1+ ots tune? And do you know of any good protuners around the Spokane area, because I’m from Northern Idaho.
No one will be able to tune with a catless downpipe not on accessports. I'd suggest thr grimmspeed catted one. But Ambott is great for the wrx platform 🔥
Just got a 2020 wrx. Only planning on putting air intake and cat back. Will OTS be good...I drive lots of highway miles. Liken it stuff man. I'm brand new to this stuff
Great video! You helped me chose the accessport over stand alone. I have a stage 1 kit on the way for my 2017 with 24k on it. A Cobb Silver dealer (Quantum-Performance) is doing the install, they've recommended the OTS map as the first step with the SF intake. They've advised me to try it out, despite the fact I would have had them do the 3 port EBCS, and FF kit as well. Not having read the manual, my impression is that I'll leave the v3 plugged in and it collects all the relevant data, which is then analyzed and the tune adjusted as desired or with new hardware?
You don't need to leave it plugged in if you dont want to. Think of thr AP as a a display for your PC. The ECU is the PC and the AP is the display. All data will be stored in the ECU regardless if thr AP is plugged in 🙏
I honestly wanted the AP just to get rid of the dang rev hang in my WRX and give me some way to monitor essentials. Stage 1 Cobb has been fine since i have nothing but a catback, though I did have DAM drop a little while ago (probably bad gas). I DO want to get on an etune soon but I want to at least get an intake and do some of my first important maintenance to make it worthwhile. I'll probably swap to the 91 octane cobb tune soon even though i have 93 in my area. It just makes sense in case i travel and cant get such high octane.
Do you recommend stage 1+ ots tune from maperformance or Cobb? I’m looking for the one that keeps it as reliable as possible. I have a 2020 wrx premium
If you didn't have the ETS FMIC already, I'd be bugging you to do the GrimmSpeed FMIC install and review. I just ordered a kit and I'm super excited to get it in.
