Vrs aftermarket boost pipework smic or fmic recommendations

[bmbmdmb]

Sorry for long post.

What are your opinions on the various options with respect to replacing the boost pipework ?

I've read widely on this.

After trying to seal joints using new c clips and a few new o rings and heat shrink, it ultimately did not work.

Having had a taste of the real potential of this car I just want the car to be working right. 

Here are my thoughts:

1) seat darkside fmic and hard pipe kit . this option requires trimming of crash bar and radiator surround. Car is unmodified and fully stock, does not have xenon lights. Darkside has advised ecu would need tweaking to obtain full potential of fmic.

Darkside is geographically close to me, only reason for mentioning them. 

I've read fmic is overkill for a non track car unless bigger turbo and other enhancements present. Also fmic will cause turbo lag? Fmic has cooler denser air flow to turbo, less heat saturation.

Car is not lowered,  read boost pipes could rub on driveshaft. Could this option make maintenance difficult? Just replaced radiator to car.

2) Smic without plastic ends and hard pipe kit. Could fit this myself. Like for like. No remap needed?

3) buy new oem pipe work that is leaking boost due to wear on lugs. Cost of two right angle pipes is £180 and no guarantees. I don't like the plastic connectors on the oem smic. Could be wear on this part?

4) fmic Smic kits then mention egr delete. On my vrs blt engine I ve read that egr removal will result in...

longer warm up times?, 

Mpg reduced or increased?

More turbo wear due to hotter gases? 

Less inlet manifold black soot gunk.

EML on dash illuminating but can be mapped out.

I've already replaced a sooted up egr for £120 with new seals 10k miles ago. Not that pricey compared to other Skoda models and easy to do. 

 

Reason to remove egr would be to allow hard / silicone boost  pipework to seal wwith rest of car and avoid c clips and lugs on the asv that is after the egr.

Benefit would be to avoid high particulates sooting up egr and inlet manifold and injectors? Also, I've read that this gunk can seize turbo veins/ blades. 

I`m all for reducing acid rain from high NOx emissions but having seen state of inlet manifold egr at 70k I was / I now am considering this option.

 

5) asv and egr are separate on blt vrs engine but join to one another. Asv then joins to boost pipework. Removal of asv will result in shaky engine after turning engine off and cause accelerated wear on engine mounts.

Also, I've read the oil remaining in the intercooler could combust causing overboost on turbo and rev engine to destruction?

See this guardian link

 

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/2012/mar/02/turbo-charged-cost-of-diesel-cars

 

6) then there is a remap to 165 to 170bhp that was mentioned to me?TAilored to the car. Will remap wear out clutch, throw out gear box, reduce turbo longevity?  

 

I suspect the boost pipework has been leaking from 40 k when ownership was started. The oil leak from join after intercooler....

It is truly terrible design.

 

What should I do? 

 

Car has 80k on clock and I intend to keep for next few years. 

 

If you can answer one point or more that would be great. 

 

7) PS where does the watery particulate, oil in the intercooler go once the boost pipework seals are not leaking? The Smic oem is lowest point on car. Does it get carried back up to turbo and then engine under boost?

 

 

 

Edited 14 January, 2018 by bmbmdmb

[bmbmdmb]

For those of you interested in my research:

 

1) seat fmic and pipework parts cost £600 to 700 mark. 

Requires £300 remap for custom tune if fitting a fmic to obtain any benefit. Too expensive for me.

2) there is no aftermarket Smic option except for non vrs fabia models.

3) retaining asv and egr. Aftermarket hoses are a good fit apparently at maintaining boost seal.

 

I ve come across this product from forge £225

 

https://www.forgemotorsport.co.uk/Silicone_Boost_Hoses_Kit_for_SEAT_Ibiza_and_Skoda_Fabia_VRS_19TDi--product--1132.html

Anyone know whether it is an uprated hose kit that will fit oem connectors ?

 

 

 

 

 

[KenONeill]

@bmbmdmb - FWIW there are also various options for increasing airflow away from the SMIC by Swiss cheesing the inner arch or cutting out the marked area and covering it with a louvre panel (from DIY stores, usually intended for huts) or an Audi TT vent panel.

 

I've also had some success in locking down SMIC pipe joints using real Terry Jubilee clips to replace the VAG "spring" clips.

[duck]

Airtec FMIC for VRS is £495 and includes all pipework.

 

The original SMIC rubs on the plastic surround which is pretty common problem so yours probably has a hole in it as well.

[bmbmdmb]

I've seen that mod, thanks. Not too fussed about heat soak, just wanted a leak proof system. Also, I d be a bit worried about silt and mud .