Aftermarket Intercooler Require Tuning?

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Vegas_Sirk

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Hi Guys,

Looking at getting the Cobb intercooler, but was wondering if I will need the Passport as well. To be honest Im not really interested in tuning as stock is fine with me (had plenty of tuned cars over the years so just dont want to deal with it). In fact the only reason I would do the intercooler is so I can add a winch to the front.

I know on the Japanese tuner cars (Evo & Sti) as tune is highly recommended so wondering if that the case on the Raptor as well.
 

zombiekiller

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you do not need a tune or tuner with an intercooler.

if you plan to run a different bumper ( in particular, a frame cut bumper.) , buy the intercooler that the bumper manufacturer recommends. All of the ICs have slightly different tubing angles that are generally that way in order to clear the bumpers that the same manufacturer makes.

From what I've found, the SVC IC offers the most clearance for whatever sort of bumper that you might want to run.
 
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Vegas_Sirk

Vegas_Sirk

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you do not need a tune or tuner with an intercooler.

if you plan to run a different bumper ( in particular, a frame cut bumper.) , buy the intercooler that the bumper manufacturer recommends. All of the ICs have slightly different tubing angles that are generally that way in order to clear the bumpers that the same manufacturer makes.

From what I've found, the SVC IC offers the most clearance for whatever sort of bumper that you might want to run.

Thanks for the tip. Improbably sticking with the stock bumper, but might keep that in mind in case down the road I wan to change it.
 

Rednose

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As ZK said you will not need a tune with any aftermarket IC ,a tune will be needed if you removed your stock IC shutter and that will result in having a light on the dash and tune is necessary to remove the code and light from your dash.

The other reason is purely performance and to get advantage of your FMIC and be able to raise the boost a tune is necessary.
 

massFX

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As ZK said you will not need a tune with any aftermarket IC ,a tune will be needed if you removed your stock IC shutter and that will result in having a light on the dash and tune is necessary to remove the code and light from your dash.

The other reason is purely performance and to get advantage of your FMIC and be able to raise the boost a tune is necessary.

There is a way around this that doesn’t require a tune. Yes you will need a tune to get the performance benefit of the FMIC. But, if you remove the IC shutter and grille shutter motors from the shutter assemblies (which you will be taking out during install), reconnect them, and secure them out of the way- no error codes will occur.

I’ve been running my Cobb FMIC that way and no issues with the factory programming.
 

zombiekiller

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There is a way around this that doesn’t require a tune. Yes you will need a tune to get the performance benefit of the FMIC. But, if you remove the IC shutter and grille shutter motors from the shutter assemblies (which you will be taking out during install), reconnect them, and secure them out of the way- no error codes will occur.

I’ve been running my Cobb FMIC that way and no issues with the factory programming.

forgetting to plug the ambient temp sensor in will cause more issues than not plugging in the grill shutters. Granted my truck is an 18, but I've never gotten a grill shutter code that triggered a dash light. tune, no tune, different tunes. no difference.
 

Badgertits

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If you’re not interested in getting tuned but just want consistently cooler IATs then go w/ a better aftermarket stock location IC like Wagner/whipple/mishimoto/CVF

why? Well...the effect of that giant ass cobb FMIC is the same as having a tune anyhow- dealer can & arguably “should/would” void some power train warranty claims if they come up running that thing. Impedes the cooling function of the engine rad + requires chopping up the grill shutters which are also there to help w/ engine temps.

If you get the cobb may as well get a tune too (just not a 1/2 a tune cobb tune lol)
 

nikhsub1

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You keep posting that an OEM replacement won't be flagged for a warranty claim. This is ******** conjecture. If you have an issue, like a blown motor, it won't matter if the IC is FMIC or OEM replacement, if they want to deny the claim because of the intercooler they will, period. You think, "oh well they can't see it" is just fantasy. When they dig to find shit, they will find it.
 
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Vegas_Sirk

Vegas_Sirk

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If you’re not interested in getting tuned but just want consistently cooler IATs then go w/ a better aftermarket stock location IC like Wagner/whipple/mishimoto/CVF

why? Well...the effect of that giant ass cobb FMIC is the same as having a tune anyhow- dealer can & arguably “should/would” void some power train warranty claims if they come up running that thing. Impedes the cooling function of the engine rad + requires chopping up the grill shutters which are also there to help w/ engine temps.

If you get the cobb may as well get a tune too (just not a 1/2 a tune cobb tune lol)

uggg. I wish there was a way to mount a winch and keep the stock intercooler. 1) it would save money as I hate spending $1,500 on a intercooler just as a relocation kit and 2) you wouldn't have to worry about dealers giving you shit.
 

Asinine

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uggg. I wish there was a way to mount a winch and keep the stock intercooler. 1) it would save money as I hate spending $1,500 on a intercooler just as a relocation kit and 2) you wouldn't have to worry about dealers giving you shit.
Agreed. I started down that path, then decided $5K for a winch config that adds 150lbs to the front end wasn’t worth it for the 1-2 times I may use it, so I opted for a CVF IC in the stock location, a shovel, and pull strap.
 
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