In this blog, we are going to SHOW a demonstration of exhaust gas scavenging. Instead of a lengthy blog full of text, we’ve opted to create a video that demonstrates the effects of exhaust gas scavenging for both good and bad designs.
We will be comparing the prototype CorkSport performance exhaust manifold, developed for the Mazdaspeed 3 and 6, to the OE exhaust manifold.
Exhaust gas scavenging within a manifold is the process of one cylinder runner, pulling (aka scavenging), the exhaust gas from an adjacent cylinder in a continual cycle. Now enough talk, to see an awesome example and an awful example of exhaust gas scavenging check out the video below. BONUS! Not only do you get to see what optimal scavenging looks like, but this is also the first sneak peek of the CorkSport Performance Exhaust Manifold…
We hope you found this as interesting as we did! Stay tuned as we continue developing the CorkSport Performance Exhaust Manifold for the Mazdaspeed platform.
That’s right, it’s time to start making more power on the SkyActiv 2.5T. We are proud to introduce the CorkSport Power Series Short Ram Intake for 2018+ Mazda 6 equipped with the 2.5 Turbo Engine and 2016+ Mazda CX-9. We replaced the restrictive factory airbox with a free-flowing intake system that was designed to help your turbo breathe significantly better. The SRI offers better performance, sound, and looks in an easy-to-install package. Read on for full details, and be sure not to miss the sound clips in the video below!
This CorkSport Short Ram Intake was designed specifically to get the best the 2018+ Mazda 6 2.5T and 2016+ Mazda CX9 have to offer. From the precision machined MAF housing to the high-flowing filter, each component in the CS intake system offers an improvement over the stock counterpart while retaining great fit and finish. All mounting hardware, brackets, and clamps are included to make your installation quick and painless.
Starting at the OEM turbo inlet pipe, the factory airbox utilizes a ribbed and flexible rubber elbow. While working well enough, the ribs induce significant turbulence into the intake tract.The CorkSport short ram intake replaces this elbow with a smooth-flowing silicone elbow. In addition, the silicone is 4-ply reinforced with nylon to eliminate any chance for volume reduction under wide open throttle.
Next comes the MAF sensor housing. The MAF sensor essentially reads the volume of air that is entering the engine so the ECU can adjust tuning to suit. Since the OEM unit does a good job here, it was imperative that the CS MAF housing matches to ensure no check engine lights or tuning issues. The CorkSport MAF housing is precision machined from 6061-T6 billet aluminum to match the OEM housing to ensure no CELs, no tuning issues, and great flow.
Finally, the CS SRI uses a performance AEM dry-flow filter. A high-quality filter like this is long-lasting, reliable, and can be washed and reused. It has superior filtration to the OEM filter, while also allowing more airflow into the intake tract.
Now for what you’re all interested in: power gains. By removing the restrictive OEM airbox and turbulent intake elbow, we were able to pick up 5-16whp and 7-23wtq through the rpm range. This power bump comes with no tuning changes and with identical testing conditions. Check out the dyno graph below to see for yourself! Note: the variance in low RPM (2800 and lower) is due to difficulties associated with dyno testing an automatic vehicle.
Freeing up a few extra ponies is great but what you will really notice is the added engine and turbocharger noise. That restrictive airbox does a little bit too good of a job at dampening out all the fun sounds that come with a turbo. We were honestly a little surprised by the flutters, whooshes, and psshh noises that come with the CorkSport SRI. You also gain a little extra engine induction noise under hard acceleration. The extra noise is enough to be fun when you want it but not annoying or distracting when you don’t. Watch the video below to see what it sounds like.
Watch the Product video for the Short Ram Intake
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As with most CorkSport products, this SRI kit comes with all the clamps, hardware, and even a support bracket for the MAF housing to ensure you have an easy and quick install.
The CorkSport SRI for 2018+ MZ6 2.5T & 2016+ CX-9 is a great modification whether it’s your first or just the latest on a long list of builds. It provides a noticeable power gain, adds some extra fun to your ride, and will support future mods down the road. Pick up yours today!
Be sure to contact us with any questions you may have, we will be happy to help!
Your Mazda breathes just like you do. Maximizing the intake of air for your Mazdaspeed and freeing up the expulsion of used gases (exhaust) will help your vehicle breathe better and go faster.
Intake to Boost Your Turbo
On the intake side, you can set yourself up with a Stage II Power Series Short Ram Intake, which includes our mandrel-bent turbo inlet pipe, custom-designed MAF housing, and silicone coupler. This will free up the airflow into the stock K04 turbo and allow your Mazdaspeed to breathe deeper. The average gains seen here are 10-15 hp.
Exhaust Parts For Performance
For exhaling, you want your Mazdaspeed3 to expel all those used gasses as quick as possible. With the CorkSport turbo-back exhaust, you are reducing the back-pressure and allowing your Mazdaspeed to utilize the potential of its turbo. The kit comes with CorkSport’s full 80mm catback dual exhaust, racepipe, and downpipe. This setup will give the average Mazdaspeed3 owner 28-31 hp at the wheels.
Power Gains Add 46 WHP!
Shown below is our 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 with the CorkSport Short Ram Intake & Turbo-back exhaust and stock turbo, compared to the same Mazdaspeed3 completely stock. The before number is 226 hp and came out to 272 with the SRI and Turbo-back exhaust. That is a 46 hp increase to the wheels with two products.
For those of you on a budget, may I suggest just the Short Ram Intake and racepipe? For this smaller investment, you can get an increase of wheel hp in upper 20’s to lower 30’s.
2010-2013 Mazdaspeed 3 – Best Way to Get 40+ HP August 12th, 2024Derrick Ambrose
It doesn’t take long for those building power to use up the stock Mazdaspeed K04 turbo. They are prone to fail, especially when you start shoving that extra air through it. A common question is, “My Mazdaspeed is smoking, is my turbo bad?”
First things first. There is a BIG difference between replacing a bad turbo and upgrading Mazdaspeed K04 to a more efficient one for more power. If you want to replace it, go with OEM and just plug and play, you’re good to go, wash your hands, and get on with your life. This will have your car up and running pretty quickly. However, your maximum power output will be limited and you will eventually have the same problem – the Mazdaspeed KO4 turbo will fail.
If you are saying to yourself, “It’s time to upgrade the K04 Turbo…I NEED more power in my life!” Then this blog is for you. Below, we lay out the basics needed to successfully install a CorkSport Mazdaspeed Turbo, highlighting the required supporting modifications to keep your Mazdaspeed safe. As a bonus, we keep our installation instructions on each of our product pages, so you can preview how easy the installation will be for your experience level.
Here it is, the list is comprised of the BARE essentials to run the 18G CorkSport turbo.
Giving you 50% more efficiency with your fueling system, as well as, a strong base to build power for your Mazdaspeed. The CorkSport Max Flow Fuel Pump Internals are built to directly replace your stock fuel pump internals and perform with immediate improvements.
The Cobb Accessport will give you the basis for tuning, and since this is required with the CorkSport turbo – you’ll want to make sure you have this in hand and ready for when you install your turbo.
These are the basic foundations of our Mazdaspeeds, without these two items you cannot operate your Mazda after installing an upgraded turbo. You will need your Mazdaspeed tuned, and your tuner is going to say the same thing.
That’s it, that’s all you need to run the CorkSport Mazdaspeed turbo safely. With this proper foundation, you can put yourself in a position for efficiency, or more power.
Now the question is do you want to make it go fast and harness the power that this turbo is built for? Keep reading and we’ll provide some other awesome upgrades that are the next step once you have your turbo installed and running. Oh, and if you are looking for a proven path to make 400WHP, check out our Chasing 400 WHP Blog here!
The CorkSport turbo is rated for up to 450WHP with the right set up. Unless you are going for the MOON and shooting for over 700WHP a 3.5” intake will be more than sufficient for this turbo. Giving you some extra airflow to increase your power range, and harness what your Mazdaspeed3 is capable of. Note: Will require additional tuning!
Doesn’t matter if you go with a high-flow catalyst or opt-in for one without, the choice is yours. However, if you want to utilize its flow you are going to have to upgrade to a bigger diameter. Our 80mm one does really well, plus it sounds GREAT. Note: Will require additional tuning!
It’s no secret that car engines are just big air pumps; the faster you can shove air into the engine and the faster you can expel it efficiently is what it takes to make more power. No need to run the stock 63.5mm Mazdaspeed exhaust when you can run our 80mm (like to wake up the neighbors every morning, go with our non-resonated, you can’t beat the cold start)
If your power goal is 450whp or less you can get away with just upgrading your TMIC and be on your way and they look great in your engine bay. Note: Will require additional tuning!
If you have the 2nd gen you can really utilize that hood scoop from the factory. Not only that but you can even see a noticeable performance gain with our larger hood scoop and a TMIC set up.
When it comes to your Mazdaspeed we know you want to create safe power and harness the true potential of your ride. Be sure to build upon the proper foundation and head in the right direction for your build. Our techs are available for any questions you have and are ready to assist with planning your Mazdaspeed build path! Any questions – give us a call directly – (360)260-2675, email to sa***@*******rt.com or leave a comment and we’ll get back to you!
Pretty much since I joined this platform, I’ve noticed a pattern of people asking the same questions about tuning their Mazdaspeed. There is a lot of information out there, but it’s not always consolidated or easy to find. So, in an effort to assist newcomers, this will be a write up explaining the ins and outs of tuning; when you need it, OTS vs. Pro Tunes, and how you can proceed.
*There are other options for tuning the vehicle besides the Cobb Accessport, such as Versa Tuner. But, for the ease of explanation throughout this blog, I will be referencing the AP*
What Is Tuning & Why Do You Need It?
Without getting too elaborate for this specific blog, “Tuning” is just the remapping of the tables in the ECU from OE specs to something different. It is a key aspect of your car’s engine health and the easiest way to make more HP. You can even tune a bone stock car and will typically see gains, especially when they are boosted from the factory. Bolt-on parts free up even more headroom in airflow, and when tuned accordingly you make even more power. The relationship between bolt-on parts and a tune is a beautiful thing, and hopefully, by the end of this blog, you will understand how they work together. “So when should I get a tune?”
I’m so very glad you asked that! Well, let’s look at it like this… Mazda spent a long time getting their factory tune for the Speed 3 as good as possible. But they dialed it in around one set up, and one set up ONLY. That’s 100% OEM parts. In this form, the ECU knows what to expect, how everything should respond, and most importantly when something is wrong. It doesn’t have a mind of its own though, it only knows what it’s been told. So, if other parts in the system are replaced, and the ECU isn’t told how to react to that, things start to get a little weird.
The ECU has an ability to adjust itself within reason for variations in fuel, oxygen content, etc. But in a perfect world, it shouldn’t have to adjust itself at all. Tuning for the mods you do will not only let you have more fun, but it will get it as close to this perfect world as possible.
Minor things like an intake upgrade (Retaining stock MAF) BPV, or Catback usually won’t throw off the ECU enough to cause problems or CEL’s but it’s obviously not ideal. That being said, its best to get an Acessport or another means of tuning your Mazdaspeed prior to putting on bolt-on parts.
So here is a basic FAQ
“I want to add a turbo back exhaust, but I don’t want to get an AP and tune the car. Can I do that?” – No, you are not able to do this for two reasons.
Deleting the factory cats opens a huge restriction. Without a tune, the car will risk overboosting.
Without high-pressure fuel pump internals you also risk running lean and blowing the engine. Even if you have the internals with no tune, the drivability of the car can suffer because of how it affects the turbo.
“Can I get an intake with no tune?”
If its factory size, then you can usually get away with it. The turbo isn’t trying to make more boost, and the MAF housing should be accurate to the OE. If it’s a larger one like our 3” or 3.5” then no, you cannot.
However, I always recommend tuning the car.
“Can I get a catback with no tune?”
Yes, you will be OK, the catback is not monitored by any sensors, and you’re not deleting any cats.
“Can I change my intercooler without a tune or fuel pump internals
You should not. Just like the cats on the downpipe, the factory intercooler is a restriction. The ECU currently is tuned to fight this restriction to make a specific boost level at a specific RPM. If you remove this restriction, and you don’t tell the ECU, you risk over boosting. Over boosting mixed with no fuel pump internals can be a risky combo for running lean as well.
Definitely not, any turbo that moves more air than the factory one automatically needs a tune. The ECU is tuned to coincide with the factory compressor map. If you don’t want to tune for a turbo, make sure you get a factory replacement. These are just some of the common questions we get, but if you have more specific scenarios you can always email or call us! On to the next section.
OTS maps vs a Pro-Tune
I remember when I first got my hands on an Accessport. Trying to make sure I selected the right map and learning how to read all the parameters. I know a lot of newbies that are just getting an AP probably are asking themselves which OTS tune is the right one to use, and when should they get a Pro-Tune and how. It’s no news to anyone that’s been in the community for a minute that the Cobb OTS maps are not the best Long-Term Solution. The reason for this is because they are:
(A) Very conservative, and not letting you get the full potential you can. (B) Meant for a large population of cars, and aren’t really dialed in. Essentially, they are just rough around the edges.
However, OTS maps do serve a purpose. For someone who is planning on doing their basic bolt-ons in stages over the course of a few months then it works out well. These maps can be viewed as basic stepping stones “Stage 1, Stage 1+, Stage 2, Stage 3, Etc” that allow you to put on your first bolt-ons and flash the corresponding tune. So, as you are putting on your fuel pump internals, intake, downpipe,Intercooler, you can flash those readily available maps.
In a nutshell, the OTS Maps work great during the transitional phase of your modding Journey. But, once you know you are done with your bolt-ons for a bit, that’s when you want a map that is 100% dialed in, and specific for YOUR car. The difference between a custom tune and the Cobb OTS maps are truly astonishing, and you’ll see once you’re there.
Something to also note….
If your K04 ‘Sploded and you are looking at a larger turbo, an OTS is no longer an option, it’s off the table. Cobb made those OTS maps solely for a factory turbo’d Mazdaspeed. If you buy a bigger turbo like ours, a Pro-Tune is needed (along with fuel pump internals)
“Don’t I have to get the car on a dyno in order to get a Pro-Tune? There’s no Mazdaspeed tuners in my city!!!!”
If you’re not one of the lucky ones that live by a Mazdaspeed tuner, then fear not. The days of having to get it on the dyno to get a tune or over. With the Accessport, Maps are sent/downloaded over email.
To Start the process, you need to:
Buy the tune
Give them your full engine Mod List
The tuner will instruct you on taking your Data Logs
Over the course of a few weeks, you will go back and forth with new tune revisions and the car usually gets smoother and faster with each revision.
By the end of this process, you will have a dialed-in tune and a smooth-running car. But, please note that if you add another part to the car or change parts. You may need to get a revision tune done to account for the new mod. Talk to your tuner about this and get their thoughts.
Recap
I hope that this helped some of you to better understand the processes you should take, and to wrap it up we will hit some of my main points.
The first mods you should get for your Mazdaspeed if you plan to mod it is the upgraded fuel pump internals and an Accessport
If you just want to run an SRI and a catback, you can get away with it, but a tune is Recommended.
You should NOT run a downpipe without HPFPs or a tune.
OTS maps are great during a transitional time with your car while bolting on parts. After this, you should get a Pro-Tune
You shouldn’t run a larger turbo on the stock map or on an OTS map. Communicate with a tuner before the installation and have a new base map ready. We have both a 3.5 Bar MAP Sensor and 4.5 Map Sensor.
Pro-tuners can tune you, even when they aren’t local.
To conclude this blog, it’s important to know how critical the proper tune on the car can be. It can make or break the engine, literally. If any of you still have questions, you can always give us a call, and remember to have fun as you begin your journey down the path to making power, and giving WRX’s the L.
