Thinking of putting some Samco intercooler pipes on my STI 7 is it worth doing or are the std one good enough.
Will I gain by doing this.

Dirk.

 

They're supposed to be better than standard hoses plus they are nice & colourful. I've got the coolant kit on my car.

 

DD,

You'll gain reliability, especially if your car is running above standard boost, as the OE intercooler - manifold hose has been known to explode under extreme stress.

I've never had mine done, as it's quite a big job to do it, and my engine isn't +300bhp, so spent the money elsewhere.

They do look colourful, but so what, IMO...

 

The main one to consider is the turbo to intercooler, but as this is an uprated, silicon (red?) hose as standard I would question any benefit at all. I changed the said hose on my car (99my) on recommendation due to increased boost and for no other reason - although it does look nice in blue!
JohnD

 

In all honesty, I don't think it makes much difference. They look nice and only take about 30 mins to fit. I've seen split silicon intercooler hoses before, but never standard ones. That's not to say they can't, just that it's possible for silicon ones to split.

 

Why does the New PPP pack for the STI7 replace the intercooler hoses then??

 

The standard ones can definately split - my intercooler to inlet manifold oem tube is no longer a tube. It has some fairly indecent middle-age spread & crack-line appearing. Samcos are one the way
I am running above standard boost, but barely!

 

I was with Bob Rawle on Monday and he suggested that if you are running above standard boost you should get the intercooler hoses replaced with Samco or similar. He pointed to the flexible part of the OEM hose under the intercooler and warned that the wall thickness is approx. .5mm and very weak. My hoses arrived today and they are going straight on!

Neal

 

Thanks Lads.