Reno guys, re: elevation power loss

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Old 08-16-2009 | 10:14 PM
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Reno guys, re: elevation power loss

So I'm strongly, strongly considering a move to Reno and I know there is power loss due to the elevation. What is the actual loss we're talking about from sea level to 5,xxx feet?
Old 08-16-2009 | 11:10 PM
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Old 08-17-2009 | 01:56 AM
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really, I went to Lake Tahoe today and I could tell my WRX was slower
Old 08-17-2009 | 08:49 AM
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Boost vs Altitude.
Old 08-17-2009 | 08:53 AM
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Horsepower vs altitude.

Got it from this page:

Racers Math - 2
Old 08-17-2009 | 02:24 PM
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Thanks, Paul.

Just for ****s and giggles, does anyone have any sea level dyno vs. high desert?
Old 08-17-2009 | 06:00 PM
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The powerloss is noticable, but its not that terrible. Stock WRX's and even STi's (my Legacy GT too) can feel a little sluggish in the top gear if you step on it without downshifting while cruising on the freeway (at or near the speed limit).

But, you can use this opportunity to run a legal catted stage 2 and all the sluggishness goes away.
Old 08-17-2009 | 08:46 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick Koan
The powerloss is noticable, but its not that terrible. Stock WRX's and even STi's (my Legacy GT too) can feel a little sluggish in the top gear if you step on it without downshifting while cruising on the freeway (at or near the speed limit).

But, you can use this opportunity to run a legal catted stage 2 and all the sluggishness goes away.
Got ya, doesn't seem too bad.

Oh, I'll use this opportunity to run a whole lot more than just stage 2. And I will be taking advantage of the race gas at the pump in Sparks.
Old 08-17-2009 | 09:18 PM
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Oh and another thing, there are no AWD dynos here in town, so I don't know if anyone local has made a direct comparison. You could look at Cobb's numbers since they are in SLC but they adjust for elevation already. But in the end it's not an exact science anyway due to variances in dyno config and what not.

Also, the 100 octane is nice, but most of us keep a 91 map around when not auto-xing because the 100 octane is generally a little more than twice the cost of 91.
Old 08-17-2009 | 10:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Nick Koan
Oh and another thing, there are no AWD dynos here in town, so I don't know if anyone local has made a direct comparison. You could look at Cobb's numbers since they are in SLC but they adjust for elevation already. But in the end it's not an exact science anyway due to variances in dyno config and what not.

Also, the 100 octane is nice, but most of us keep a 91 map around when not auto-xing because the 100 octane is generally a little more than twice the cost of 91.
Sounds like a good business opportunity for someone.

Is there any e85 there?
Old 08-17-2009 | 10:13 PM
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well if you do decide to move to Reno hit up www.flat4rn.com its a local subaru forum/club that meets up every thursday at in n out on 395 and s virgina...
thanks,
David
Old 08-18-2009 | 09:13 AM
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I think there is an e85 station up here, but I couldn't tell you where it is.
Old 08-18-2009 | 09:49 AM
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Also, hit up SECCS.org when/if you move up here (or before :P).

I'm 99% sure that my mods are the same for both of these road dyno plots that Ed made with his software. Stage II 2L.

5200 feet of elevation (Reno, proper is only 4500 feet):



Sea Level (Fairfield):

Old 08-18-2009 | 04:30 PM
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Nice, thanks for the graphs. Not a terrible loss in power, but a bit of a bummer.

I guess its a trade off for living where you do.
Old 08-18-2009 | 04:52 PM
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No problem. Depending on your setup, you may want to consider getting tuned up here and possibly running a different map when going back to sea level. Ed said that the small tweaks he made to my map in Fairfield after he had already tuned me in Reno probably weren't even worth flashing to the ECU when I regularly go to sea level since my Reno map works really well at sea level. But that doesn't mean that other setups would be as lucky.

Also, the lag is really bad on my 2L up here. The Hallman Pro RX helped as do my my coated UP/DP and wrapped manifolds and IC Y pipe, I imagine. Maybe do a couple mods to counter the elevation. If you're willing to up the boost, you can make a ton of torque up here. This was my car when I accidentally set the MBC to 19 PSI one cold evening (5200 feet again):


Last edited by Cody8675309; 08-18-2009 at 04:56 PM.


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