Brian Lacey

I read the article in Jap' Performance mag' tonight about the Project WRX.
I am now worried!!! I have a Forester T/tb 1998 (same year as WRX article) and as far as I know this has the same engine as the WRX. According to importers-Newera-260bhp. I try to run the car on 97/98 octane fuel but according to the ECU part of the article, this is no use I have to replace/remap the ECU or dire damage will occur. Does any ECU guru outthere know if the Forester 1998 DOES have the same engine as the WRX IV wagon and if so , what should I do? As far as I know, neither Newera or theirUK agents Motormall, changed the original specification of the JDM ECU.
Can anyone help?
Thanks

Brian

swan

Brian, don't know what the article says but basically if you have a JDM spec car it was designed to run on 100 octane fuel. So you have the option of adding octane booster to every tank or getting the car remapped.

pat

Sounds like scaremongering to me! I wouldn't suggest that it be run on 95 RON normal unleaded, but if you're running on Optimax then the octane is up around 98.6, and I can't see the ECU not coping with a 1.4 RON reduction! If you're worried then fit a Knocklink and a LambdaLink, then you will immediately see if something is amiss and you can avoid creating damage.

Hope this helps,

Pat.

Brian Lacey

Thankyou Pat and Swan.
I appear to have two options then- a remap or fit the knocklink or lambda link. Ican cope with understanding a remap but what are the other two? How do they work-are they electronic adaptions or bolt ons and what will they tell me?
Afraid I am ignorant in such matters.
Thanks

Brian

stevem2k

Brian, the knocklink and lambdalink don't change anything - they just monitor for det and mixture settings. They are there to let you know that everything is working correctly . If it isn't then you have a chance to do something about it before the engine let's go ...

I've just got an S/tb and my first purchase will be a knocklink. IMO you shouldn't run a JDM model without one.


Steve

Dyney

There are loads of people running JDM (imported) Scoobs in the UK.
I don't think they all get remaps
A remap is expensive!!!!

The ECU should adjust to the fuel quality you put in. You may not get the quoted 260bhp on 98RON petrol but it shouldn't blow the engine.

If you are still worried have a look Link stuff explained
A worth while investment if your at all worried

Iain.

[Edited by Dyney - 5/16/2003 12:30:08 PM]

Brian Lacey

Thanks everyone.
I can now see what I need to do to put my worries to bed!

Brian