Nick_o_Teen

Hi folks,I will be getting a 95 wrx sti ra version 2 import in the next 3 weeks or so, and I want to know if there is a cheaper way of running on uk fuel other than a 6 or £700 remap?I'm not to bothered about losing the odd 5 or 10 bhp,it has 275BHP as standard.Is there a chip that will do the job?.I know I should use octane booster aswell,but Where I live the nearest petrol station that has optimax is 150 miles away,my local garage just has the normal sul.Any help and advice greatly appreciated.

Kevin Groat

Nick, not that I'm suggesting you do but I've owned an STi3 for 5 yrs now and done roughly 40,000 miles all on 95 octane NUL. Reason being my nearest SUL fuel is a 14 hour 200 pound ferry journey away....Car hasn't missed a beat and regularly see the 7,800 rpm redline. If I had access to SUL I'd use that but using NUL hasn't done my STi any harm. Also worth considering doing the maintenance yourself to keep costs down - doing this they're not expesive to keep.

BLACK V5

I use esso sul + booster as well as opti + booster. Cant say i notice any difference in performance. In fact car feels smoother on the esso sul.

greasemonkey

A ScoobyECU for £100-odd. Speak to Pavlo or David Wallis.

Losing power isn't the primary issue with using fuel with too low an octane rating. Yes, you will lose power but the main potential problem is that of the engine eating itself for breakfast.

Super Unleaded plus octane booster would be better than nothing, but you'd ideally want a KnockLink to make sure that nothing untoward was happeniing. If you're a bit in the sticks, the quality of the fuel you use could end up being a little inconsistent...

Incidentally, running a Japanese market car on 95 RON unleaded is far from recommended, and something that may return to bite Kevin at some point in the future.

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

www.scoobyecu.co.uk

JGM

CustomScoobyIOM

Yep I agree, even on my UK Turbo 2000 1997 Model it clearly says inside the filling cap Super Unleaded Only.

Kevin Groat

Agree chaps, I said I wouldn't recommend it, just pointing out that it's not done my engine any harm to date. My only other option is not to buy something as exotic as the STi. Like to know how the local Subaru dealer gets away with flogging new Turbos and STi's - probably sold a few per year for the last 6 yrs. like I said, nearest SUL is a 14 hour ferry journey away.

greasemonkey

The reason they're getting away with it Kevin is that the UK market cars they're selling are mapped with UK fuel in mind, and should have sufficient knock correction in them to run within safe margins on whatever's in your local pumps. Your Japanese market STi isn't and possibly hasn't.

Kevin Groat

So the UK Sti can run on 95 ron? I thought the manual and filler cap sticker said SUL 98 ron fuel only? Even Customscooby's my2000 says 98 ron only?

greasemonkey

It'll run on 95 RON yes. It'll run a darn sight better on 97/98, but the UK cars carry a low octane map that should keep them safe. The Japanese market cars on the other hand are mapped for 100-102 RON and don't have a contingency for what our pumps dispense.

Mitch C

iTrader: (1)

So a ScoobyECU doesn't need any soldering in? I have just bought a 93 WRX which hasn't been mapped for UK fuel, or derestricted yet.
Do I just plug in their chip and cut one wire? If so, it sounds like a bargain for the peace of mind.

For derestriction, where is the best place to buy parts? I can fit them, given instructions.

Any other suggestions for early mods would be much appreciated, whether for performance or reliability. I put a TSL backbox on yesterday, but apart from that, it is standard.

Cheers.

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

Imports need a chip holder soldered on I believe.

Nothing major and can be done by the supplier of the scoobyecu (David or Paul etc).

JGM

Mitch C

iTrader: (1)

So I guess I'll need a spare ECU or lose the use of the car for a week. I suppose I could post up in the wanted section for one that's already been done? Do you know which ones are compatible, or does they change every model year?
Thanks.
Mitch.

Jolly Green Monster

iTrader: (4)

If you were to buy a UK 92 to 96 ecu from say

www.hdcsubaru.com and then get a scooby ecu and then plug it in and cut J1 and you are away..

Otherwise yes like you say you are off the road whilst it is sorted.

JGM

Mitch C

iTrader: (1)

Cheers JGM, I'll post up later in the wanted section.

scooby-tc

iTrader: (2)

Just buy a knocklink and see what it displays on SUL.Ive never used booster on my STi and i only ever light up the 2nd green at the very worst.Until the ambers start to flicker ill save my money

Mitch C

iTrader: (1)

How much is Knocklink and how difficult to fit?
Total scooby noob, still finding my way around

adpd

KnockLinks are about £150 for the sensor, the KnockLink box and all necessary cables.


Fitting it isn't too difficult, especially if you know your way around the engine.

Do a search for it - plenty of posts about.