Hi guys

I finally received the bugeye STI that I bought from Alan Bell. It has been tuned to run on 97/98 octane with 10% methanol. I drove it yesterday with this in the tank and it felt fine. The plan was to get Paul from Zen over in a few months to tune it on 100 octane, but in the meantime take it easy and dont push it, which given the torque of the thing is not too hard.

Filled it up last night with 100 octane and it started acting all weird on me. Sometimes when starting the car while hot its idle is all over the place, hunting from 300 rpm up to 1500 and on occasion stalling. Usually goes away if you rev it higher for a few seconds. Dont know if this has to do with the fuel or a vacuum hose has worked its way loose under the bonnet, or some type of air valve is getting stuck. My classic hillclimb Subaru used to do this as well and nobody could get to the bottom of it. I am hoping that since Paul mapped it the problem was with incorrect start up mixtures. Dont know as yet as still rebuilding.

It was very grumpy this morning and just did not feel as smooth as yesterday. In fact it felt like it had 'lumpy' cams. Does not feel like it is down on power, and still very responsive.

Any ideas or is it the difference in fuels?

I was thinking to try and run it on octane booster, on a daily basis until it gets retuned. Something like the normal Millers Octane booster +2 points and every now and again the CVL.

 

I would either start adding methanol to your fuel or get it re-mapped sharpish. Its not going to be running as intended and could quickly lead to problems!

 

Is it still running the 10% methanol map? If so, it's unlikely it will run smoothly on zero % methanol - methanol is oxygen rich, so fuelling needs to be increased to counteract this and correct air/fuel ratio. However, running it on 100% pump fuel (whatever octane) will produce an over-rich mixture if still running the 10% meth map. 100% pump fuel will also almost certainly cause det under full boost as methanol can be mapped with extra ignition timing due to its cooling properties (which is why it's a great fuel additive). I would call Paul and discuss the situation.

 

As above; its not just an octane issue, the map will be different due to the addition of methanol. You need to get it sorted for the fuel you will be using asap!

Ns04

 

does it not have twin maps

 

Thanks for the info. It definitely is fuel related , it is very lumpy and does crackle and pop through the exhaust, more than it should

Unfortunatley running it on methanol is a no-go as the few times someone has tried to import it, it was either sent back or confiscated.

Have checked with a few of the mappers in Cyprus and only one feels confident having a look at it. It is an Autronic ECU so not sure whether it does support duel maps, but if I recall what Alan had told me it only had the one map.

I will get in contact with the mapper in the UK and get some advice as to how to temporarily fix this, until I get Paul over.

 

Keep us informed,

 

RESULT

It works. Thanks to Paul @ ZEN for taking the time to guide a novice through the Autronic software over the phone.

Took a couple of miles to clear the unburnt fuel and then it was magic. Still taking it easy and not pushing, but had a bit of a play with a friend who has a Spec C Hawkeye. Even short shifting at 4000rpm and using half throttle was able to stay with him in the mountains, while he was gunning it

Will be up in the mountains for the long weekend here in Cyprus. 'Practising' with this car for the hillclimb at the end month.