FAO Import owners
 

Right, I think we all know the STi / WRX is mapped for higher grade jap fuel, but found some interesting results lately. Ive had import scoobs before, and UK over the years, but im currently running an STi V5. Im sure this has been reported before (and the experts on here have been long aware) but its amazing when you see it with your own eyes.

The car had HKS headers, up-pipe, mid and 5" rear pipe and I was running it merrily on Optimax and OB, and no real issues on the Knocklink (unless I pushed near redline which I never do). This is with a standard ECU map which I know is not ideal.

I posted recently about the amount of RED activity on the KL with BP ultimate and octane booster but it seems its not just Ultimate that gives problems.

Mate and I decatted the Downpipe the other day and the KL was still fine on the Optimax / OB mix, which was quite impressive.

Had to resort to some Texaco SUL and OB on the motorway and the car and the Kl did not like it at all. Same result as the BP ultimate (may be slightly worse due to the addition of the downpipe)

Hard proof that all these blow ups are people oblivious to the sensitivity of good fuel. For anyone running an import, esp an STi - Optimax and booster seems a bare minimum on a standard ECU remap. Ive seen people on here before saying the stick any old crap in there, and it looks pretty dangerous.

I appreciate ine has a few mods ;) but so do most!

PS - this will apply to all you P1 people as you have the same map.

MB

yup i will agree

i see more knock retard going on with crap fuels myself
i am lucky and i can get away with only optimax myself, but this is not usually the case for most owners

all you have to do now is explain why so many uk cars blow up ;)

I always run with a good 1 bottle of octane booster in the tank, i needed to fill my baby up with (dare i say it.........) total super :eek: so i shoved 2 bottles of ob in there, ran sweet :D

Tony:D

Blimey, I'm sooooo glad my car has been remapped then!

Which OB do you guys use, and how much is it? I can't believe it works out any cheaper to use OB all the time than it does to have a remap.

Andy,
Even with a remap you will need a knocklink, if anything, i prefer the car running the 100/102 ron map as i know exactly what the car is capable of out of the box ;)
You should have a chat to Bob Rawle about how good the new age JDM cars are, they are completely different to the old classics which were very prone to det.
And as Bob told me, if its designed to run on 100 ron fuel, run it on 100 ron fuel ;) (even mapped!)

Tony:D

Sticky, my view has always been that more MY99/00 uk cars blow up than others and probably MAF related. I think the Subaru had a half go at solving the blow ups by making a safer map on the 802 ECU (MY00) but didn't find the MAF to be the root cause of problem. Guess its massively exasberated when you take MY99/00 STi and run it on SUL, then add a duff MAF. Recipe for further disaster over a UK car!

Think you have an identical twin car nocking around Bouremouth BTW ;)

I only run in OB at the moment because im waiting to go for a TEK3 map, for Optimax alone. Its definately cheaper in the long run. I use Millers at the mo.

MB

Tony

I have a Knocklink - so far (running in, admittedly), it sits there and shows a very occasional green light. I'm quite happy with that!

Frankly the car seems thirsty enough without adding OB to every tank too, especially if it's not detting anyway. I'm really not bothered enough to go to all that trouble to try and extract the last few bhp from the engine. I'm glad the view seems to be that the new engines are better; I have to say I've not heard nearly as many stories (if any, thinking about it) of new age engines going bang. Maybe that's just down their age and mileage?

Andy,
If im really lucky, i "may" get the second green light flickering on my knocklink (set to max sensitivity), they seem to run very well now and retard better than the older STi's.
So have you hit the big 1k yet? ;)

Tony:D

Sorry, I should have specified this example was more of an issue on the classic. As you chaps say, they seem to be better made now.

MB

i need a KL now but i did not have the money when the GB was on, so if any body can get me 1 please please let me know........ cheers

There's a few in "for sale"

MB

www.jap-innovations.co.uk

Tony:D

1k? Not yet, just over 400 miles. Won't be long, though :D

i got my import wrx 93 a few months ago. run it on optimax allways with no ob. have been lisnerning for knocking all thye time but havent heard it. can you tell if my car has been remapped? as its only been in uk since march this year.

Its very hard to hear transient det, you need a knocklink really to show you whats going on, and i would still run the car on octane booster as well as optimax.

Tony

WRX is a little less sensitive, and less agressive map, but agree with Tony.

MB

I have an STi Type-R V5 which I currently run on 100RON out here in Cyprus. Im planning on importing it back to the UK. Will it be ok to run solely on Optimax?

Its not ideal in my opinion, but nothing too serious. I do see a bit of det if I dont use OB. Optimax would be a bare mininum though, not any of the other SUL crap.

You can either buy some OB from somewhere at about £3 per tankful, or just get it remapped for about £700 (Ecutek) and have it mapped for Optimax alone, and get some more power :)

MB

Thanks, but excuse my lack of mechanical knowledge, just what exactly is det? and is it bad for the engine?

Det is extremely bad and can melt a piston quite quickly in severe cases.

Do a search on it. Its basically pre-detonation of the fuel in the bore, and generates extreme heat - hence the melting. There are a number of causes, poor fuel is one. Much more of an issue on forced induction engines such as a turbo / supercharged one.

MB

I've just had to fill up on Q8 Sul as couldnt get Optimax in usual garage, put a bottle of millers in, will this be ok, or will another bottle be safer? 93 Wrx Ra
Thanks
Tom

All I can go on is the results from my car, so I cant say for sure on yours. I always think being safe is the best way...

SUL from 2 different companies, with OB, gave much more activity than Optimax. Bear in mind I have mods on mine....

MB

Ok! I'm worried now!
What should I do when I bring my car back to UK?
Is it ok with me running it on 100RON like I am at the moment?

Ok, don't want to put the wind up anyone with this one. Im sure yours will be absolutely fine as you are using the correct fuel the car is designed for, straight from the tank.

Using a bottle of Millers CVL and SUL realistically only gives 98/99 RON, and the fact my car is modded without a remap will accentuate the problem when using a lesser grade than Optimax and Millers.

Id be interested in what others are seeing, but a number of people on this thread have seen similar results, certainly with BP ultimate.

When i mentioned Det being able to kill an engine, it would have to be the sort of stuff where there's a RED on the KL for a good number of second, repeated a number of times. That would be classed as severe det, and you may be able to hear it.

A bit of green / orange isn't ideal, but not going to kill it instantly (on max sensitivity)

The det I see is spikes and manifests around the 4-5 k RPM region, which is where its most *commonly* seen. At higher RPM it's worse but I suspect mapping has a part to play and the fuelling can't keep up. Better fuel (ie Optimax) helps out here.

Anyone with a standard STi care to comment?

MB

Ok Im stupid! What is KL ?

Knock link as installed in the air vent in my pics ;)

Picks up det. Absolutely vital bit of kit.

MB