Sparkly KnockLink - bad fuel?
 

My '05 JDM STI now has 3200 miles on the clock, and up until today I'd never seen more than a single flickering green light on the Knocklink - exactly what I'd expect given that the car was sold with a UK fuel remap. I've been using straight SUL with no particular brand preference, and even the first green only flickers at full chat.

Today I filled up with BP Ultimate and, after a gentle 20-30 miles or so, I floored the throttle and all 5 lights flickered on :eek: Even modest acceleration now lights the first LED.

I'm guessing it's just a bad tank of fuel and that all I need to do is take it easy until it's time to refuel - right? Any other suggestions?

I'm surprised at the difference between this tank and every previous one; maybe it's no wonder cars sometimes inexplicably blow up if there's this much variation in fuel quality :confused:

Andy, Have you noticed this on BP ultimate before? I've seen several threads on here that have contained comments about greater KL activity on BP ultimate.

Best,

No, I've not seen any more than a single flickering green before, and BP have a virtual monopoly on the garages near me so I've definitely used Ultimate before many times.

I have only used BP Ultimate a few times and every time (except 1) my knocklink has shown much more activity than even on Supermarket SUL so I never touch the stuff anymore. My brothers 350bhp 1.8t Corrado melted a piston the one and only time he used BP Ultimate less than 30 minutes after filling up (coincidence perhaps?).... The motor had been running fine with that spec for 2 years!

Then again - loads of people here use the stuff all the time and don't complain...

I have been caught short a couple of times (Running on Vapours that is :D ) and filled up with BP Ultimate - within a few miles the Knocklink Activity increased dramatically both times to the point I had to make a choice whether to turn the boost down or adjust the ignition advance :norty: I stick to Optimax or as a second choice Esso SUL ;)

Cheers

Seems quite amazing that the fuel can drop so much in quality so suddenly. Perhaps it's something to do with xmas and n'year; no new fuel delivered?

Andy,
they probably put unleaded in the wrong tank, it does happen from time to time, though quite rare, id buy some octane booster just to be on the safe side :D

Tony:D

Update:

When the tank was half empty I topped up with Optimax. Then I only got the 1st orange LED flickering - so, better, but still nowhere near normal.

Then, after burning another half a tank, I stuck in a full bottle of Millers octane booster and topped off with Texaco SUL. This doesn't seem to have made any difference at all - still getting 1st orange.

So, now I'm a bit puzzled. I expected to see a major improvement after adding a bottle of OB. I guess the next step is to run the tank down to empty, then fill with SUL+OB and hope for the best.

Well annoyed, though - the car's only got 3500 miles on the clock, of which 1000 were running-in, I took it easy for the next 1000 (out of paranoia after my last engine failure), and now at least 500 miles' worth of bad fuel :(

Andy.. Try keep the boost down until you empty the tank.....
1 orange is probably safe but better safe than broken...