OK, Since I got the car, I've always used Shell 91 gas in the car. No Check Engine Lights at all. A few weeks ago, I switched to Sunoco 94 Ultra. Within a few miles, I had a check engine light.

You may have seen my messages in another thread about the light coming on and off. Drive hard = on, Drive easy = off. Tank was empty, put another tank of 94 from another station in. Same Problems.

So, tank ran empty again and I put 91 Shell back in. Light goes out and damned if I can get it back no matter how hard I drive. I've tried everything and it won't come back.

Does this make sense ?!?

Rick..

www.speckeen.com

Rick:

I have been running Ultra94 from Sunocco since day one and have 10,000 km on my WRX now and have not had a problem. I had a CEL in the first 4 days of ownership, I reset it myself and it has not appeared again.

Given the sensitity of turbo engines to gas octane ratings I can't help but think that 94 is really the way to go. (Why doesn't Shell or someone smarten up and corner the performance market by offering 97?)

I don't think that resetting your ecu by unhooking the battery for a while is required so that it can "learn" on 94 octane....some people here might think that it is.

If the light keeps coming on you should take it to a dealer and have them pull the code and see what the problem is. I am not sure how long you have had the car but perhaps something else is causing the problem.

Another thought: Do you pump your own gas all the time??

Maybe if you are not the attendant is not always putting the cap on. A loose cap will trigger the CEL almost right away. There ere two Sunocco's near my house in Toronto, and I only go to the one that is self serve!

I use Sunoco 94 Ultra exclusivley without problems. Perhaps a gas cap problem?

Hello,

I'm sure it's the way that the 94 octane is perhaps reacting to one of my other mods. ( go to www.speckeen.com for more info )

#1 - I always pump my own gas.

#2 - The Gas cap was the first thing I checked.

#3 - I've had the car since April. It was actually the 3rd one in Canada and I've no problems with CEL at all before. The only thing that changed was the gas and within 10 kms, the light was on.

The light is never on long enough for me to get to the dealer and have the code pulled. It goes off before then. If I get the scanner, I'll try again. The codes are never stored either.

I know is sounds bizarre, but I'm almost positive it's the gas ( in my car anways ). If I don't get the CEL on the next two tanks of 91, I'll switch back to 94. If it comes back, then it MUST be the gas.

What else could is possibly be ?

Any more thoughts ?!?

Rick..

www.speckeen.com

I've had my car for 4,500 km now and I've only had 1 check engine light come on. It was apparently the tumble generator valve sticking or something like that. Not a big deal.

I go out of my way to use Sunoco 94 all the time because I find my engine tends to run smoother. The torque also FEELS stronger. Note that I'm not claiming this is a fact . . . just a sensation. I think the ECU detects the octane or flame rate or whatever and advances the engine timing to optimize power.

Somebody more qualified might want to chase this lead down, but is it possible Trakker's engine advances the timing too much and creates an overly lean mixture that misfires and raises the check engine light?

Just throwing possibilities out . . .

Dave.

I've got 700 plus miles on my wrx and two tanks of sunoco 94 and no problems whatsoever... wish I could find higher octane

Hi,

I don't want to turn this thread into a "I use 94 all the time and it works." I realize I'm the exception, I'm just look for ideas like Dave99 has. No offense to anyone that has posted.

Something in the gas is causing the CEL for whatever reason, but I'm not experienced enough to figure that out. Perhaps someone can answer Dave99's comment.

Thanks all !

Rick..

Ever hear (and understand the meaning) of the word coincidence? Why the heck are you/we speculating about what the trouble might be when your ECM is shouting "I have something important to tell you. PLEASE READ MY CODES."

Thanks for the very obvious Jon. As I already mentioned, the light doesn't stay on long enough to get to the dealer. I also mentioned that the code is not stored so there's NOTHING for the dealer to pull. ;>)

If your MIL is on but there's no DTC stored, then your MIL has a short circuit. Otherwise, when the MIL is illuminated, there WILL be DTC(s) available for retrieval.

Your hunch that the MIL illumination is somehow related to increasing your gasoline octane above 91 is ludicrous. But you'll get no resolution, though, as long as you're too lazy to have the DTCs read while the MIL is illuminated.

Jon,

I don't believe I've harmed you in a previous life, and I don't understand your anger towards me. If you have a problem, then don't read the thread.

"As long as I'm too lazy" In what way ? I will do anything to get the problem solved. That's lazy ? If I could get to my dealer with the light on, I would. What would you have do ? Donuts in the dealer parking lot to get the light on ?

I've seen your posts on other threads and wondered why you even bother to post here, when everyone else seems to get as upset with you.

Thanks for your comments Jon. Please don't bother replying.

Rick..

No need to flame.

Jon's point is that once the CE light comes on, go to the dealer and check then engine.

The code will remain stored until it is cleared.

The light will turn off it it believes you can get by without an immediate trip to the dealer. The code will still sit there until it is cleared.

Go to the dealer, or find a local friend with an OBD-II scanner (probably any dealer or service station can do this if you're friends with them), pull the code, and report it here.

OK. I've already mentioned this but . . . . the light comes on, I head to my dealer. The light goes off. They hook-up the computer. No code. It does not remain stored in my case.

I think your solution of finding someone with an OBD2 scanner is the best solution. I can then keep it in the car and plug it in as soon as the light goes on.

I will try this and post back the code.

Thanks for your help mb2k,

Rick..

Hmmm.

How often are you getting these check engine lights? Once or twice since you bought the car? Every 1000 km? Every 500 km? Every fill-up?

Dave.

Hi Dave,

I've had the car since April and have had no lights until I switched gas. Then it's on, but more no more than 10 km's before it goes out. Then it's back on when I drive hard. Again, for no more than 10 km's.

I have to say though. Since switching back to Shell, I haven't had the light on in 400 km's now. Whereas is was on every 10 km's or so for 800 km's with the Sunoco 94.

I'll just try and borrow an OBD2 scanner and go back to Sunoco 94 to get the code.

Thanks,

Rick..

its probably not the gas...the gas cap may be loose, or you are filling your tank too much....the octane shouldnt matter

steve-O

That bites!

And it is a legitimate issue if it happens that regularly! I don't have anything more useful to say so I'll just wish you good luck - and make sure you post the outome!

Dave

Toronto Eh? What end?

Its interesting that you CEL seems linked to your fuel. I know alot of people are having trouble with the vent control solenoid (code 1443 I think). Its simply a matter of the ECU constaining its limits too tight. The vent solenoid works in the back of the car, as an emissions device on the charcol canister. Higher octane fuel does have different vapour properties (thats why it smells so much better, ...mmmm race gas). I could be the case that your vent control perameters are boarderline and the slight difference in fuel properties sets it off. If its turning itself off its probably nothing more than an annoyance (albeit a nasty one).

If we're all talking octane, we had some race gas left over at the shop "110 octane" (smells better than perfume to this nose). I put a splash of that in on an empty tank, no CEL (ran about 50km on it). Only a slight performance increase, but if I could have bumped the boost to 20psi, that would have been the time to do it!

Good luck with the light man,
-Pete

i use sunoco 94 octane also, since i have had the car.. one thing i could suggest it, put the shell 91 in it, and add some octane booster.. maybe it will work maybe not.. just my $.02 :D from one scooby owner to another:cool:

Um... if the condition comes and goes as suggested then perhaps the engine management system is at fault. Different octanes retard or increase timing/spark/detonation via the management system, which may explain the gasoline causing the light. Another indication is the fact that the error is not stored as was mentioned, which may be a key factor in narrowing the problem down. It may take a full tank of Ultra 94 and surrendering the WRX to the dealer for an extended period of time for them to have successful results in repairing the problem.
F.Y.I. ... I've only used 2 different types of gas in mine Mobil Super (93), and Sunoco Ultra 94. I've never had a CEL come on, so my guess above is just that.

I'm just guessing, but perhaps it has something to do with the fuel storage or delivery systems at the station. If it were me, I would try the same 94 gas, but at another station.

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My thought as well. Take the gas variable out of this equation!

Hi,

Chunky Chicken: I live at Bathurst and Steeles. I've read all the messages about people and their dreaded 1443 error. Some of your suggestions are similar to Subarus. They just got back to me. They said one of the sensors might be borderline. They said they've had two other people report similar issues when switching gas. One for going to a lower Octane and one to a Higher Octane, so it looks like I'm not alone.

subywrxwrblu: Raise the octane a different way. Hmmm. Not a bad idea.

OldWRXr: If I can't find someone with a scanner, I might have to just leave the car with the dealer. They can figure it out.

WRXhauls: Sorry, my first message said I'd tried that already. I thought the same things and it might just be a bad tank at that place. No such luck.

Thanks guys ! I'll keep you posted !

Rick..

hmmmm

didnt i just ask you fellas to cut out the Flame Wars??

come on Jon... there are more constructive ways to get your point across arent there??? let's try to play nice.....

j.
www.subiegal.com