Ethanol-free fuel in Northwestern WA?

[NWFRS]

Hey, everyone.
I'm a newb on this site and a newb to new car ownership. I wound up with a Metallic Charcoal FR-S with the six-speed automatic gearbox and rear decklid spoiler. When I first bought it back in July of this year, the difference was like night and day compared to my older classics, but now I'm beginning to notice every little bump and rattle. My car was built in May of this year. My car suffers from constant cricket chirps, and an annoyingly low idle, which will sometimes dip to 500rpm when I roll up to a stop. When it dips to 500, the motor shudders briefly before settling at 650rpm. Even at 650 it feels a bit hesitant, and I really notice all the mechanical racket and cricket chirp from the D4-S boxer. I have faith in my stock ECU, but from my reading it sounds like maybe this motor could benefit from some better fuel. Here in WA everything contains "up to 10%" Ethanol. So, my question is, does anyone know where I can get a TRUE 92 or 93 octane without Ethanol? And if that just isn't possible without a bunch of mixing, or driving around to racetracks and airports, what can I do to eliminate crickets and keep my idle consistent? I was also wondering if the dealerships do an ECU tune and/or update when they install the TRD exhaust system? I had them instal the TRD cold-air intake, but there was no ECU tune that came with it. Thanks everyone for bearing with me. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. :-) -Andrew

[JSC]

http://pure-gas.org/index.jsp?stateprov=WA

[Pete156]

Two Union 76 stations in Bellingham offer 90 octane ethanol free according to the list on the Pure Gas site. Say Goodbye to crickets and poor performance

[NWFRS]

I saw that registry. Is an ethanol-free 90 octane preferable? I've been using Shell 92 octane. Ugh. I don't know what the pros and cons are. :-(

[Silver86]

I get 92 E0 down here in Everett/Lynnwood area.


92 E0 is fairly rare though here in WA. 90 and 91 are what most E0 pumps have. A marina would probably have 92 E0 and would let you fill up a gas can if they don't have drive up pumps.

[Pete156]

Originally Posted by NWFRS

I saw that registry. Is an ethanol-free 90 octane preferable? I've been using Shell 92 octane. Ugh. I don't know what the pros and cons are. :-(

90 octane E0 is considerably better than Shell 92 with 10% Ethanol (mule piss). 92 E0 even better. Just listen to your car and it's fuel pump.

[NWFRS]

Thanks! No risk to the pistons or fuel injectors? (I have NO idea what I'm talking about :-) I think I might give that a try.

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by NWFRS

Thanks! No risk to the pistons or fuel injectors? (I have NO idea what I'm talking about :-) I think I might give that a try.

Hi NWFRS .....

I don't believe that ethanol-free gas will hurt your car.

It may or may not quiet the crickets .... but it would be worth a try.

My only concern with E0 gas is that the station may not have a big gas turnover and it may be "old" gas (or have some water in it, if the storage tanks get pulled down). There is no easy way of checking this ....

Your car (by being built in May) should have the updated tune .... but you may wish to have your dealer verify that.

(I can't find the thread(s) that address this)

I hope you get your car settled down ....

humfrz

[NWFRS]

Thanks guys. I'll try doing what you said. :-)

[NWFRS]

Edit:

Last night I filled up with ethanol-free 90 octane at a local 76 station. I HAVE NOT HEARD A SINGLE CRICKET ALL DAY TODAY. I feel that this was a somewhat scientific test because I have had continuous crickets for 2500 miles. Also, up until last night, I had ONLY filled my car with Shell 92 octane containing "at least 10% ethanol". The difference has been night and day. I will post another update if the cricket situation changes, but I'm pretty optimistic. At this point I couldn't say if the car is running smoother, the mind can so easily play tricks and I couldn't trust myself to be objective. Good call guys, and thank you! :-)

[Pete156]

Hmmmm................

[deucethemoose]

Yeah, I have been saying for a while now that ethanol free gas is the only real fix for the crickets. Sure you're going to spend a bit more per gallon, but the added benefits are worth it. I typically see 31mpg on ethanol free 92, whereas with standard Shell 92 I see 27mpg (and that is with a turbo).