Cricket Crushing - My experiment on a theory.
 

So like many I have the Cricket that is the loudest Cricket in the world living under my hood. Of course we all know it's from the cam driven High Pressure Fuel Pump that feeds the Direct Injectors. Since it's cam actuated it is always pumping. I have a 2016 and I knew of this issue before I purchased. After driving for just under 2000 miles the cricket made itself know at idle below 1000 rpm. So thinking about it and having discussions on here and insight and knowledge from forum members I deduced that since it is a mechanical cam driven pump it has to have a plunger type mechanism. It could be a vane pump but since the cam hits a valve spring configuration I am assuming it's a cylindrical pump and most likely a seal around the piston pump plunger. So my theory it that the seal is a very tightly fitting teflon or other type of composite plastic seal riding along an aluminum cylinder type wall. So I think that the seal is making the noise. So I figure the cylinder wall and the seal make this sound out of design.

So the experiment is to somehow lubricate the seal or plunger wall. I searched and decided to try something. I let my tank get low on fuel and the needle is just above the red mark on the gauge. I then added Lucas Fuel INjector Cleaner and Cylinder Lubricant. Now i hate adding stuff to my gas tank especially on a new car. Anyway for my sanity and the data it may produce for my fellow 86 owners I figured, What The Heck!

So after i added the bottle of this elixir I drove around for about 10 miles. I then stopped at a Sunoco and listened to the engine for the Cricket and none was to be heard. I was like this isn't possible to work so quickly. So I filled my tank with Ultra 93 and drove it on my local highway for about 20 minutes. I then went into an area with some stop and go traffic for a few minutes. When I got home I let it idle in the driveway for 5-10 minutes and it was quiet enough I can hear the injectors firing. I was totally surprised!

The only thing is I'm wondering how long before the sound returns? This obviously isn't a cure but more of a band aid and an experiment also as there are other fuel injector cleaner and lubricants, some with PTFE or something like that, for seal lubrication. So I will keep a ear out and log the miles it goes without a cricket sound and then possibly move onto the next brand. I'll get an idea which lasts longer and ultimately decide if it's worth adding any of these. Stay Tuned!! Oh and since I have no life..lol If somone has a spare pump they'd donate to me I'd like to take one apart and see what's going on inside there. I'll pay for shipping.

Additive 1: Lucas Oil Fuel Injector and Upper Cylinder lubricant.

http://completeautosp.com/wp-content...nj-cleaner.jpg

Interesting, maybe I should try this cause I have a monster of a cricket.

just wait til you own the car for a couple years as I now have daily conversations with the crickets. I think I would miss them if they left me.

you guys need louder exhausts lol

This has been a long-standing thing. 2-stroke oil works as well, probably for cheaper. Basically some additional lubricant that's safe to go into a fuel system. After six months or so I gave up and surrendered to the crickets.

I tried the Lucas shortly after getting the car (almost 4 years ago now), and posted similar results. It will work for that tankful, and maybe part of the next one. I still have the Lucas bottle, and have marked it at the 2oz level (~ 1/2 a bottle). I fill it to there with 2-stroke oil from a quart bottle and keep it in my trunk for when I fill the car up. 1-2oz of 2-stroke oil is as effective or better than a full bottle of Lucas and costs a lot less. A lot of people will scoff at putting 2-stroke oil in your gas, but modern oils are meant to burn clean at far richer ratios than what I am putting in my tank. I have been doing this now for 90,000 kms ~55,000miles with no ill effects.


I love this car, but the crickets drive me up the freakin' wall. This is a good solution for those who are as bothered by the racket as I am.

@gramicci101 you beat me to it...I will NOT surrender.

That's what i think may happen in the end

Or turn up the music!!

I ave a TRD exhaust and sometimes I just cruise around windows down and no music. :party0030:

I just use my Psychic power that i dont hear cricket sound..lol

What crickets ...... I don't hear any crickets ......:iono:


humfrz

I wonder if Marvel Mystery Oil would also work, I have a ton of it that I use for my RX-7........you know, cause it loves to eat oil......

Glad to hear your found a possible fix. I also have a 2016 and so far have no crickets with about 3000 miles on it. One thing is, I have always used ethanol-free gas. Luckily there's an ethanol-free gas station a mile up the road. I've read several other reports of people with 2016s getting the crickets. I'm sure mine is not immune. I don't know if ethanol-free is available in NJ but if it is you might give it a try.

Doesn't the owner's manual say don't ever add in any sort of fuel additive into the gas tank?