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patelk100 · 05-13-2022, 12:47 AM

This is gonna be a long one, as I don't want to leave behind any context.

2014 FR-S Monogram M/T

To preface, I am running the OFT Stage2+ E85 tune with Tomei catless headers, Tomei Overpipe, MXP catless front pipe, and an Invidia catback. The exhaust does vibrate a fair bit and I'd assume it is possible that it could vibrate and back out bolts. I do have some transmission upgrades but they are irrelevant to this issue. I got new spark plugs installed 1k miles ago along with BRZ coil packs that were in like-new condition off a very low mile car. I also had an oil change and Verus clutch fork/pivot installed at that same time.

Timeline from beginning to end

Saturday, April 30: I just switched back to E and after running it down to gas-light on 93 Premium. I prefer McClure Oil for my Ethanol gas station since they say they have a minimum of 70% ethanol and 103 octane but it was closed that day so I went to Speedway which like most gas stations, only guarantee 51%-83% ethanol. But 51% was the minimum, and I’d assume that it would be closer to actual E85. In retrospect, I wouldn’t do that again, but at the time I did it. I know the margin with the OFT E85 tune is safely about ±10% of actual E85 and just said fuck it since I was impatient and took my chances. I switched to ethanol because it was now brisk spring and my past experiences with cold starting E85 in the winter were not fun with an OTS tune. I drove it a few miles before I flashed over to clear the fuel lines.

Saturday, May 7: I filled my tank the rest of the way with McClure’s ethanol which I explained above. Ran well as far as I could tell. The real problems started to happen when I was at about 6/10 done with the tank after McClure which is when I noticed my car started having issues.

As of recent, my exhaust has started making slight popping sounds almost like a tiny little burble but very small and barely noticeable, and it's usually at random when the engine is under any load. I know it vibrates a lot and so I chalked it up to maybe my exhaust getting slightly loose and I just needed to tighten it soon.

Tuesday, May 10: In the morning my CEL comes on along with the traction light. I continued driving since I was going to school and was like a mile away and went in for the day. The pops were maybe worse and the car may have felt slightly off, but I don't remember thinking that at the time since I had a lot of other stuff on my mind too.

*This may have nothing to do with it, but the weather just recently warmed up a decent amount too. It's been mid-to-high 60s the past while, and when this happened, it was 75 in the morning and was going to be 86 in the afternoon. This is a very large spike as last week the max temps were in the mid-60s and that day was the first day it was gonna be super hot. I say this as it could affect hoses, gaskets, seals, and such with the dramatic weather changes.*

I get out of school and start my car, it sounds like a mix of rod knock and like someone put a very raspy cam in my car. After letting it run for a few seconds, I turn it off. I tell my friend to record and then again I start the car and also give it some tiny revs. That video is below.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xZfEwa9Eqd0

I gave it tiny revs during the cold start period after and noticed the pops were much worse. Once the cold start was over, it sounded fine apart from a slightly different exhaust tone.

I drove it home and scanned codes: P0171

The second part of the video is me looking at the live feed from the OFT and having no idea what I am looking at. I was just looking to see if I could see something weird like knock correction or anything. I know the car somewhat can correct for shitty gas from the open and closed-loop for fuel readings.

I thought it was one of the BRZ coil packs since they sat out of a car in the open for a while and it could cause a misfire which is what I thought the issue was.

I cleared the CEL and went around the block to see if it would help but the issue was still there but with no light. I had an appointment with Toyota for a sticky clutch (solved, it was a loose clutch master cylinder from what I assume was from my verus clutch fork install) soon so I just left it and figured I'd let them know when I drop it off.

I went to Toyota today and I tell them what I know at 3:20. At 6:42 my car is done! I am told by the service advisor that the issue I was having was because of my ECM "not being plugged in all the way". I look at the sheet and the code they pulled from the CEL is "lean bank 1". I figure, whatever, because the tech did take it on a test drive and I mean, if he drove it and says it's fine then it has to be fine right?

I start driving and notice the sound is sounding even worse. It's shaking at idle, the exhaust sounds and feels loose, and still runs like absolute horse cock and the CEL comes back 2 miles down the road. I turn around and drop it off to the service advisor before he leaves since they close at 7.

He says he’ll check it out tomorrow and promised to be more thorough.

After writing/rethinking about the events that led up to this and also given I have done more research since the initial issue, my personal opinion of the issue is that I have shitty ethanol OR my PCV hose is leaking which would be bad. I say PCV because maybe a combination of weather, vibrations, and bad luck could maybe cause a vacuum leak.

I’ve invested in an E85 tester from amazon that gets here Saturday and I might consider getting ethanol additive to maybe see if that could help remedy the issue.

This engine was just replaced and it has 5k miles on the block and about 1.5k of those were on E85 in Winter (terrible idea with shitty OTS, I've learned). New OEM block from and installed by Toyota and my old heads were rebuilt. 78k miles on chassis.

Forgive me for the novel I just wrote above with scatterbrain. I've given all the context to any variable I can think of that could cause this. I've never turned a wrench in my life so that's why I'm asking for help.

05-13-2022, 12:47 AM	#1
patelk100 Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Drives: 2014 FR-S MT Monogram Location: IN Posts: 17 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	FR-S Issues This is gonna be a long one, as I don't want to leave behind any context. 2014 FR-S Monogram M/T To preface, I am running the OFT Stage2+ E85 tune with Tomei catless headers, Tomei Overpipe, MXP catless front pipe, and an Invidia catback. The exhaust does vibrate a fair bit and I'd assume it is possible that it could vibrate and back out bolts. I do have some transmission upgrades but they are irrelevant to this issue. I got new spark plugs installed 1k miles ago along with BRZ coil packs that were in like-new condition off a very low mile car. I also had an oil change and Verus clutch fork/pivot installed at that same time. Timeline from beginning to end Saturday, April 30: I just switched back to E and after running it down to gas-light on 93 Premium. I prefer McClure Oil for my Ethanol gas station since they say they have a minimum of 70% ethanol and 103 octane but it was closed that day so I went to Speedway which like most gas stations, only guarantee 51%-83% ethanol. But 51% was the minimum, and I’d assume that it would be closer to actual E85. In retrospect, I wouldn’t do that again, but at the time I did it. I know the margin with the OFT E85 tune is safely about ±10% of actual E85 and just said fuck it since I was impatient and took my chances. I switched to ethanol because it was now brisk spring and my past experiences with cold starting E85 in the winter were not fun with an OTS tune. I drove it a few miles before I flashed over to clear the fuel lines. Saturday, May 7: I filled my tank the rest of the way with McClure’s ethanol which I explained above. Ran well as far as I could tell. The real problems started to happen when I was at about 6/10 done with the tank after McClure which is when I noticed my car started having issues. As of recent, my exhaust has started making slight popping sounds almost like a tiny little burble but very small and barely noticeable, and it's usually at random when the engine is under any load. I know it vibrates a lot and so I chalked it up to maybe my exhaust getting slightly loose and I just needed to tighten it soon. Tuesday, May 10: In the morning my CEL comes on along with the traction light. I continued driving since I was going to school and was like a mile away and went in for the day. The pops were maybe worse and the car may have felt slightly off, but I don't remember thinking that at the time since I had a lot of other stuff on my mind too. This may have nothing to do with it, but the weather just recently warmed up a decent amount too. It's been mid-to-high 60s the past while, and when this happened, it was 75 in the morning and was going to be 86 in the afternoon. This is a very large spike as last week the max temps were in the mid-60s and that day was the first day it was gonna be super hot. I say this as it could affect hoses, gaskets, seals, and such with the dramatic weather changes. I get out of school and start my car, it sounds like a mix of rod knock and like someone put a very raspy cam in my car. After letting it run for a few seconds, I turn it off. I tell my friend to record and then again I start the car and also give it some tiny revs. That video is below. Video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xZfEwa9Eqd0 I gave it tiny revs during the cold start period after and noticed the pops were much worse. Once the cold start was over, it sounded fine apart from a slightly different exhaust tone. I drove it home and scanned codes: P0171 The second part of the video is me looking at the live feed from the OFT and having no idea what I am looking at. I was just looking to see if I could see something weird like knock correction or anything. I know the car somewhat can correct for shitty gas from the open and closed-loop for fuel readings. I thought it was one of the BRZ coil packs since they sat out of a car in the open for a while and it could cause a misfire which is what I thought the issue was. I cleared the CEL and went around the block to see if it would help but the issue was still there but with no light. I had an appointment with Toyota for a sticky clutch (solved, it was a loose clutch master cylinder from what I assume was from my verus clutch fork install) soon so I just left it and figured I'd let them know when I drop it off. I went to Toyota today and I tell them what I know at 3:20. At 6:42 my car is done! I am told by the service advisor that the issue I was having was because of my ECM "not being plugged in all the way". I look at the sheet and the code they pulled from the CEL is "lean bank 1". I figure, whatever, because the tech did take it on a test drive and I mean, if he drove it and says it's fine then it has to be fine right? I start driving and notice the sound is sounding even worse. It's shaking at idle, the exhaust sounds and feels loose, and still runs like absolute horse cock and the CEL comes back 2 miles down the road. I turn around and drop it off to the service advisor before he leaves since they close at 7. He says he’ll check it out tomorrow and promised to be more thorough. After writing/rethinking about the events that led up to this and also given I have done more research since the initial issue, my personal opinion of the issue is that I have shitty ethanol OR my PCV hose is leaking which would be bad. I say PCV because maybe a combination of weather, vibrations, and bad luck could maybe cause a vacuum leak. I’ve invested in an E85 tester from amazon that gets here Saturday and I might consider getting ethanol additive to maybe see if that could help remedy the issue. This engine was just replaced and it has 5k miles on the block and about 1.5k of those were on E85 in Winter (terrible idea with shitty OTS, I've learned). New OEM block from and installed by Toyota and my old heads were rebuilt. 78k miles on chassis. Forgive me for the novel I just wrote above with scatterbrain. I've given all the context to any variable I can think of that could cause this. I've never turned a wrench in my life so that's why I'm asking for help.