Engine idle chirping (cricket) noise poll.

[ill86]

Both BP & Sunoco have ethanol in their fuel. No chirps for me (yet).. :/

[HunterGreene]

Looking around the Cleveland area, there aren't any E0 stations within a decent driving distance

[rice_classic]

Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. I've ran 3 tanks without Ethanol, still got the "chirps" at the same frequency and randomness as with E10. With E10 (and E0) I would go entire trips/days with no chirping and then it was back the next day.

I don't think there's accurate or sufficient enough data to determine if ethanol has any part in it whatsoever. The same thing can be said of Octane level as chirping reports are made in Australia, the UK and Japan; all with "supposedly" better fuel.

I'm ready for someone, anyone to surmise a hypothesis regarding the chirping that isn't fuel related. It might be temperature related. I can more narrowly track the occasions on which it occur to temp then I can fuel type. It almost never happens when cold/startup/first days trip but almost always occurs after long driving and stop/go traffic.

[dsgerbc]

E0 Premium nearest to me is actually a 90-octane with some marine octane booster (and looking at the OH map this seems to be the picture near Cleveland as well). I'm not too sure it's safe for automotive cats.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

E0 Premium nearest to me is actually a 90-octane with some marine octane booster (and looking at the OH map this seems to be the picture near Cleveland as well). I'm not too sure it's safe for automotive cats.

Yeah, from what I have been told by my father (we sail regularly and we have both been on the water since we were children), marine fuel either has additives or doesnt that can harm the car. Secondly, most marine places won't let you fuel up your car at their pumps. Thirdly, its usually a markup of about a buck a gallon. I didn't count any places that said "marine" or anything like that on them.

[alrashwa]

In my own experience, had the chirps about 50 miles off the dealer's lot. It was hot, and the car was full of 10% ethanol 92 octane fuel. I continued to add the same fuel and hear the chirp for a few tanks. At one point I added 2-cycle oil, which silenced the sound for the remainder of that tank. The next tank I did not add any 2-cycle, and it still ran quiet for a day or so afterward, probably because of the residual 2-cycle. Chirping literally started sneaking back in quietly at first, then back to full volume by the end of the tank.

Next tank I used ethanol free 92 octane, marked explicitly so at the pump, and it has been silent ever since, on the second tank of ethanol free fuel. At least in my personal case, I've found a solution for this issue which I believe is fuel quality related. It may not be specifically the ethanol causing it, but I definitely think that ethanol as an additive is kind of a cheap way to water down gas, and is somehow causing the issue.

I hope they are working on a countermeasure mechanically for this issue. It's only a few dollars per tank for now, but it shouldn't be that way to begin with.

[TennisHsu]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. I've ran 3 tanks without Ethanol, still got the "chirps" at the same frequency and randomness as with E10. With E10 (and E0) I would go entire trips/days with no chirping and then it was back the next day.

I don't think there's accurate or sufficient enough data to determine if ethanol has any part in it whatsoever. The same thing can be said of Octane level as chirping reports are made in Australia, the UK and Japan; all with "supposedly" better fuel.

I'm ready for someone, anyone to surmise a hypothesis regarding the chirping that isn't fuel related. It might be temperature related. I can more narrowly track the occasions on which it occur to temp then I can fuel type. It almost never happens when cold/startup/first days trip but almost always occurs after long driving and stop/go traffic.

Originally Posted by tennishsu

9-800 miles w/ 10% ethanol gas= Chirps
801-3300 miles w/ ethanol free gas= zero Chirps
Was in a rush the other day and filled up with Shell 92 w/ 10% ethanol, chirps return in 10 minutes!

I was chirpless for the entire time using ethanol free gas, that is enough evidence for me to suggest ethanol is the main culprit here.

[smokeyFRS]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

Sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. I've ran 3 tanks without Ethanol, still got the "chirps" at the same frequency and randomness as with E10. With E10 (and E0) I would go entire trips/days with no chirping and then it was back the next day.

I don't think there's accurate or sufficient enough data to determine if ethanol has any part in it whatsoever. The same thing can be said of Octane level as chirping reports are made in Australia, the UK and Japan; all with "supposedly" better fuel.

I'm ready for someone, anyone to surmise a hypothesis regarding the chirping that isn't fuel related. It might be temperature related. I can more narrowly track the occasions on which it occur to temp then I can fuel type. It almost never happens when cold/startup/first days trip but almost always occurs after long driving and stop/go traffic.

I have posted this on page 39:

=====
1. Take it in for an oil change. Had mine around 1100 miles and I have not heard it since.
2. Call Kearny Mesa Toyota/Scion and ask for Chuck - he's their Lead Technician. Toyota is working on this issue and soon will issue a TSB.
3. Here's a good site that you can check:
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr.../tsbsearch.cfm
=====

I have been using Chevron 91 after their initial tank of gas. Had the chirps all the way up to my first oil change. After the oil change, I have not heard since. Here in San Diego, we recently had a heat wave reaching 99 - 110 degrees and never heard a thing. Try an oil change if you have not done so.

[rice_classic]

Already changed oil once and I'm on my 3rd oil filter.. 5200 miles on car.

[rice_classic]

Originally Posted by TennisHsu

I was chirpless for the entire time using ethanol free gas, that is enough evidence for me to suggest ethanol is the main culprit here.

And that's absolutely fair which makes this diagnosis even more fun eh?

Because so many others don't have the same experience when using E0. If using E0 was the answer why would it not have the same affect on every other 86 that ran it (like mine)? The only conclusion that leads me to is that E0 isn't the answer which leads me then to conclude that E10 isn't the problem.

[dsgerbc]

Been to a dealer. Complained about the chirping. Dealer called Subaru, and was told that there are tons of identical complaints and they are saying this is a normal DI sound. Nothing about potential TSB etc.


I started the case with SOA too, so when I get a follow-up call I'll push for replacement HPFP or at least get some next level rep and try to get some info.

[jeebus]

Originally Posted by dsgerbc

Been to a dealer. Complained about the chirping. Dealer called Subaru, and was told that there are tons of identical complaints and they are saying this is a normal DI sound. Nothing about potential TSB etc.

That's crazy. I have owned 4 cars with direct injection. They all have made DI noise, clicking, tapping....none have chirped like this car. It ain't normal.

[dsgerbc]

Originally Posted by jeebus

That's crazy. I have owned 4 cars with direct injection. They all have made DI noise, clicking, tapping....none have chirped like this car. It ain't normal.

Oh I agree. Pretty short-sighted too.

[jeebus]

So I changed my oil today, since some have claimed it fixed the chirp. I used 0w20 Subaru synthetic and an OE Subaru filter. Drove around till car was warm. Chirpity chirp chirp chirp. Still sounds like a bird having a seizure.