I took my car on an 8200 mile trip all around the US, coast-to-coast. I'm tuned on 93 octane, and when I asked my tuner about having to use 91 octane (it's almost impossible to find 93 once you go far enough west) he said it would be fine and to try to stay out of boost. I had my oil changed about halfway through, but for your trip I wouldn't worry about it. Just change the oil right before you leave.

If I could go back and do it over, I wouldn't have taken my car. Mainly because of the wear and tear from having three guys crammed in there with two weeks worth of gear. And we were mostly on highways the whole time, so it was kind of pointless. If it had just been me, and I was driving on lots of backroads, then I would still have taken the evo.

 

Just fly. You will likely end up spending more on gas than the price of the flight if you drive.

 

Not trying to be a jerk. however, if you have any worries about your car at all for a long distance drive than maybe you shouldn't take it.

Tires and driving experience are the main things needed when you go up north. Ice and snow are not nice when you have summer/street tires.

 

Plus the chance of some other driver that lacks both then slides into him.

 

You can run on 91 as people have said, just stay out of boost. If you have a MBC, just turn it down a few clicks for the trip. If you have any comfort level with the ecu, download ecuflash (if that is what you are tuned on= free) and lower boost levels a few psi (WGDC map) or I'm sure your tuner can quickly walk you through it in 5 mins over the phone.


Putting 2/3 91 and 1/3 e85 is not a good idea- these cars are not flex fuel and it doesn't work like that, so please don't try that lol


Good luck with the drive. If the car is built well and maintenance is up to date, I wouldn't have any stress driving the car that far. Evo's are relatively reliable cars if the above is true.

 

Don't bring cans of gas like this guy said in your car. That is very dangerous, since if the cans or containers leak vapors you can go unconscious.

I honestly would just fly.

 

I'm weeks away from a cross-country trip as well. Flying out west January 5th and driving back to Ohio in two days. Have all my e85 stations and stops planned out, called ahead to know their hours and to make sure they're open and take mastercard. Bringing 4 5gallon jugs with me just in case because I have a 450 mile stretch at one point. Good luck to you, sir. Weather channel app, a good set of tires and a bunch of good music on your phone are a must!

 

Ha, good planning on the part of E85! Good luck and enjoy your trip...

 

Just Make sure you do a oil change bfore you leave. I guess you can bring 93 octane cans for back up but all honesty you can just fill it up with 91 and stay out of boost and will be fine !

 

Don't be worried about the octane. Just don't boost it if you have 91 in the car. Unless your car is set up with ridiculous timing down low, you won't have any issues octane wise.

 

Should be fine if you use a high-quality synthetic oil.

 

Use a good synth and you'll be fine. Highway driving is the best thing for the car. Most synth oils and oem's spec 8-10k intervals. 5k is probably still way conservative.

I just did 9hours from sanfran>palm springs for xmas not taking any highways [all 2 lane roads] and then 7 hours highways back. Car was brilliant. Seats are awesome [i'm 5'10]. But i'm a cyclist and motorcyclist so your *** resiliency may vary. I had a blast.

+1 on tires. At least a good a/s - like the conti dws. I've run them in snow and they're great.

91 should be fine, carry a few cans of octane booster if it gets cranky. Just stay out of WOT.

Spring for the triple-A plus membership with free 200 mile tow. Just incase..

good luck!
jim

 

you get the award for dumb comment of the day. I traveled with 3 containers of E85 in my trunk 5 hours one-way when I took my car to the shop and did the same on the way back down. Clearly I didn't go unconscious since I'm typing this right now. And I was implying that you put the cans in the trunk. Have you been huffing gasoline fumes again? Or do you always let your cans of gas ride shotgun with you? Or is it from your gasoline scented air freshener?

I typically drive around with a jug of E85 in the trunk at all times. It's secured by a strap.

 

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