What causes rich?

VeNuM · 01-22-2003, 09:48 PM

I think my car is running rich. (Pretty sure!) My gas mileage is terrible, 12 mpg city, that is driving regularly and never up above 2500 rpm. I'm doing a tune-up as soon as I can be outside more than 3 minutes and not get frost bite, gotta love Chicago. Right now it's a chilly 0*. Anyways, I'm planning on o2 sensors, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. Is there anything I should do like clean the MAF that would cause me to be rich? ~Brian

Roket · 01-22-2003, 10:13 PM

whats fuel pressure set at?

VeNuM · 01-22-2003, 11:20 PM

I don't have an adjustable regulator so correct me if I'm wrong but is factory 38? ~Brian

Dark_5.0 · 01-22-2003, 11:47 PM

If you are running a 160 thermostat that will also make you run rich. You should invest in a Aeromotive FPR and fuel pressure gauge then you will have total control.

VeNuM · 01-23-2003, 09:12 AM

Dark_5.0: I'm running a 180* thermostat. I looked into it before putting one in. Everybody said 180 was perfect for a street car, and 160 would cause problems, just like you told me, so I stayed away from that. ~Brian

stangsrule · 01-23-2003, 01:10 PM

Have you pulled your codes yet? That may give you a starting point. The EGR is another thing that can cause you to run real rich. But before you go too far pull your codes and see what the computer thinks is wrong...

VeNuM · 01-23-2003, 11:13 PM

Pulling codes is a good idea, I'll try to do that this weekend. Thanks ~Brian

PKRWUD · 01-24-2003, 12:00 AM

Bad O2's will cause you to run rich as well.

Nixon1 · 01-24-2003, 02:54 PM

FYI....never never never try to clean an MAF... You'll probably break it..they're very sensitive pieces of crap.

VeNuM · 01-24-2003, 07:02 PM

I thought I read about guys cleaning them with q-tips and gaining some idle and acceleration qualities, maybe I'm wrong though. ~Brian

01-24-2003, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nixon1
FYI....never never never try to clean an MAF... You'll probably break it..they're very sensitive pieces of crap.

HUH??

Yes, you can clean your MAM. Definitely clean it...especially if you run a K&N air filter. The oil from the air filter can sometimes get on the little wires that are on MAM sensor itself. It is safe to clean it with q-tips and some rubbing alcohol. Just becareful not rub too hard. Very easy though.

Nixon1 · 01-24-2003, 07:51 PM

Really?? I was told never to clean one..never to even yank the screen off because the wires are so sensitive that even tapping them or anything will break the MAF unit or cause it to read incorrectly. Then again, that was on a GM site and for some reason, Chevys and Pontiacs are notorious for going through MAF's like nothing at all. I know a girl with a Firebird that's gone through 5 MAF's in 1-2 years.

I might have to do this one then!

srv1 · 01-25-2003, 02:45 AM

What causes rich?

Stuck EGR, bad fuel regulator, stuck O2, pinched return line, bad coolant temp, LOW on coolant, Map sensor, mass sensor dirty or bad, sticking injector, intake air temp off(off by 10-15 degrees will make it run rich), dirty air filter and sticking thermostat just to name a few.....

VeNuM · 01-25-2003, 01:59 PM

I plugged a few plugs and after 1 year, they're clean! So does this mean I'm not running rich and just getting really crappy gas mileage?! It isn't a huge factor but some of friends are getting almost double the gas mileage with mild mods, such as mine. ~Brian

Nixon1 · 01-25-2003, 02:34 PM

In order to get horrible gas mileage, you have to be running rich unless your car has the mods to justify running rich. Not running rich but getting bad mileage means the car is getting more air to be able to dump in more fuel, and also has the ability to burn all of that off.. And hey, your mileage can't be as terrible as mine... With a cam and a 4.11 rear, my best guesstimate is 8 mpg city.

01-22-2003, 09:48 PM	#1
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	What causes rich? I think my car is running rich. (Pretty sure!) My gas mileage is terrible, 12 mpg city, that is driving regularly and never up above 2500 rpm. I'm doing a tune-up as soon as I can be outside more than 3 minutes and not get frost bite, gotta love Chicago. Right now it's a chilly 0. Anyways, I'm planning on o2 sensors, cap, rotor, wires, and plugs. Is there anything I should do like clean the MAF that would cause me to be rich? ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-22-2003, 11:20 PM	#3
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	I don't have an adjustable regulator so correct me if I'm wrong but is factory 38? ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-22-2003, 11:47 PM	#4
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	If you are running a 160 thermostat that will also make you run rich. You should invest in a Aeromotive FPR and fuel pressure gauge then you will have total control. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

01-23-2003, 09:12 AM	#5
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	Dark_5.0: I'm running a 180* thermostat. I looked into it before putting one in. Everybody said 180 was perfect for a street car, and 160 would cause problems, just like you told me, so I stayed away from that. ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-23-2003, 01:10 PM	#6
stangsrule Registered Member Join Date: May 1999 Location: Indiana Posts: 512	Have you pulled your codes yet? That may give you a starting point. The EGR is another thing that can cause you to run real rich. But before you go too far pull your codes and see what the computer thinks is wrong... __________________ 92GT Lowered with Ebiach's and Koni's, Kenny Brown subframe connectors, lower G-brace and jacking rails. BBK upper and lower control arms, polyurethane bushings all around and Ken Bell blower, ram-air, 80mm mass air, SMC Alky Injection kit, J&S Knock Gaurd, TwEECer RT and a bunch of other stuff!

01-22-2003, 10:13 PM	#2
Roket Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Ottawa illinois Posts: 41	whats fuel pressure set at?

01-23-2003, 11:13 PM	#7
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	Pulling codes is a good idea, I'll try to do that this weekend. Thanks ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-24-2003, 12:00 AM	#8
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Bad O2's will cause you to run rich as well. __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

01-24-2003, 02:54 PM	#9
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	FYI....never never never try to clean an MAF... You'll probably break it..they're very sensitive pieces of crap. __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

01-24-2003, 07:02 PM	#10
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	I thought I read about guys cleaning them with q-tips and gaining some idle and acceleration qualities, maybe I'm wrong though. ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-24-2003, 07:51 PM	#12
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	Really?? I was told never to clean one..never to even yank the screen off because the wires are so sensitive that even tapping them or anything will break the MAF unit or cause it to read incorrectly. Then again, that was on a GM site and for some reason, Chevys and Pontiacs are notorious for going through MAF's like nothing at all. I know a girl with a Firebird that's gone through 5 MAF's in 1-2 years. I might have to do this one then! __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

01-25-2003, 02:45 AM	#13
srv1 Get down..... Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Room 103 Posts: 2,095	What causes rich? Stuck EGR, bad fuel regulator, stuck O2, pinched return line, bad coolant temp, LOW on coolant, Map sensor, mass sensor dirty or bad, sticking injector, intake air temp off(off by 10-15 degrees will make it run rich), dirty air filter and sticking thermostat just to name a few..... __________________ Cobra brakes are on! Finally..... ------------------------------------------------

01-25-2003, 01:59 PM	#14
VeNuM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Downers Grove, IL Posts: 464	I plugged a few plugs and after 1 year, they're clean! So does this mean I'm not running rich and just getting really crappy gas mileage?! It isn't a huge factor but some of friends are getting almost double the gas mileage with mild mods, such as mine. ~Brian __________________ 1989 Black Mustang GT Hatchback, Underdrive Pulles, Electric Fan, Cold Air Intake, Headers, Offroad H-Pipe, Magnaflow catback, Steeda Tri-Ax, Fluidyne Aluminum Radiator, Timing at 14*, 3.73's Coming not so soon: 408w Ricer Hater's Club Member #59

01-25-2003, 02:34 PM	#15
Nixon1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Palm Bay, FL Posts: 432	In order to get horrible gas mileage, you have to be running rich unless your car has the mods to justify running rich. Not running rich but getting bad mileage means the car is getting more air to be able to dump in more fuel, and also has the ability to burn all of that off.. And hey, your mileage can't be as terrible as mine... With a cam and a 4.11 rear, my best guesstimate is 8 mpg city. __________________ '91 Mustang GT 5.0 AOD Daily Driver Current stats: NEW 302 short block, E-303 cam (@.050, 220/220, .498/.498, 110 degrees), 1.6 roller rockers, Performer RPM heads (aluminum, 1.9/1.6, 60cc chambers), Cobra intake, Granatelli 75mm MAF, Billet AFPR, Equal-Length Shorty Headers, Off-Road X Pipe, Flowmasters, 4.10 POSI 13.73 at 103.8, ~2.2 60'

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