Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance Running REALLLLLY rich....

my 98 SVT is running very rich...anywhere above 4k RPMs the car absolutely reaks of gasoline...the A/F gauge also indicates this condition, leading me to believe that i need more intake side flow or a superchip...any ideas would be greatly appricated. Thanks!

Engine Mods...KKM, catless Y, borla catback, fms 9mm wires, ngk idriums

One more thing...my autometer gauge seems to be very sloppy in its output...i.e. there isnt one LED going around, but rather one LED with a few dimmer ones on either side of the central one...anyone else have theirs look like this? The A/F gauge on my ex 91 turbo laser was much cleaner in its reading.

The issue with the LED's is normal. This is because the A/F ratio changes SO fast that it looks Dim on the outer ones cause it is there the least, and the brighter one is like the Midpoint of the voltage region it is bouncing around in.
If you remember back to Statistics at school, you may recall the "Normal Distribtuion" graph and what it lloks like. This is sort of like what the signal from the O2 sensor it like, with the peak being the brightest LED. So there is nothing wrong with your gauge.
In all honesty though. The blinky light A/F guages are useless for accurate tuning. I recommend a gauge that gives you an ACTUAL voltage readout, like the one that you can buy from www.gadgetseller.com

Anastazi...why do you think you know everything? Just kidding! Thank you for your reply and very informative post.

Although the gauge is known to be very inaccurate, I can vouch for its readings, as at full throttle the gauge is pegged on rich, all the while the car smells like 50 junkies sitting around a full gas can...Would you suggest a adjustable mass air? or simply complete the intake side of the modifications and see if this will aid? Would a custom burned chip also be a good place to start?

The only reason in my urgency is the fact that at full throttle, after the secondaries open, the car hesitates...and since it reaks of gas, I'm guessing the car is flooding itself out and not adjusting properly.

Also, I have done the cracked secondaries...my thinking on this is that the extra air going in down low is pouring more fuel in...subsequently leading to an abundance of fuel on tap after the secondaries open up...possible?

Again, your help and experience are greatly appriciated!

Thanks!

if you car is running "that" you ever think something is wrong? the svt runs "safely rich" but if it "reaks" of gas that much, maybe it is time for a little under the hood inspection... you sure you didn't burn out a valve or something?

The car was being tested in an enclosed garage, which would contribute to the stentch of the gas, but it was definately present. Yeah, there are no burnt valves in their either. My only guess is the computer is over-compensating for the extra flow and in turn dumping extra fuel in order to return to its "safely rich" stock calibration. I'm not looking for a perfect 14.7:1 ratio, just striving to get somewhere in the region of an acceptable tuning figure.

My sole, underlying question as of this moment is how to remidy this ailing condition...by going with either an adjustable MAF (i.e. ProFlow) or to go with the S-AFC (i.e. Apex'i)...seeing as how this will allow me to further adjust the spark and fuel curve at the same time in aspiration that the compromising acceptable figure will be achieved.

Your feedback and input is greatly appreicated, as I would like to solve this problem before i continue to modify the car.

Thanks in advance!