running rich

[got_psi]

So I'm running ssafc, cat back, Cai, ebc, ssqv bov, aem wideband and 1 step colder plugs and recently on the vacuum side I'm running extremely rich. It has been getting gradually worse, and seems the only way to lean it out enough to get it back to 12-15 is to stay under -15psi or get into the boost side to get it 11-12. Could this be caused by pluged cats? Car has 154k and original cats.

 

[Knox Joe]

Could be a clogged cat, but you have tried tuning the SSAFC, right?

 

[got_psi]

Not for a week or 2 but it was fine til about a week or so ago and it just kept getting richer....but I ordered a new catback so maybe doublecheck the tune and punch out old cats when putting in catback?

 

[Knox Joe]

Okay, yes, if it just changed out of nowhere that is a perfectly good hypothesis.

I know it's not an MSP, but my work van (Chevy Express 2500) ran super rich before I changed the cats and o2 sensor.

 

[got_psi]

makes perfect sense......ill punch em out and see how she runs then (never been a believer in cats anyways haha)

 

[YlwMSP]

Would the second O2 sensor not having signal cause it to run rich too, or just the primary? I've got the same problem, ssafc, and corksport catless exhaust and mine's running super rich, even after I reload the supermap tune back onto the ssafc. (sorry for thread jacking, but maybe we have the same problems??)

 

[Knox Joe]

^^^^^^That was going to be my next suggestion.

 

[got_psi]

so i gutted them last night and its still running rich. but looking at the rear o2 sensor, not in the best shape, so ordered one from napa, be here saturday, so ill drop that in it and hopefully it will solve the prob. but for now i was thinking of maybe running a bit leaner tune to help it out til the 02 sensor comes.

 

[Knox Joe]

so i gutted them last night and its still running rich. but looking at the rear o2 sensor, not in the best shape, so ordered one from napa, be here saturday, so ill drop that in it and hopefully it will solve the prob. but for now i was thinking of maybe running a bit leaner tune to help it out til the 02 sensor comes.

No, if the tune was fine before, and you've reloaded the map, or verified all your cell values are the same as before, then you should solve the problem, and not try to tune around it.

 

[got_psi]

well this is my daily driver and i really dont wanna wash down the cylinder walls and i cant get the o2 sensor til tomorrow afternoon so for a temporary fix i might lean it out to avoid any problems. but also i was thinking about it and could it possibly be that the seals in the turbo are weeping and the engine is burning the oil simulating a rich condition? im at 154k with the stock gt2554 and im the 3rd owner, so im sure some punk had it at some point and gave her a few hot shutdowns....

 

[got_psi]

sensor came a day early, so ill keep everyone updated with results. and i flashed back to superstocktune and still getting rich on the vacuum side.

 

[got_psi]

so popped in the new 02, and still same issue, but got looking at my LTFT and its 2.3 if i let off everything and if i get anywhere above -10psi it holds a solid 25 til i let off it again, boost or no boost.

 

[got_psi]

so now im throwing codes P0171, P0131, and P0090. when i placed the O2 sensor, it was the post cat sensor, not the one in the mani. so i think ill give that one a shot next. will post results.

 

[JDMazdaFamilia]

Have you checked your air filter? That could cause it to go rich too

 

[got_psi]

Air filters mint. its running >10 AFR around -3psi to 4 psi and leans out to 10.6-11.2 running the super stock tune on the ssafc

 

[yudkib]

rear o2 does not make fueling decisions.

i was going to ask if you had any DTC's. and you have p0171, that's a lot of fun. let's spin the big wheel... and... landed on injector stuck open. calling it.

 

[br289165]

Did the problem start when you went to the colder plugs? If they're loading up enough they wont burn all the fuel and you will run rich.

 

[got_psi]

rear o2 does not make fueling decisions.

i was going to ask if you had any DTC's. and you have p0171, that's a lot of fun. let's spin the big wheel... and... landed on injector stuck open. calling it.

so if the injector is stuck, when i let off the throttle, would the wideband show a AFR number? Because when i let off it, the wideband gauge shows --- for maximum lean.

 

[got_psi]

Did the problem start when you went to the colder plugs? If they're loading up enough they wont burn all the fuel and you will run rich.

ill check the plugs today and see what i can find.

 

[br289165]

I see you live in Maine, does it get real cool at night?

ill check the plugs today and see what i can find.