Running Lean/rich

[kenty]

Hi guys,

what are the tell tale signs that your car is running lean/rich? what sort of things should i be looking out for?

Cheers!

Ross

[dagbladet]

Pinking if it's running lean. Sometimes a bit smoky if running rich. In both cases reduced MPG. A look at your plugs may give clues.

[dagbladet]

Picture of spark plugs with diagnosis

[kenty]

pinking? how do i adjust the mixture?

[dagbladet]

pinking? how do i adjust the mixture?

Kenty

Whilst I recognise the sound of 'pinking' straight away, i've no idea how I would describe it. It would be a bit like trying to write down on paper the noise the tardis makes when it takes off, impossible. Not that pinking sounds like the tardis.

I'm not sure that it's very easy to adjust the mixture on these engines with engine/fuel management etc. I'm sure someone more techy will be along soon.

[T V O R]

I used to have one or two lean/rich issues on older cars with carburettors (years ago).

With the high tech electronics in a modern car (fuel injection, variable valve timing cat converters etc) it shouldn’t be an issue unless there is a problem with the ECU or someone has been playing with sensors/wires/cats. A Yaris will automatically adjust the timing according to the fuel type and driving style.

Having you been tinkering in the engine? Connecting to a computer will diagnose any problems.

Look at the exhaust pipe as well. The residue from the emissions can tell you the state of the engine. The last 8 years or so while I’ve had new cars, the exhausts are always dry and clean so that is now no longer a good indicator.

[kenty]

whats a tardis?

[T V O R]

whats a tardis?

Time and Relative Dimension(s) in Space.

It's a time machine and spacecraft disgused as a 1950's style London Police box in Doctor Who It has a "chameleon circuit", a mechanism which is responsible for changing the outside appearance of the ship in order to fit in with its environment.

The TARDIS is "dimensionally transcendental", meaning that its exterior and interior exist in separate dimensions, that's why its interior is much larger than it appears from the outside.

Also, it doesn't run lean or rich

[kenty]

Dr. Who????