Potential Dangers from running rich?

[BlackMount]

Checked out a few threads, but most of them was about solving running to rich, or asking why. not potential damages.

My MAF is bad, and so now I run rich to the point of little bits of black smoke at Idle.

But this is my DD so i needed it for school\work\ and such.

I'm probably going to be running it with the busted MAF for a week or 2. I have a Maf ready to order, its just I'm a tad behind from just ordering a ECU, so money is tight.

can I damage anything in these next 2 weeks driving around running this rich?

when the turbo spools it leans it out some but still puts out small amount of black smoke so I'm know I'm not running lean under boost. Always been told better rich then lean, and its hell on the cat but my cat is gutted so I'm not worried about that.

 

[Staytuned]

You will be washing your oil down with gas and thinning it out .... you will need to do an oil change ASAP when you get this fixed.

 

[BlackMount]

You will be washing your oil down with gas and thinning it out .... you will need to do an oil change ASAP when you get this fixed.

that makes sense.

Oil Pressure is Still nice and high at the moment, so I assume it should be fine till then. I'm 1000 miles away from one anyways so kill two birds with one rocket launcher.

 

[cookmeup272]

Could ruin the o2 sensors as well as killing your gas mileage

 

[BlackMount]

Could ruin the o2 sensors as well as killing your gas mileage

*sensor

Gas mileage has actually improved thats the sad part.

because before it was bad ECU too, now its a GOOD ecu w\ bad MAF.

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

Doesn't it really depend how rich your running? I'm running a tad rich from my 190 but its not anything that is potentially dangerous, mainly just when the car is cold too.

 

[Staytuned]

Checked out a few threads, but most of them was about solving running to rich, or asking why. not potential damages.

My MAF is bad, and so now I run rich to the point of little bits of black smoke at Idle.

This is what leads me to think that he would be thinninng out his oil .....black smoke at idle is not good.

 

[viprez586]

Running rich will kill your catalytic converter by super heating it.
This is why most cars run rich on cold start-up to reduce cold start emissions by heating the catalytic converter quickly to it's effective operating temperature.
I'm pretty sure Bush(When in office) passed a law requiring cars 1995 and older no longer have to emissions test.(In WI at least) But I could be wrong.
Anyway just saw you gutted your cat so your in the clear, however if you have to emissions test you will not pass unless it's just a visual inspection.

Did you order a 2g maf since it's a nice upgrade? (Along with evo, or 3g)

Since your MAF is "broken" you can hack your maf by removing your honeycombs. Do this at your own risk, you should properly monitor your engine data list via bare minimum datalogger or wideband is best case scenario. Check out VFAQ Site - Visual Frequently Answered Questions since it is your bible to get you started on modifications and this MAF hack.

This is what leads me to think that he would be thinninng out his oil .....black smoke at idle is not good.

Fuel dilutes oil, correct it thins it and it's ability to lubricate.
Black smoke = fuel
White smoke = coolant
Blue/ smoke = oil

 

[ArticNemesis]

In addition to mixing gas into your oil, you are potentially "washing your rings" , and accelerating their wear.

 

[habitatguy187]

My buddy ran with his mas unplugged completely in his audi for about a year, smoked black and blue . He changed the oil once that year. It burns oil so he just puts some in everynow and then. Well a few months ago his car started running really bad, then wouldn't start at all. I figured that his rings were done.

Did a compression test, and it was only around 14psi lower than stock on a 11 year old car. I couldn't believe it. He did end up replacing his o2 sensor though, along with plugs which were completely soaked in gas.


If e85 is available in your area put in at least a 50/50 mix of that and gas, if not a little more. The car will run just fine and it won't hurt anything either.

 

[BlackMount]

Running rich will kill your catalytic converter by super heating it.
This is why most cars run rich on cold start-up to reduce cold start emissions by heating the catalytic converter quickly to it's effective operating temperature.
I'm pretty sure Bush(When in office) passed a law requiring cars 1995 and older no longer have to emissions test.(In WI at least) But I could be wrong.
Anyway just saw you gutted your cat so your in the clear, however if you have to emissions test you will not pass unless it's just a visual inspection.

Did you order a 2g maf since it's a nice upgrade? (Along with evo, or 3g)

Since your MAF is "broken" you can hack your maf by removing your honeycombs. Do this at your own risk, you should properly monitor your engine data list via bare minimum datalogger or wideband is best case scenario. Check out VFAQ Site - Visual Frequently Answered Questions since it is your bible to get you started on modifications and this MAF hack.


Fuel dilutes oil, correct it thins it and it's ability to lubricate.
Black smoke = fuel
White smoke = coolant
Blue/ smoke = oil

MAF is already "hacked" i don't see how the honey comb could effect how it read's the sensors that pick of the air flow are at the opposite end of the MAF. all your doing is making it less restrictive.

In addition to mixing gas into your oil, you are potentially "washing your rings" , and accelerating their wear.

Well, it wont be long till new MAF

My buddy ran with his mas unplugged completely in his audi for about a year, smoked black and blue . He changed the oil once that year. It burns oil so he just puts some in everynow and then. Well a few months ago his car started running really bad, then wouldn't start at all. I figured that his rings were done.

Did a compression test, and it was only around 14psi lower than stock on a 11 year old car. I couldn't believe it. He did end up replacing his o2 sensor though, along with plugs which were completely soaked in gas.


If e85 is available in your area put in at least a 50/50 mix of that and gas, if not a little more. The car will run just fine and it won't hurt anything either.

I'll try but E85 isn't widely available in ### ass TN

 

[redrockergsx]

Remember this it is all ways better to run rich then lean your car hate being lean and that how you kill you car so better it rich then lean

 

[viprez586]

MAF is already "hacked" i don't see how the honey comb could effect how it read's the sensors that pick of the air flow are at the opposite end of the MAF. all your doing is making it less restrictive.

Making it less restrictive means more airflow = leaner then original.
Read up how karman vortex MAFs work. The honeycombs are there to "Straighten" airflow over the "microphone". In some cases they use a high pitched frequency, others use light. (LED)
The 1G MAF is extremely restrictive compared to the 2G, 3G, EVO karman vortex MAFs. All operate the same with more potential to carry and measure more airflow.

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h34.pdf

 

[BlackMount]

Making it less restrictive means more airflow = leaner then original.
Read up how karman vortex MAFs work. The honeycombs are there to "Straighten" airflow over the "microphone". In some cases they use a high pitched frequency, others use light. (LED)
The 1G MAF is extremely restrictive compared to the 2G, 3G, EVO karman vortex MAFs. All operate the same with more potential to carry and measure more airflow.

http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h34.pdf

I want to run a 2G MAF but from what I read on the forum I need to up my injectors to at least 550cc's otherwise I will run lean.

A lean DSM is a sad DSM.

A rich DSM is a Fat DSM

and a good DSM is just right

 

[viprez586]

I want to run a 2G MAF but from what I read on the forum I need to up my injectors to at least 550cc's otherwise I will run lean.

Correct, the 2G MAF is less restrictive - more airflow - needs more fuel.
Keep your eyes peeled, you can pickup a 2G MAF for around $50. I just sold my 550cc injectors for $150. I'm sure Evo 560cc injectors go for the same price - hit up some Evo forums.