*sigh* misfire

[ColonelOdem]

OK, first off, about a month ago, I noticed my fuel guage plummeting faster than normal. then my horsepower was slipping, then I noticed that my manifold glows at night with 7miles of driving at or under 3-3.5K RPM, it misses at Idle speed (750) the guys I work with told me that black smoke was pouring out of my exhaust "Get that POS fixed! You're running rich" so I pulled my air cleaner apart. well, my stock airfilter had seperated from the seal so crap must have gotten in there. so I bought a K&N and put it on, no difference. recently I put in some NGK BPR7ES plugs which were White (lean) (what's with black smoke? I tried to wiggle the shaft on turbo and it is solid, so nothing wrong) with good looking wires from a 2g in a junk yard (all that was available) Now, manifold still glows, some HP restored but sometimes it can be any temperature (engine and outside) and I'll hit WOT in a lower gear and won't seem to want to growl. also I've noticed (not sure if it is because I have cut the Aircan with new K&N) that I can really hear my BOV (recirculated). today, I went to a cheepie gas station and got 93, but you know that, that first little bit out of the line is whatever somebody before you had, and I read 1 count of knock and my car tried to shut down. Everything is stock except a straight throught cat, removed silencer and lower honey comb (long time ago, not likely it) I'm sorry that I have typed a novel, but any help is dearly appreciated!!!

 

[ColonelOdem]

I've heard that venting to the atmosphere makes the car run rich, since I am lean, would that help? I don't get it. My plugs were white, and I am sucking gas like there is no tomarrow!

 

[ColonelOdem]

Also, I tried venting my BOV to richen er' up a bit, well, it sounded cool, then when I let it Idle for more than 1 second, it shut off...talk about a major vacuum leak. smelled like burning gas real bad, so I hooked it back up, I guess I am just stuck with this problem.

 

[dbritt]

Put the honey combs and silencer back in to see if that solves the problem first. As for the smoke, use a motor flush the next oil change you do and use 2 quarts of Lucas's Heavy Duty Oil Stablizer (that you can get at Advanced Auto or wherever) and the rest with your oil of choice. It may take as many as 3 oil changes down the road for the smoke to totally go away, but even after the first time I used that stuff, I noticed a good bit less smoke.

 

[ColonelOdem]

I use the oil stabilizer, but just one bottle...how would two help?

 

[dbritt]

I use the oil stabilizer, but just one bottle...how would two help?

That's like asking "why do I need a full bottle instead of just 1/2 bottle?"

I've heard of some people using up to 60% stablizer and 40% oil.

 

[Doubletake]

Hi, maybe you have already, but check and re-check the base set timing of the engine, both the mechanical and electrical portions of it.
i had some of the same symptoms (rough missfire at idle, poor mpg)before i fine tuned my timing settings. i had first thought it was the increaced vibes from the BSE, but i decided to double check, fixed it good. good luck with yours

 

[leakyfaucet]

use 2 quarts of Lucas's Heavy Duty Oil Stablizer

What exactly is "oil stabilizer" supposed to do?