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How to tell, Rich or Lean?

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Old 10-03-2007 | 09:49 AM
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Question How to tell, Rich or Lean?

I can't find a spot to ask this question so I hope I'm in the right spot.
How do you tell if you'r car is rich or lean? what are the effects? is there a advantage? or disadvantage?
Thanks,
-Gil
Old 10-03-2007 | 09:57 AM
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thats a good ? the only way i know of is buying a gauge.To be right on the money
Old 10-03-2007 | 10:22 AM
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rich = when you let go off the gas you get bubly sound from exhaust like puff puff puf or you can shoot flames out the exhaust (rx8s run rich from stock)
lean = pingpong.....I mean pinging, from engine and clank clank sound

if you want to know like for real, air/fuel gauge?
Old 10-03-2007 | 10:43 AM
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^^ Uh, no.

Burble and pop from the exhaust on decel is lean.

Once you are really experienced on the difference, you can often tell one way or the other by the smell and the color of any smoke, but generally the only way to get a useful measurement is with a proper gauge.
Old 10-03-2007 | 10:46 AM
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you really cant tell very well from just the drivers seat, you need some sort of gauge, like a wideband, or an air fuel gauge

really rich, you get black smoke, its bogs down
really lean, it bogs down

a little rich, is usually just less crisp throttle response, low fuel economy
a little lean, you loose throttle response, and it can ping/detonate

you'll notice they can feel the same... and frequently do
Old 10-03-2007 | 12:01 PM
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Or do a plug reading.

Rich= slugish power, black smoke, carbon build up and bad fuel mileage.

Lean= pinging, running hot and VERY BAD for your wankle.
Old 10-06-2007 | 01:21 AM
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Originally Posted by DOMINION
I can't find a spot to ask this question so I hope I'm in the right spot.
How do you tell if you'r car is rich or lean? what are the effects? is there a advantage? or disadvantage?
Thanks,
-Gil
the std ecu runs the engine rich - what makes you think it would be anything else ?
Old 10-06-2007 | 01:22 AM
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as long as your exhaust tips are black from the smoke means its still rich?
why would the car go lean? aftermarket intake?
Old 10-06-2007 | 01:44 AM
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so many different opinions... confused
Old 10-06-2007 | 07:03 AM
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SiLVeRE8, I get it. See what Brettus and Zero_Rotary are saying is the car runs rich.

Originally Posted by MazdaManiac
^^ Uh, no.

Burble and pop from the exhaust on decel is lean.

Once you are really experienced on the difference, you can often tell one way or the other by the smell and the color of any smoke, but generally the only way to get a useful measurement is with a proper gauge.
But what MM just said described is my car running lean but no smoke. Come to think of it, its a happy medum. So I'm thinking.

"Go to the rear and look at the exhaust, if its very black with thick build up, too rich. If kind of white, too lean. Optimum is in between of course. This is not very accurate as it is quite subjective from individual. Also, it can be different when idling and at full throttle. What i mentioned from the above is for crusing speed." and "Also just as simple, and to be used when stopped, is to check the exhaust fume odor. I don't mean get your head in front of the pipe and start huffing."
I tryed that it just stings me eyes.

"Stick your hand in front of the exhaust pipe. Then smell your hand. If it smells like fumes and unburnt fuel it's rich. If it smells foul and stings your eyes a bit it's lean. Simple method, but not very accurate as to how rich or how lean unless you get really good at it."
I tryed that too just burned me hand and stings me eyes.

"And if it smells like your gas is being poured right out of the back of you car, and that's when WOT, that means rich"
Don't know can't smell my own cars *** when at WOT!

So in my particular situation am I ok?
Old 10-08-2007 | 02:04 AM
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Originally Posted by SiLVeRE8
so many different opinions... confused

Well hows this one: If your cars runnung very lean and smoking, you gonna need a new motor
Old 10-08-2007 | 02:34 AM
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Originally Posted by SiLVeRE8
so many different opinions... confused
Don't bother.
Without proper instrumentation, none of this matters.
Most of the opinions are wrong, anyway.
Old 10-08-2007 | 03:44 AM
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like yah...

duh.. if it is na. it is running rich..

beers
Old 04-15-2012 | 12:59 PM
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i have a CEL i scanned and its saying im running a tad bit lean, i feel as if ive lost power, from time to time my car smells lke fuel,, you guys think a new air / fuel sensor would be the problem??
Old 04-16-2012 | 03:26 PM
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a lot of things can make it run lean, tthere is no 1 size fits all fix for it. u need to tell us what u did to the car so far
Old 04-19-2012 | 07:13 PM
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aem cold air intake, mazdatrix spark plug cables, magnaflow exhaust (came with the car), stage 3 clutch, i do tune ups when ever it needs, coils need changing, and the CEL just came on out of no where ???
Old 04-20-2012 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by sergio626
i have a CEL i scanned and its saying im running a tad bit lean, i feel as if ive lost power, from time to time my car smells lke fuel,, you guys think a new air / fuel sensor would be the problem??
Originally Posted by sergio626
aem cold air intake, mazdatrix spark plug cables, magnaflow exhaust (came with the car), stage 3 clutch, i do tune ups when ever it needs, coils need changing, and the CEL just came on out of no where ???
I'm going to say that the CEL didn't just come on out of nowhere, and that your low power and fuel smell is probably directly related to your lit CEL, and all of those together are most likely caused by the coils needing to be changed, but don't forget about the wires and the spark plugs.

But, you first need to have the CEL read.
Once you do that, you have a big clue as to what's going wrong with your car.

BC.
Old 04-20-2012 | 06:15 PM
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this thread failed 5 years ago and sure enough, it still fails today.
Old 04-20-2012 | 08:04 PM
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Stage 3 clutch ...
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