Notices
Series I Tech Garage The place to discuss anything technical about the RX-8 that doesn't fit into any of the categories below.

How to tell, Rich or Lean?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 10-03-2007, 09:49 AM
  #1  
I don't buy Kool-Aid
Thread Starter
 
DOMINION's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vegas Baby!
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
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
  #2  
Registered User
 
nelsonrx8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: new jersey U.S.A
Posts: 705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
  #3  
Destroying Threads
 
tajabaho1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: (swartsnegga state)
Posts: 2,296
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
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
  #4  
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
MazdaManiac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Under my car
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 0
Received 26 Likes on 22 Posts
^^ 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
  #5  
Registered
 
j9fd3s's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,382
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts
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
  #6  
I4NI
 
Silver_Surfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
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
  #7  
Boosted Kiwi
iTrader: (2)
 
Brettus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Y-cat-o NZ
Posts: 20,584
Received 1,523 Likes on 863 Posts
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
  #8  
Double 8
 
Zero_Rotary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
  #9  
a.k.a. WhITeRE8
iTrader: (8)
 
SiLVeRE8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Nor Cal *
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
so many different opinions... confused
Old 10-06-2007, 07:03 AM
  #10  
I don't buy Kool-Aid
Thread Starter
 
DOMINION's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Vegas Baby!
Posts: 8,823
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
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
  #11  
I4NI
 
Silver_Surfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 833
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 1 Post
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
  #12  
Banned
iTrader: (3)
 
MazdaManiac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Under my car
Posts: 16,386
Likes: 0
Received 26 Likes on 22 Posts
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
  #13  
Zoom-Freakin'-Zoom
iTrader: (5)
 
swoope's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: orlando, fl
Posts: 14,602
Received 36 Likes on 32 Posts
like yah...

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

beers
Old 04-15-2012, 12:59 PM
  #14  
rx ocho
 
sergio626's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: cali.
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
  #15  
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
nycgps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 19,881
Received 32 Likes on 30 Posts
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
  #16  
rx ocho
 
sergio626's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: cali.
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
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
  #17  
Rockie Mountain Newbie
 
Bladecutter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,601
Received 28 Likes on 24 Posts
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
  #18  
weeeeeeeeee
iTrader: (12)
 
ShellDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Outside Philadelphia
Posts: 4,200
Received 229 Likes on 153 Posts
this thread failed 5 years ago and sure enough, it still fails today.
Old 04-20-2012, 08:04 PM
  #19  
Out of NYC
iTrader: (1)
 
nycgps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Planet Earth
Posts: 19,881
Received 32 Likes on 30 Posts
Stage 3 clutch ...
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
MikeTyson8MyKids
Series I Trouble Shooting
9
11-12-2022 11:54 AM
fistofmeat
Series I Trouble Shooting
8
10-07-2016 12:15 PM
Kanthinar
New Member Forum
15
12-21-2015 01:24 PM
9krpmrx8
Series I Trouble Shooting
23
11-05-2015 11:45 PM
dbarber
Series I Trouble Shooting
14
07-25-2015 01:34 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: How to tell, Rich or Lean?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:06 AM.