[ decay ]
rusted ambition
Prosper, TX
Nikon D100
September 21st, 2003:
new truck problems
Yesterday, I took the truck to Midas to have the catalytic converter checked. I was thinking it might be cloged causing reduced engine power and a little of that “stinky car” smell. My thoughts were wrong. They used some sort of laser guided thermometer to determine that it was functioning perfectly fine. However, according to them, it’s running VERY hot. Not that the engine is too hot, but that the air leaving the engine is too hot. The temperature at the tailpipe was around 270°F. Apparently, is supposed to be from 100 – 150°F. The believe that it may be due to my air/fuel mixture being too rich (i.e. too much gas).
Aside from black smoke (which I don’t have) and “stinky car” smell, which there are light traces of when I really put my foot into it, I don’t know what the symptoms of a rich air/fuel mixture are, and I can’t seem to find anything too useful on the web. So does anyone know? What are other symptoms of a rich air/fuel mixture and what are possible causes? In my very limited knowledge of cars, I would guess either a stuck thermostat, leaking fuel injectors, a faulty mass airflow sensor, or a leak in the intake somewhere after the mass airflow sensor might cause it, if it is indeed the problem. But I’m not too sure.
What really gets me is, if I’m running rich I’m wasting gas, right? Well, yesterday I filled up again, did the math, and approxmated getting about 17mpg. That’s REALLY good for this vehicle at this age with my driving pattern. And it’s running rich? Hmmm.