Running Lean

[Au2falcons]

After some advice here, my falcon 4L (non vct) runs on the lean side. It's travelled 90K runs fine, has good consumption and recentely recorded 6.7L/100km on a freeway run. There is no carbon build up in my exhaust what so ever, instead the exhaust is orange with rust. Spark plugs are light grey which is fine.

Every other car i've owned always had some sort of carbon in the exhaust, just wondering if I should be concerned?

[HLC]

if its running lean you'll get better performance and economy :P dont complain :P



hahaha no idea, there is no detonation or anything?

you should prolly just take it down to a dyno place, geta few runs and check your air fuel ratio.

[StealthAu]

I wouldn't worry about it, I get the same milage on the highway. but if you are concerned (and even if you arn't) clean your injectors and replace your fuel filter

[Au2falcons]

Hmmmm....I'm not complaining about the consumption that's for sure. No there is no detination......if there was i'm sure the motor would be dead by now, as it's always been like this.

I just find it odd that there is no carbon at all. I changed cat's recently to fix a suspect rattle, and when I run my fingers inside the inlet & outlet flanges they come out spotless!!!!

The inside of my exhaust is bright rusty orange!!!! My current exhaust is about three years old and is going to need replacing because it's falling apart internally, with no carbon there it's just bare metal which is why I think the exhaust keeps rusting away. Maybe i'll have to get a stainless system made up.

[Stav]

if the car is not pinging then dont worry.Your car is fine.More than fine it is economical.

[bodes-sh]

mine seems like it's running lean because it pings all the time, i think i need a new fuel pump, but the exhaust is black as....seems as though yours is ok tho

[Mechan1k]

As mentioned if it is not pinging .... it sounds like one very healthy engine ... especially with the condition of the spark plugs.

The exhaust getting rust in it is common ... as out engines do produce a fair amount of condensation.

Sounds like it is running as clean as an LPG vehicle (as all I have on the inside of the my exhaust pipe is rusting from condensation).

[Dark Horse]

I pulled my plugs out at 100,000 k and they were all grey in colour and looked set to keep going for another 100,000 k. At one freakish stage I did 600 km on 40L in stop start Sydney traffic. There's definitely nothing wrong with yours. You have a healthy engine on your hands.

[Au2falcons]

Ok cool.....all is sounding good, I'll just have to start hunting around for someone to make up a stainless system. I want a standard system (no sports mufflers), any suggestion where? I'm in Western Sydney.

[Stav]

I used budget exhaust at Bankstown on Eldridge road..Talk to Fadi.He is an excellent bloke and cares about his work.Tell him I sent you.

[Au2falcons]

Actually I indirectly know Fadi........I know the owner of budget exhausts.

I'll have to pop in and see what they can do.