Plug look like I'm Running lean?

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by 911 sc

It's odd running lean with 02 plugged in and rich unplugged ??

Not really. It just means your base idle mix is a bit too rich. If your idle mix was set to factory specs, your plugged in and unplugged 02 mixture would be about the same and be at optimal performance.

Cheers,


Joe
87 Carrera

[m42racer]

Originally Posted by 911 sc

It's odd running lean with 02 plugged in and rich unplugged ??

If I read this correctly, the O2 sensor appears to be working.

To make a judgement on whether the engine is running lean or not by reading the plug, you should make sure all other systems are operating correctly as suggested in other posts.

A 6-heat range plug will always read differently than a colder plug in the same engine. All a plug can tell you is temperature. Nothing else. We must then apply reasons for the temperature the plug shows with fuel or Ignition timing that skew the plug appearance.

A good read is here on reading plugs in Porsche engines.
Spark Plugs – performancedevelopments.com

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by m42racer

If I read this correctly, the O2 sensor appears to be working.

To make a judgement on whether the engine is running lean or not by reading the plug...[/url]

How are you determining that your engine is running rich? By the smell? Smoke? Did someone tell you it was?


Joe

[m42racer]

Originally Posted by stlrj

How are you determining that your engine is running rich? By the smell? Smoke? Did someone tell you it was?


Joe

If this is direct towards me, then.....

"""It did. The engine told me. I speak "engine". I also own a cow and have learnt to speak cow too. """""

Its not my engine so I have no clue what the engine is doing. I was just trying to add some logic into the discussion.

So no smell, no smoke here.

[DanielDudley]

I always hated that O2 sensor connector on the 3.2. Clean it up and put some DeoxIT on the connection. Then you may be able to take a continuity reading at the other end of the harness.

Does the idle drop when you pull the oil cap ? As far as I know, the fuel pressure regulator either works or it doesn't. But the only way to find out is to test the fuel pressure at WOT under load.

I gutted the cat on a Subaru years ago, and the O2 sensor rarely got hot enough to work properly after that. Never heard that about a Carrera though.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by m42racer

If this is direct towards me, then.....

"""It did. The engine told me. I speak "engine". I also own a cow and have learnt to speak cow too. """""

Its not my engine so I have no clue what the engine is doing. I was just trying to add some logic into the discussion.

So no smell, no smoke here.

Please don't take it personally, the question was not directed to you. We just need to know how the OP determined it was rich and has nothing to do with you.

My deepest apologies,


Joe

[911 sc]

Not really sure just that the exhaust stinks like fuel when unplugged burns your eyes , no smell at all when 02sensor pugged in.

A little back story car has 180k I did a lot or preventive maintenance when I got it. One thing I noticed was the fuel filter was super dirty and clogged. When I turned it upside down it was just black goo going into a bucket I'll attach a picture. After that I noticed a big difference until like I said around 5 k. Just looses power won't rev higher and overall slow to rev up. Car feels sluggish

I'm thinking it's got to be fuel starvation somewhere. Clogged injectors or weak pump can't keep up under load. Or tank filter is clogged too and restricting flow???
Fp was good at test port while idling.
I rechecked speed sensor gap at .8mm it was good.
I have a spair used fuel pump with low mi. As mine is original. I may my pull injectors and send them out for cleaning if u guys think it's worth while. Looked like mr injector and witch hunter are capable.

Thanks for your help and suggestions!

[911 sc]

Ignor the leaf lol .

[E Sully]

One thing I have noticed is that plugs don't get that nice tan color with today's gas alcohol mix like they used to. They tend to look a bit more on the white side.
Here is a photo of my plugs after putting a few hundred miles on it after breaking in a freshly rebuilt motor and putting in new plugs after the break in period.
The top plug was slightly darker, most likely due to a little oil still getting into the cylinder.
Numbers next to it are the compression test numbers.

2 thousand miles later it was still running great when I sold it.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by 911 sc

Thanks Steve ,

I just cruised home from work at 60 mph no high rpm and parked it.
I have no access to a dyno. do I have any other options?

I would install a wide-band AFR gauge such as what Gordon pictured to get some accurate data.

You can look on Dynojet's website to see the closest one to you.

[Steve W]

You could also have a bad fuel pump. We've seen bad ones drop fuel pressure drastically at high rpms at full throttle on the dyno.

[Steve W]

Also send your injectors to RC Engineering in Torrance, CA to be cleaned and flow tested.

[911 sc]

Thanks Steve I'm going to try that.

Update , I re tested my wot and must have accidentally touch my meter thermals or something. Anyways I now have wot after an adjustment of my switch!!

Car will run in upper rpm range better now but takes forever getting there. Really sluggish. My civic is way faster.

I tested my fuel pressure it was 30 and 37 with fpr vacuum disconnected.

I'm going to swap my fuel pump for sure its original but what about the regulator and damper?? Does my pressure test that shows an increas in pressure of regulator vacuum show that they are both good? No gas leak when I pulled vac hose off.

Could the slow revving sluggish behavior be a bad coil symptom?

Thanks everyone for the help much appreciated.

[Steve W]

Regulator seems like it's working properly. Off the top of my head, sluggish could be lean condition, DME unit or coil going bad, clogged injectors or weak flow from from the fuel pump

[T77911S]

if that was your fuel filter you might remove it again and see if you get the same, or just replace it.
you can pull the injectors and try cleaning the screen. spray some carb clean in the input to try to clean it.

[911 sc]

If my distributor internals were bad not working would it make my car felel like 150 hp??

Any way to test it

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by 911 sc

If my distributor internals were bad not working would it make my car felel like 150 hp??

Any way to test it

Easy enough to pop the cap and see if the rotor moves freely back and forth.

Cheers,

Joe

[911 sc]

Thanks it does