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why is it running lean?

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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 11:59 AM
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Default why is it running lean?

Had the car dynoed and it put down 328hp and 333tq. I thought that was kind of low with the mods that I have and stock tune. I was kind of worried also because the a/f was 13.6. I was told it makes more power when it runs lean but is there a point where running too lean hurts the power? I checked the fuel pressure and it was right at 60psi so I don't think the pump is going bad. What else would cause it to run lean? Bad o2 sensors?
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 02:17 PM
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Could be a number of things. When i put on my LT's my car ran like 14:1 lean. You need to get a tune and get that corrected. You won't pick up allot more HP but will see a few more ponies
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 03:10 PM
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The guys at the dyno said most of the LS1s they dyno put down 12.8 with LT. I don't want to tune it if there is still another problem. I just filled up and got my worse mpg ever at 13.4mpg. Think this has something to do with it also?
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 03:42 PM
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If you still have cats and they were sticking the A/F probe up the tail-pipe, then you're actually closer to 12.8 to 1 than 13.8 to 1. Cats and tailpipe probes commonly show leaner numbers than that are actually taking place. Not all tuners know this.
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 04:08 PM
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my car ran lean after doing full exhaust no cats, no biggie though, just get a tune to make it richer.
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 04:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Patrick G
If you still have cats and they were sticking the A/F probe up the tail-pipe, then you're actually closer to 12.8 to 1 than 13.8 to 1. Cats and tailpipe probes commonly show leaner numbers than that are actually taking place. Not all tuners know this.
I don't have any cats.
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 04:45 PM
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Did Jason tune it or have you even had it tuned yet?
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 04:48 PM
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Would getting just a GMMG catback cause the car to run lean?
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Optimus_Prime
Would getting just a GMMG catback cause the car to run lean?
Mine ran a bit lean after only a few simple mods. Just get a tune if it being somewhat lean bothers you. If it doesnt knock at all then you have nothing to worry about.
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 07:27 PM
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for a mostly stock engine that is not lean. perfect is 14.7:1 for most engines. so running 13:1 is not going to hurt your engine it is actually running rich. it's when you get alot of mods that they richen up the a/f to get the most performance out of your mods.
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Old Apr 17, 2006 | 07:32 PM
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The addition of LTs fattend mine to 12.5 to 1 with not cats.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Mazzenger
The addition of LTs fattend mine to 12.5 to 1 with not cats.

That's what I have heard most of them are at with LT. That's why when mine is at 13.6 I think something is up with the car.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 98NBMZ
Did Jason tune it or have you even had it tuned yet?
No he hasn't tuned it yet. I want to find out what is wrong now. I don't want to tune out a mechanical problem just to have it get worse or fail on me later on.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Radcat
I don't have any cats.
Even if you don't have cats, running the wideband in the tailpipe (with a muffler) can skew the AFR.. The best way to get an accurate reading is with using a cutout or using a wideband that is tapped into the exhaust pipe with the use of a bung (best way).
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:54 PM
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Do you have any exhaust leaks? If there is the vacuum from the exhaust can be pulling air in through the leak.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 07:55 PM
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Originally Posted by fguy1998
for a mostly stock engine that is not lean. perfect is 14.7:1 for most engines. so running 13:1 is not going to hurt your engine it is actually running rich. it's when you get alot of mods that they richen up the a/f to get the most performance out of your mods.
You are dead wrong. 14.7 is what is used during closed loop (non-WOT) normal driving. When you floor it the computer goes into PE mode which adds a specified amount of fuel while at WOT. My stock tune was commanding for a AFR of 11.8:1. Did I actually get that? NO. I was around 14.0. For even near stock motor a tune to around 13.0 is a good area to be in.
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Old Apr 18, 2006 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by fguy1998
for a mostly stock engine that is not lean. perfect is 14.7:1 for most engines. so running 13:1 is not going to hurt your engine it is actually running rich. it's when you get alot of mods that they richen up the a/f to get the most performance out of your mods.

wow, talk about getting bad info on the internet



also, 02 sensors have absolultely no effect on WOT a/f.

the only thing you need is a tune. part throttle and WOT. your part throttle tuning is causing your poor MPG. the best way to tune is on the street with a wideband. I would suggest doing that if possible.
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 12:15 AM
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Originally Posted by 383ss

also, 02 sensors have absolultely no effect on WOT a/f.
Wow I feel stupid. I knew that

What makes me worry though is that I hear most ls1s with LT are around 12.8 or so and I'm quite a bit higher than that. Do you really think it's because of the stock tune or could it be something else? Do you think my stock pump could be going out(72k on it)?
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 05:49 PM
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My car with headers when it was untuned was at 12.0 across the board..

My stock pump has 104k on it with ZERO problems, if it was you would probably be able to tell because the car wouldn't run well at all.

Was you car going through the muffler on the dyno? (wideband in the tailpipe after the muffler)
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Old Apr 19, 2006 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Chris81
Was you car going through the muffler on the dyno? (wideband in the tailpipe after the muffler)
The car has bullet mufflers then dumps. I'm not sure if it was after or in the mufflers since they are so close to the dumps.
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