What are some typical causes that a car might be running too rich?

I'm running PaceSetter LTs with emissions, ORY, and TSP Rumbler catback and I'm getting a lot of black soot **** on my bumper and its a bitch to get off.

No codes, new plugs/wires, O2 sensors are stock, one threw a code but the wire was just messed up so I re-extended it and the code went away.

Car feels like it has all its power.

I've got new O2's but I don't want to extend them and it make no difference, thats $100 down the drain.

 

LT + no tune = very rich

 

Splain...

 

any car with no cats = smelling rich.

 

 

You said LT's with emissions. I assume you mean you have cats on the ORY.

If you are not running cats, consider it normal even if the tune is spot on. You can slightly extend the tips and eliminate the problem.

 

No, no cats at all, I know it would smell like gas, but its weird considering I never seemed to smell it when I ran open headers...

Stock tune, that I know of.

Would a mail order tune fix it?
I don't have enough for a real dyno tune or anything.

 

alotta people have issues with doing headers and having there exhaust smell like its running rich. even tho i have mids mine did the same thing. a tune helped.

 

if they are coated long tubes I have heard of the coating fouling o2 sensors shortly after install and a couple of heat cycles. After I installed my long tubes I had to replace both o2 sensors due to a rich condition but after changing them it cleared it right up. buying the extensions is makes much more sense just because of the fact that o2 sensors, like everything else, will not last forever

 

the car needs to be tuned......i tuned a car earlier last year that somebody put headers on and the car went pig rich.......cats or not there should be no black soot comming out of the pipes if the car is tuned correctly

 

and the o2s are functioning properly

 

So what do you guys think?

Throw in new O2's?
Or are mine ok since there's no codes?

If I can save that $100, I'll get a mail-order tune.
I'm pretty broke atm, so its either one or the other.

 

I'd say make sure the O2's are functioning properly and tune the car. I've seen this before these cars go rich with LT's and ORY's. I'm actually doing headers on another LT1 this month and I told the guy to give me $100 for a LT1 Edit License as well becuase the car will need a tune.