Longtube owners, I am running too rich! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Blade · 06-30-2010, 05:16 PM

I think...

I am concerned that my car is running too rich. My last car wash was 2 weeks ago, but I feel like there is just way too much build up on my mufflers.

I have the MRT 2.0 and ARH LTs with Hi Flo Cats. My concern is that if I am running too rich, I am probably losing power. I left a voicemail with Vince at Trifecta, to see if I am running too rich.

Here are some pictures, please let me know if this is normal.

camarowa · 06-30-2010, 05:19 PM

I have quite some build up without the long tubes. Not as much as that though. I am considering LTs at the moment.

KMPrenger · 06-30-2010, 05:20 PM

Hrmmm...well I think it is fairly known that removing the stock mufflers and installing something else resorts in lots of soot building up on the tips. I just have a magnaflow exhaust, and after one drive or two my tips look very dirty...and so I clean the dang things all the time.

But thats all the info I can offer....and I'm pretty sure that helps zero percent lol.

I sure hope its not a real issue!

christianmotox · 06-30-2010, 05:22 PM

is there some sort of software or device that can tell you if you are running rich?

Blade · 06-30-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Hrmmm...well I think it is fairly known that removing the stock mufflers and installing something else resorts in lots of soot building up on the tips. I just have a magnaflow exhaust, and after one drive or two my tips look very dirty...and so I clean the dang things all the time.

But thats all the info I can offer....and I'm pretty sure that helps zero percent lol.

I sure hope its not a real issue!

It actually does help. I want to see how many people are experiencing this. If it's consistent than I won't worry much, but 2 guys in the last 2 months have mentioned "looks like you are running rich, leaving some HP in the engine" And both of them have experience in building performance cars.

KMPrenger · 06-30-2010, 05:25 PM

If scrming chimes in, he will indeed confirm what I said as he was the first here that I remember talking about the car appearing to run so rich right from the factory.

DayDreamer · 06-30-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianmotox

is there some sort of software or device that can tell you if you are running rich?

When you go to get your car tuned most tuners can see what the Air/Fuel ratio is and see wether you are running lean or rich. Which after getting LT's it would be a good idea.

scrming · 06-30-2010, 07:03 PM

Yep, my tips are always pretty filthy... heck even the wife's Acadia tips are pretty nasty! LOL!

Yeah, when we first got our cars last year and guys were doing stock dyno pulls we all thought the stock A/F was crazy rich... but the more we learn the more we realized that this car simply wants/needs to run rich...

devildoc · 06-30-2010, 07:24 PM

Mine is that dirty too.

nvpliers · 06-30-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DayDreamer

When you go to get your car tuned most tuners can see what the Air/Fuel ratio is and see wether you are running lean or rich. Which after getting LT's it would be a good idea.

+1
I was told that it was just about a required action to tune after LT header installation - so that the car can recognize the additional air flow and properly adjust the AF mixture to optimize power [and prevent running too lean in many cases].

D Vegas · 06-30-2010, 08:34 PM

+1

they get nasty fast

Sevn86 · 06-30-2010, 08:52 PM

I cant seem to keep my tips clean ever! Makes me so mad! Im all stock btw...

kga10734 · 06-30-2010, 10:18 PM

Mine get black, but no where near that dirty. Even after 2 weeks of driving hard and no cleaning mine don't look that bad, but I'm stock except for the intake and mufflers.

WHIPPLECHARGED · 07-01-2010, 12:04 AM

My exhaust tips are black all the time. If I clean them it comes back after a couple drives. I'm not to worried about it though. My 01 Chevy truck spits black crap all over the tail gate after a couple of weeks of no washing. It has done this since day one and got a little worse after CAI, Cat back and TUNE. Have around 100k on her now with no mechanical failures.

WHIPPLECHARGED · 07-01-2010, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christianmotox

is there some sort of software or device that can tell you if you are running rich?

Yeah any automotive scan tool that can read live data from the PCM. My car reads -3% long term fuel trim. I guess the best way to explain would be that the computer is trying to take fuel away from the engine 3% of the time on average. Which in my opinion is not enough to worry about.

Cyber Gray · 07-01-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KMPrenger

Hrmmm...well I think it is fairly known that removing the stock mufflers and installing something else resorts in lots of soot building up on the tips. I just have a magnaflow exhaust, and after one drive or two my tips look very dirty...and so I clean the dang things all the time.

But thats all the info I can offer....and I'm pretty sure that helps zero percent lol.

I sure hope its not a real issue!

Me too, but MF can be cleaned easily. My main complain is with vibration. I have a Razzi body kit and I pulled the exhaust out to fill the rear bumper holes but MAN it started to melt the edges.

So I went to the exhaust welding shop something like 4 times and each time they tighten the exhaust in the centre of the hole, it moves up making my camaro butt shake.

Im not sure how long my bumper will last with the heat and vibrations

Blade · 07-01-2010, 05:16 AM

I keep reading the same info from you guys, which makes me feel fine. But then someone like the 2 guys I mentioned in the OP will say something and get me worried again.

Thanks guys for the responses

scrming · 07-01-2010, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blade

I keep reading the same info from you guys, which makes me feel fine. But then someone like the 2 guys I mentioned in the OP will say something and get me worried again.

Thanks guys for the responses

I wouldn't sweat it... with this car you are actually better off being on the rich side vs the lean side... Also you could pull a couple spark plugs out and see what they look like...

usa1camaro1969 · 07-01-2010, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrming

I wouldn't sweat it... with this car you are actually better off being on the rich side vs the lean side... Also you could pull a couple spark plugs out and see what they look like...

Very much right. Rich is safe, lean will give you a little more power but with us at such a high compression on pump gas it is designed to keep us in the safe range.

ROD1 · 07-01-2010, 08:36 AM

Here is Mrray's arh dyno so ide say this should tell ya. EDIT: Never mind I forgot u were tuned , sy.

WHIPPLECHARGED · 07-01-2010, 09:53 AM

Running lean causes higher engine temps where as running rich will help cool the combustion camber temps down. so I would rather run rich.

usa1camaro1969 · 07-01-2010, 05:03 PM

Lean causes detonation and detonation causes damage.

RedJewel2SS · 07-01-2010, 05:09 PM

have you experienced any smoke clouds when you take off?

i had this same issue after installing my longtubes, but i was also experiencing giant smoke clouds sometimes. turned out to be oil blow by, so i got a catch can and no more smoke clouds and no more filthy tips!

Blade · 07-01-2010, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedJewel2SS

have you experienced any smoke clouds when you take off?

i had this same issue after installing my longtubes, but i was also experiencing giant smoke clouds sometimes. turned out to be oil blow by, so i got a catch can and no more smoke clouds and no more filthy tips!

Nope........def haven't seen smoke clouds

Thank god for that.

ROD1 · 07-01-2010, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedJewel2SS

have you experienced any smoke clouds when you take off?

i had this same issue after installing my longtubes, but i was also experiencing giant smoke clouds sometimes. turned out to be oil blow by, so i got a catch can and no more smoke clouds and no more filthy tips!

Blow by? U mean from your PCV?

06-30-2010, 05:16 PM	#1
Blade Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT CGM RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 4,500 View My Garage	Longtube owners, I am running too rich! I think... I am concerned that my car is running too rich. My last car wash was 2 weeks ago, but I feel like there is just way too much build up on my mufflers. I have the MRT 2.0 and ARH LTs with Hi Flo Cats. My concern is that if I am running too rich, I am probably losing power. I left a voicemail with Vince at Trifecta, to see if I am running too rich. Here are some pictures, please let me know if this is normal. __________________ Signature by Bmorecam Follow me on Twitter Build Thread

06-30-2010, 05:19 PM	#2
camarowa Drives: 2013 SVT Raptor, sold 2010 Camaro Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: PNW....almost canada Posts: 1,863	I have quite some build up without the long tubes. Not as much as that though. I am considering LTs at the moment. __________________ - Pfadt Suspension Package; Springs & Sways - Brembo Brake Upgrade (Yellow); Courtesy Fesler Built - Custom Magnaflow Exhaust - Blacked-Out Bowties & RS Emblems, Front bowtie delete - Full Dynamat Extreme Trunk Coverage - Tinted side markers - Interior DSV Customs Leather Upgrades - Airaid CAI V2 - Forgestar F14 Gunmetal 20x9, 20x11 - Doug Thorley Shorties

06-30-2010, 05:20 PM	#3
KMPrenger Drives: '10 ABM LT/RS, 01 Ford Ranger Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 6,974	Hrmmm...well I think it is fairly known that removing the stock mufflers and installing something else resorts in lots of soot building up on the tips. I just have a magnaflow exhaust, and after one drive or two my tips look very dirty...and so I clean the dang things all the time. But thats all the info I can offer....and I'm pretty sure that helps zero percent lol. I sure hope its not a real issue! __________________ Shes ALL MINE! - 8/24/2009 2G1FB1EV2A9133373 Custom Magnaflow Exhaust, Vararam intake, MACE Ported Intake Manifold, RX Ported TB, RX "Black Ice" manifold insulator, Mike Norris Catch Can, DRL Harness, Heritage grill, Street Scene lower grill, NLP Spoiler, ZL1 rockers, Switchblade silver interior, Defenderworx sills, and more!

06-30-2010, 05:25 PM	#6
KMPrenger Drives: '10 ABM LT/RS, 01 Ford Ranger Join Date: May 2009 Location: Jefferson City, Missouri Posts: 6,974	If scrming chimes in, he will indeed confirm what I said as he was the first here that I remember talking about the car appearing to run so rich right from the factory. __________________ Shes ALL MINE! - 8/24/2009 2G1FB1EV2A9133373 Custom Magnaflow Exhaust, Vararam intake, MACE Ported Intake Manifold, RX Ported TB, RX "Black Ice" manifold insulator, Mike Norris Catch Can, DRL Harness, Heritage grill, Street Scene lower grill, NLP Spoiler, ZL1 rockers, Switchblade silver interior, Defenderworx sills, and more!

06-30-2010, 07:03 PM	#8
scrming Red Brick of Vengeance! Drives: 12 Second Brick Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: at my pulpit Posts: 7,490	Yep, my tips are always pretty filthy... heck even the wife's Acadia tips are pretty nasty! LOL! Yeah, when we first got our cars last year and guys were doing stock dyno pulls we all thought the stock A/F was crazy rich... but the more we learn the more we realized that this car simply wants/needs to run rich... __________________ 2013 MRT Laguna ST - 249 WHP & 339 WTQ 2011 Ford Flex EcoBoost Limited - 12.727 @ 109.790 MPH

06-30-2010, 05:22 PM	#4
christianmotox Drives: 2010 Silver LS (sort off) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 2,148	is there some sort of software or device that can tell you if you are running rich?

06-30-2010, 07:24 PM	#9
devildoc Drives: '12 Toyota Tacoma Dbl Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaufort, SC Posts: 1,280 View My Garage	Mine is that dirty too. __________________ MRT V2\|Trifecta Tune\|Airaid\|ARH LTs\|Eibach Sways STANDING 1/4MI: 13.948@99.87 6600RPM HP/TQ Gains - 30.54HP/24.3TQ (NOT PEAK)

06-30-2010, 08:34 PM	#11
D Vegas Drives: 2010 1LT/RS VR,1978 VW BUG CV Join Date: May 2009 Location: MA Posts: 124 View My Garage	+1 they get nasty fast

06-30-2010, 10:18 PM	#13
kga10734 Don't Feed the Troll Drives: 2010 Camaro 2LT/RS & 1999 Corvette Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Montgomery, TX Posts: 782	Mine get black, but no where near that dirty. Even after 2 weeks of driving hard and no cleaning mine don't look that bad, but I'm stock except for the intake and mufflers. __________________

07-01-2010, 12:04 AM	#14
WHIPPLECHARGED Drives: 2011 1SS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vegas Posts: 715	My exhaust tips are black all the time. If I clean them it comes back after a couple drives. I'm not to worried about it though. My 01 Chevy truck spits black crap all over the tail gate after a couple of weeks of no washing. It has done this since day one and got a little worse after CAI, Cat back and TUNE. Have around 100k on her now with no mechanical failures.

07-01-2010, 05:16 AM	#17
Blade Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT CGM RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Charlotte Posts: 4,500 View My Garage	I keep reading the same info from you guys, which makes me feel fine. But then someone like the 2 guys I mentioned in the OP will say something and get me worried again. Thanks guys for the responses __________________ Signature by Bmorecam Follow me on Twitter Build Thread

07-01-2010, 08:36 AM	#20
ROD1 Back to the hunt.... Drives: 2010 Camaro RS V6 #1301 DOB 3/23/09 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Ithaca NY Posts: 2,562	Here is Mrray's arh dyno so ide say this should tell ya. EDIT: Never mind I forgot u were tuned , sy. Attached Images

07-01-2010, 09:53 AM	#21
WHIPPLECHARGED Drives: 2011 1SS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vegas Posts: 715	Running lean causes higher engine temps where as running rich will help cool the combustion camber temps down. so I would rather run rich.

07-01-2010, 05:03 PM	#22
usa1camaro1969 Back on the dino-juice Drives: '10 LS + a few more Join Date: May 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 1,661	Lean causes detonation and detonation causes damage.

07-01-2010, 05:09 PM	#23
RedJewel2SS 12.23s@113mph Drives: 2SS/RS, A6, just a few bolt ons Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,218	have you experienced any smoke clouds when you take off? i had this same issue after installing my longtubes, but i was also experiencing giant smoke clouds sometimes. turned out to be oil blow by, so i got a catch can and no more smoke clouds and no more filthy tips! __________________ RIP Cammie 7/15/2009 - 4/1/2011

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Any Nova Scotia Camaro Owners Out There	CaperCamaro	Canada	21	01-11-2012 12:52 PM
For all you PS3 owners running out of hard disc space.	Dave McFly	Off-topic Discussions	25	10-09-2010 01:31 AM
Why do Mustang owners have so much hate towards Camaro owners?	OHIOSS	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	358	03-20-2010 06:19 PM
Message from Oshawa to new and future Camaro owners in the new year	super60	5th Gen Camaro SS LS LT General Discussions	125	02-15-2010 07:40 PM
LSX owners: AFR Cylinder Head Owners	FTI-EDC	General Automotive + Other Cars Discussion	0	11-10-2006 05:54 PM