how do you tell if your running lean/rich?

[mccullough_89_GW]

here's the deal....
got the holley projection running like a kitten...
had the regulator set at 13 psi...and it ran fine my gas milage was about 12-13mpg...

so to improve this i figured i would turn my pressure down a little and "save gas"....

anyway I turned it down to about little over 12PSI...

It runs even better than before!...Woo HOO!!!

before it didn't really smell gassy, no ping, no black smoke...heat in engine/gauge was good....

all of above are the same, with it running at 12psi...

it doesn't idle as smooth[very little change] in gear with AC/lights on ....I believe i can adjust that out of the idle by richening it a bit....

but is there a way to tell how rich or lean I'm running....

can i turn it[fuel PSI] down until it pings or backfires...and then adjust it up, till i'm running the right mixture?

just wondering because...I, like alot of us would like to use as little gas as posible!!

kel

[joe]

Monitor the color of your plugs. You want a tan sorta coffee with cream color. Black is way too rich and lt grey/white is a red flag telling you a very expensive disaster is about to happen.

[dnixon]

Originally posted by -joe:
Monitor the color of your plugs. You want a tan sorta coffee with cream color. Black is way too rich and lt grey/white is a red flag telling you a very expensive disaster is about to happen.What kind of expensive disaster.. too lean I assume... what can be the out come of it... basic i know but I'm a little slow.. thanks

[Iron Horse]

Too lean and you will burn a hole in a piston......bad, very bad.

[kreb]

a lean condition caused my engine to go down. it was pricey

benjamin

[Johnny]

Don't forget to look at the color inside your exhaust pipe. Leaner starts to look lighter side of dark grey instead of greasy black.

[mccullough_89_GW]

just checked a plug they were gray/white powdered...I guess I 'll turn up the pressure...
or ...i should be able to just turn up my mixture setting shouldn't I...
seems reasonable.....
thanks
kel

[SpruceMoose]

the pressure setting has some lee-way to it. if its set too low it can be "fudged" by setting the mixture knobs richer, and if too high, setting them leaner. but, if the pressure is too far out from optimum you will run out of adjustment range on the mixture controls.. get the closed-loop option and fagettaboutit.

sm.

[Jake_S]

Spruce, how you been buddy? Haven't heard from you in a while, the Wag still treatin' ya alright? I'll be back in Williamsburg next month. Maybe we can hook up and talk Jeep.
Jake

[dnixon]

My exhaust pipe is a nice dark black color, I don't think I have any problems with it being too lean.. ahh the sweet smell of a rich carb...

[joe]

Originally posted by mccullough_89_GW:
just checked a plug they were gray/white powdered...I guess I 'll turn up the pressure...
or ...i should be able to just turn up my mixture setting shouldn't I...
seems reasonable.....
thanks
kelKel, I don't know zip about your FI so I can't help on how to tune it but do whatever you have to do to richen the mix. :(

[mccullough_89_GW]

thanks ~joe