I have a 92 RS with the TBI, and its been running rich for awhile. There's always soot all over the back of the car, and it burned up a new cat in about a year (ouch). Sometimes I even get liquid out the back.



I made a couple logs with WinALDL today, but dont really know what i'm looking for.

Here is one at idle (slightly high for some reason):
ALDL - idle

Crusing at about 60:
ALDL - 60 mph

And accelerating from a stop and some deceleration (without brakes):
ALDL - accelerate / decelerate


I'm going to put in new plugs and a new O2 sensor tonight, and probably a new fuel filter. The fuel pump is only a couple months old. Only engine mods are Hooker catback with 3" cat, and open element. It's always seemed to run rich, any ideas on whats wrong and how I can fix it? I cant afford to burn up a cat every year.

- Mike

 

I pulled my oxygen sensor and spark plugs out. The tip of the O2 sensor looks gray, and the tips of the plugs look brownish. Does this mean anything?





- Mike

 

Do these plugs look normal, or do they say something about how the engine is running?

- Mike

 

Looks like the engine is running to hot for the plugs(looks plugs look whiteish to me), The reason im saying this is because i am looking at a Hanes manual for 82-92 camaros (all models) right now, and it has a color spark plug chart (shows all the commen plug conduitions) The symtoms read, Bilsterd, whie inuslator, eroded electord and absence of depositis, it also results in shortened plug life, The recomendation is to get the proper heat range plug, It could aslo be caused by, Over advanced ignition timeing, lean fule mixture, engine is not being cooled sufffiently, or you have a lack of lube in there.

 

Yeah, to my (relatively inexperienced) eye, they look pretty normal if not slightly lean. They don't seem to look rich.

So if my burn is clean, where is all the soot coming from? Could it be ignition related? My timing is set at 0*.

- Mike

 

Did you unplug the computer advance before adjusting the timing? When I was first changing my timing, I used jumpers on the ECM. That didn't do anything to my knowledge except keep the SES light off. When I looked around the forums a bit, I found a different way to bypass the computer advance (actually in the Chilton) and when I had my car on, and unplugged the advance, my timing jumped 15 degrees! My car ran best on +11 , then when I unplugged the advance, it shot over to -4. If you haven't done this, I suggest it. If you have already done this, don't mind me, just trying to get the obvious stuff outta the way.