dlbrown

What would cause a car gas to run rich?
1988 none turbo RX7

vaughnc

a tuneup usually resolves this.

3engineRex

how rich?

dlbrown

I did that....new plugs and the whole nine...what about the O2 Sensor?

dlbrown

it's killing my plugs ,every 3 months, and it's doing the same to the converters!!

yearrgh

let me knowwhen you figure it out. i've got a similar problem with a 90 tII. does yours ever seem like only one rotor starts up at first when you turn it on then after 5-10 seconds the other one starts up and it runs normal?

DEZERTE

my car was doing this crap the compression turned out to be WAY too low and sadly it just wouldnt start up...i unded up replacing the engine

BlackFC_NYC

bad injectors?

dlbrown

Actual, my car starts up with NO Problem!!!..drives fine, but for some odd reason...spark plugs and converters are dying prematurely...someone mentioned rich gas. I just need to figure out whats causing it...

yearrgh

i'm starting to wonder if mine is a problem with the omp

dlbrown

oil pump metering???
is it easy to replace?

Rotorific

iTrader: (1)

yearrgh if you have a t2 thats a totally different ballpark just get an intake fuel cut defender and a full 3inch exhaust and i guarantee it will not be rich haha actually thats almost running on the lean side if you dont have a controller...dlbrown your omp just puts oil in your rotors what are yout mods cause if you dont have any then mods would help lean it out is your idle rough? what about timing?

dlbrown

it doesn't ideal rough at all, as far as timing..I don't understand the question?

one of the cat's is clogged..I'M getting it replaced this week...but the problem keeps coming back...converters die in 5 months..spark plugs die in 3.

I have a 1988 none turbo RX7

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

You say "converters keep dying" - if you're using cheap muffler shop cats, they WILL die on you - they're not designed to take the heat from a rotary. Get a good used stock cat or an aftermarket high-flow cat from a rotary shop.

By the same token, what plugs are you using?

What is your fuel economy like? That's the real indicator if you're running rich or not.

Dale

dlbrown

I am using used stock converters, but they died within 5 months, and so I have to replace them again...I am using NGK plugs, they only last 3 months.....gas cost $1.50

I think the car is running rich!!
how do you fix that problem??

yearrgh

the reason i think mine may be the omp is because my spark plugs got fouled after 2 weeks. is it possible for the omp to put too much oil into the intake stream?

dlbrown

yearrgh...we both need help!

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Again, what kind of fuel economy are you getting? An NA should get around 17-19mpg in mixed city driving.

How do you know the cat is dying?

How's your oil consumption - is the car using more oil than normal?

Dale

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Also, I'm assuming you're using the correct NGK spark plugs - BUR7EQ leading, BUR9EQ trailing. Correct?

Dale

dlbrown

the car burned more oil during the summer....3 quarts. Since the change in weather it's down to 1.5 a week...I am using the right spark plugs, as far as gas goes...hum! I can't be exact, however, some days it seems to burn more gas then usual.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

1.5 quarts of oil a week? How many miles do you drive a week? That's excessive oil consumption - you should only lose about a quart every 2000-3000 miles or so.

How many miles do you get to a tank of gas?

How do you know your converter is dying?

Dale

dlbrown

I don't know the answer to the first question, I really haven't been watching my gas

My converters keep clogging up...I 've been told by a few muffler shops that there clogged...even now! I am currently waiting on used converters so that I may replace the clogged ones. Regarding my oil consumption...I think my oil rings are dying....
I only drive 120 miles a week

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

If you think you're running rich, the first thing you should do is look at fuel economy. My '86 base gets about 280-290 miles on a tank of gas, which is about 18-19mpg.

If your oil o-rings are dying, they could adversely affect the cats over time - cats don't like a lot of oil. But, my old roommate Jay's beater has oil o-rings that are GONE, car smokes bad at high RPMs, etc, but the car still starts, runs, and drives just fine.

I still don't understand the gist of your problem - if the car starts, runs, and drives fine, and makes OK power, who cares if the cats are clogged? That's only a concern when the car is choking for power.

You will foul out plugs faster with a car that's burning oil - they will load up. Might try getting an MSD 6A - the hotter spark will help keep the leading plugs cleaner. But, by the same token, how do you know your plugs are bad? If they "look funny", who cares? Typical sign of worn or fouled plugs is a tough time starting, increased fuel consumption, and being down on power.

Dale

dlbrown

That's the weird thing, the car doesn't smoke when I start up or while I drive...maybe once or twice, but NOT everyday. Regarding the cats....I've replaced all my cat's a least 4 times this year. I wish I could drive with the cats clogged...but I keep blowing my manifold gasket, and the other gaskets between each cat...the car sounds like chit.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Is the *only* problem with the cats clogging that you're blowing out gaskets?

No changes in driveability or power?

BTW, if you haven't done so, I would run with the pre-cats hollowed out and the main cat intact.

Are you doing the exhaust work on the car or is a muffler shop doing the work? Could just be a case of incorrect installation of the cats and gaskets.

The main cat will absorb a lot of the oil smoke. You can drive around fine on a car that's blowing oil. It usually will only show up at high RPM's - like running it up to redline.

Dale