Ok I know I am to expect that AP1s, especially 01s run rich as hell...

I have a 2001 btw

...but should I have to expect so much crap all over my exhaust, rear bumper, and trunk??






These pictures were all taken right after I washed the car and took her out for some spirited driving.


I haven't been getting good mileage, and have been told there is a plume of black smoke when I hit VTEC.


What can be done to lean it out.... just a little bit? I don't want to ping out, but nor do I want massive carbon deposits on everything. Should I do a seafoam treatment, followed by a VAFC and some good tuning?

 

Seafoam, K&N and lots of oil changes...

 

annnnnddd wats ur point, ap1's run rich as a mofo esp in vtec, i run amsoil and burn about 3/4 of a court every 1200 miles...the price u pay my friend lol

 

that's rich

 

I never burn oil..... I change with mobile 1 10w30 every 3000ish.

I'm just sick of the carbon build up.


Would the Seafoam really help in my situation? I'm thinking about doing it in the next few weeks with some new plugs.

 

The seafoam is really just to flush all the unburnt/PIC-PAH crap out. The K&N and a decent exhaust will lean out the WOT a bit, but with more dirt. Changing the oil will ensure that the poor filtration is dealt with and ensure that fuel washdown isn't a problem... The only real solution is to program it out.

 

What should I use to program it? What do you mean?

 

How many miles are on your car? I had the same filthy bumper issue for quite a while. I always attributed it to my heavy foot and the result of oil consumption. However you say you don't burn oil so let me pose this....

I replaced my catalytic converter a few months ago and I have significantly less speckles on the back of the car now. Not completely gone, but a notieable difference.

Yes the early model years ECU runs richer, but you can't reprogram them. Unless you get a piggyback system or a different ECU ('02-04, or aftermarket) than we are kinda stuck.

-Hockey

 

There is no way a cat can do anything for that, a 3-way cat does:
Reduction of nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and oxygen: 2NOx → xO2 + N2
Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide: 2CO + O2 → 2CO2
Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons (HC) to carbon dioxide and water: 2CxHy + (2x+y/2)O2 → 2xCO2 + yH2O

The unburnt HC that gets converted is in the third formula is not soot or carbon. That stuff is essentially inert and is only captured in a particulate filter.

Program means get a piggyback or new ecu with the tables leaned out.

 

Well the formulas may state that, but I know from doing the work that after I changed the CAT I had less crud on my bumper. No other variables were changed, and I didn't modify driving style.

And we agree on the ECU thing.

-Hockey