Soot covered tailpipes

[FlyingLow]

OK, at the "Ice Breaker'' I talked to Marv and Chris about the troube I was having with my Lightning. It runs rough, poor performance... Ford says it's fine. Because the computer doesn't show anything. Replaced plugs and flushed the injecters, checked the coils....nothing. Now the tailpipes are covered in soot, may not have noticed before cause I wash it in a "Lazer Wash" twice a week. I am taking it in again tomarrow to the dealer. Any body have any idea what could be causing this?:mad:

[347Cobra]

Black deposits in the tailpipes is usually from a rich condition...

Have you ever ran leaded race gas in this truck? Has anyone checked your O2 sensors?

[FlyingLow]

No, I've never ran leaded fuel. nothing but unleaded , but the gas station I use the most has up to 10% alcohol in the fuel. That shouldn't cuase this. If it's the O2 sensers wouldn't that show up when ford plugs in and runs a diagnostic?

[FlyingLow]

Just got back from the dealer. Don't know if I should be happy or pissed. They "tested engine controls, no codes. checked fuel trim, within specs." Said the soot is a byproduct of burning fuel. It has less than 100 miles since I wiped them clean, and they're already black again. I can't tell if they even checked 02 sensors. They also say it's running fine, well when I drove home it is...but this has been one of those off and on things. I'm going to have to take it to a hands on mechanic these tech school boys rely on thier computers too much.( when it's time to trade up I'll be stopping by a Dodge dealer )

[animal]

I wish I knew what was gonig on. Did you try posting this on www.nloc.net or www.f150online.com? People there are usually pretty helpful.

You could also try signing up on www.svtparts.com/forums That's power surge performance's forum site for his business. Sal is a very knowledgable guy, and I'm sure he'd have some stuff for you to try.

I know the idle air control can cause a rough idle, but Idon't know if it effects performance. The fix to it is to try cleaning it out. It's a little canister looking thing affixed to the left side of the intake plenum just behind the throttle body. It certainly wouldn't hurt... you can find out how to do so by doing a search on IAC at nloc or IAC* at f150online(only allow 4 character searches).

You did try the fuel filter right? You could try it again, maybe you have a bad one. Also make sure there's not any junk clogging up the mass air meter.

All L's leave soot on the pipes as soon as you're WOT with them... and the stock ceramic tips dont help either... yours does seem to do it more quickly though. Are you making any boost on the gauge when you get on it?

[animal]

Here's an FAQ on the IAC valve:

http://www.f150online.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=768095#post768095

[FlyingLow]

Not the IAC, fuel flow was checked , but I mght try changing filter anyway. I'm leaning towards the MAF causing this. I might start by trying an aftermarket MAF sensor. That and after checking out NLOC board, I'm keeping an eye on the coolant level for the intercooler.

[animal]

You shouldn't have the leaky intercooler problem. That was only for the 99-00's... though I suppose it's still possible.

Be careful with an aftermarket maf... you may end up having to get a chip to properly tune for it. From what I understand of maf's... they go all the way up to 5v when they are maxed out... you could try pushing some pins through the voltage wires and running a voltmeter in the cab to check the maf voltage while you're driving... perhaps it's out of whack. I'm not sure which two are the right two though.

One last thing is that you could check the throttle position sensor voltage... if that's off, the computer could read WOT, yet the blades are only half open. Just a thought.

If you'd want to try it... you could drive up here some time and we can try my MAF on your truck... i'll just disconnect it from the boot... and port the whole thing over to your truck, filter and all... it would probably tell us if it's the maf anyways.

[animal]

On another thought... check out your egr valve... i was reading up on it a bit... People have said it can cause a rough idle and hurt performance... and sometimes it doesnt even throw a code. If indeed it's not functioning, logic would tell me that air the computer expected to be there, is not let into the intake, and hence it spits more gas thinking there's more air in the charge than there really is. Leading to the rich condition you're describing. I could be completely wrong though :D


Anyways I attached a picture for you from my truck...

Check the green vacuum tube coming out of the egr for splits... peel off the wire loom and inspect the entire tube... especially in the area of the red circle... people have said that the protective cloth covering of the metal exhaust gas tube can slide down exposeing the hot tube to the green rubber vacuum line... melting it in that area... but inspect that whole tube for cracks or holes...

The egr itself they wrote that you can remove and look inside, and sometimes it's stuck open from a piece of carbon. Clean it by scraping the metal area with a screwdriver and or blowing it out with air. Do NOT use a solvent as it can eat away the diaphragm inside, also do not sandblast... they said it on the nloc site... I don't know why... i certainly never think of sandblasting as the "first approach" :D

Just stuff you can try.... if you're going to try and clean the egr... check out nloc and f150online first to try and get a procedure for correctly cleaning it. I just did a search for egr or egr*

[FlyingLow]

Thanks that will give me some things to try. I was thinking about the Granatelli motor sports MAF. I shouldn't need a chip. But the Diablo Sport Tuner is next on my wish list. Just plugs into the diagnostic port under dash to reflash fords chip. I'll be at Georgie Peorgie's Sat., should see you there.:beer:

[FlyingLow]

http://www.granatellimotorsports.com/fordmaftruck.htm This is the site for the MAF. You can also find th e Diablo tuner here.

[animal]

The Diablo predator tuner is not out yet :) I've heard different things about the granatelli piece. I just figured I'd offer the use of mine just to troubleshoot it before you go and spend a couple hundred bux.

[FlyingLow]

I think the tuner has just be come available www.lildevilmotorsports.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=22_49 These guys have it for $419