[Lac_Vo]

Hi guys,
I recently noticed very poor gas mileage and heavy smoke from my exhaust. The car seems to be running rich, initial thoughts:
1. plugs - I changed to Denso ITV22 a few weeks ago. I can put the original plugs back in to test, I'm at 19K miles
2. exhaust - I put the stock exhaust back on
3. tune - reflash my Cobb stage 3, test by flashing stage 1?

Any tips for using the accessport to troubleshoot?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[elyk864]

Hi guys,
I recently noticed very poor gas mileage and heavy smoke from my exhaust. The car seems to be running rich, initial thoughts:
1. plugs - I changed to Denso ITV22 a few weeks ago. I can put the original plugs back in to test, I'm at 19K miles
2. exhaust - I put the stock exhaust back on
3. tune - reflash my Cobb stage 3, test by flashing stage 1?

Any tips for using the accessport to troubleshoot?

Thanks in advance for the help!

If you don't have larger issues like a head gasket or blown turbo seals, I'd check the gap on the spark plugs. I just pulled out my ITV22's over the weekend because I was having issues. I'm now on the NGK's. (Should have the gap at .025-.026)

 

[Freebird23103]

Heavy smoke all the time the engine is running? even at idle? or just smoke when you are WOT? What color is the smoke?

Black smoke only at WOT could be rich AFR but a little black smoke at WOT is normal. You can monitor AFR Actual, Air Fuel Ratio on the Accessport. Heavy black smoke at WOT is obviously not normal. If that's the case you can pull the plugs and read them, if you are running rich in one cylinder it will more thn likely show on that plug.

 

[Lac_Vo]

Heavy smoke at idle, way more than i can remember. I'll take a close look for the color. I'll need to find a passenger to look if there is heavy smoke at WOT. I'll pull the plugs tonight and take a look.

 

[Freebird23103]

Heavy smoke at idle, way more than i can remember. I'll take a close look for the color. I'll need to find a passenger to look if there is heavy smoke at WOT. I'll pull the plugs tonight and take a look.

Heavy smoke at idle could be turbo seal issue, if so it will be blue smoke and smell of burning oil. If it is heavy white and smells sweet that is coolant and a leaking head gasket can be the cause. If it is smoke like steam at idle, but only does it a few minutes after startup of a cold engine, thats condensation burning off in the exhaust system and is normal. It will be more present the colder the ambient temp is and will have only a slight exhaust smell. Depending on the color and smell of the smoke will determine how to proceed.

 

[Lac_Vo]

Just ran out to the car to check, its heavy white smoke but couldn't tell if it smelt sweet. Heavy white smoke starts about 30 seconds after startup.

 

[brian60]

Just ran out to the car to check, its heavy white smoke but couldn't tell if it smelt sweet. Heavy white smoke starts about 30 seconds after startup.

30 seconds after startup, meaning it doesn't do it the moment you start the car? I have decent white smoke every single day the moment I start my car that lasts a few minutes until the car is warm, which is normal. It could be seen as a "lot" since it's definitely more than usual.

 

[Lac_Vo]

The white smoke persists and never goes away, even after driving for a while.

 

[brian60]

The white smoke persists and never goes away, even after driving for a while.

I'd start leaning towards possibly the head gasket in this case...because it certainly shouldn't persist. Check the color/smell if possible again and see if you notice a bluish tint or the sweet smell they mentioned before

 

[MagneticManiac]

Are either of your fluids low? Oil or coolant? If you're burning something it should be getting lower.


Tap Tap Tap...

 

[nickbaldwin86]

need to do a compression test!

I would assume coolant leak and new head gasket is in order... but hard to say tell you really start testing and checking and stop guessing

 

[Lac_Vo]

I'll check my coolant, I just did an oil change but didn't check the oil level before hand.

 

[Lac_Vo]

This would be covered under warranty right? I actually have an appointment this Wednesday to take a look at my driver window seal, I'll mention this as well. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

 

[Lac_Vo]

Final question, should I flash stock and un marry the access port before going into the dealer?

 

[nickbaldwin86]

I'll check my coolant, I just did an oil change but didn't check the oil level before hand.

I poor my waste oil into a measuring device after every oil change and see what amount came from my car. that way I know if I am loosing any oil

Did the oil look black? or did it look milky? if milky then you have coolant in your oil. if black then it is normal

This would be covered under warranty right? I actually have an appointment this Wednesday to take a look at my driver window seal, I'll mention this as well. Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

This could be covered under warranty... all depends on if you have mods that would/could void warranty. A dealer can check it and if there really is a issue then yes it should be covered.

Final question, should I flash stock and un marry the access port before going into the dealer?

if you are tuned you have a VERY high chance of them voiding any engine warranty. so un marry the tune at least a week prior to visit to dealer. and show to signs of the tune ever being on the car. NOT even the holder for the AP3 should be in the car.


a leaking head gasket should be a quick and easy fix and free to you under warranty... Good luck!

 

[MagneticManiac]

Like Nick said.

Unmarried the AP now. Drive it and then take it in. I'd cancel your appointment until next week to get a few more drive cycles in. Also go thru a bunch of key cycles (turn car to access mode and off, don't start car). It doesn't make the tune disappear but it makes them look at the actual problem before they say it's tuned and you have to pay out of pocket. If they dig enough they'll find the tune one way or amltheru


Tap Tap Tap...

 

[Freebird23103]

I am curious what his coolant level is? OP check your coolant level. You do not want it to get too low and overheat the engine. Please report back.

Since he is not smelling a sweet smell of coolant I am optimistic. Fingers crossed it is just condensation burn off due to very cold weather temps. Regardless, if it is a head gasket, or cracked head, it should have no problem being covered under factory warranty.

 

[luigi90210]

expect to pay for whatever job this turns out to be since you're modified, if you are lucky they will fix it for free

i say expect to pay that way if you dont have to pay you are happy vs expecting not to pay but having to pay will make you very upset

just remember you gotta pay to play, dont blame ford if they decide to not cover your modified car

 

[Lou64]

Coolant also tends to "wash" the plugs clean. If head gasket, it is likely one or two would look different (cleaner) than the others. My $.02

 

[Lac_Vo]

Coolant also tends to "wash" the plugs clean. If head gasket, it is likely one or two would look different (cleaner) than the others. My $.02

Coolant is still at max level... I pulled the plugs and replaced with ngk's, they all look good. I'll un marry the AP tonight and set up another appointment to check it out.

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