Fuel 88 Gt Runs Very Rich + Low Mpg

h2v7

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Oct 6, 2014
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Got a car pretty much all stock under the hood
Its ran like this since i got the car about a month ago
Runs awesome, pulls hard, idles good, never hesitates

However i can smell like exhaust a little if im sitting still and some times a little white smoke comes out of tailpipe
Not to mention like 10ish mpg.

What do i need to do to fix this problem?

Thanks!
 
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@h2v7
There is ZERO information that really tells us about the car.
You could be driving a Chevy dump truck for all we know.

No info about your car's model year, EFI or carb, no mods listed. Makes it hard to troubleshoot when we don't know what you have.

That's why it is a good idea to use the sig under the user control panel (User CP) option. It allows you to post your car year & mods, which help greatly when troubleshooting things. No, it is not there for us to snoop and see any "Secrets" you have hidden away under the hood. Be a good Stangnetter and update you sig for future reference & don't keep us guessing.


If it really is a 86-95 5.0 Mustang, here's the next step after you post information about your car and what it has in it besides some undiscovered problems.

Dump the codes: Codes may be present even if the Check Engine Light (CEL) isn't on.

Dumping the computer diagnostic codes on 86-95 Mustangs

Revised 26-July-2011. Added need to make sure the clutch is pressed when dumping codes.

Codes may be present even if the check engine light hasn’t come on, so be sure to check for them.

Here's the way to dump the computer codes with only a jumper wire or paper clip and the check engine light, or test light or voltmeter. I’ve used it for years, and it works great. You watch the flashing test lamp or Check Engine Light and count the flashes.

Post the codes you get and I will post 86-93 model 5.0 Mustang specific code definitions and fixes. I do not have a complete listing for 94-95 model 5.0 Mustangs at this time.

Be sure to turn off the A/C, and put the transmission in neutral when dumping the codes. On a manual transmission car, be sure to press the clutch to the floor.
Fail to do this and you will generate a code 67 and not be able to dump the Engine Running codes.

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If your car is an 86-88 stang, you'll have to use the test lamp or voltmeter method. There is no functional check engine light on the 86-88's except possibly the Cali Mass Air cars.

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The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.

89 through 95 cars have a working Check Engine light. Watch it instead of using a test lamp.

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The STI has a gray connector shell and a white/red wire. It comes from the same bundle of wires as the self test connector.


WARNING!!! There is a single dark brown connector with a black/orange wire. It is the 12 volt power to the under the hood light. Do not jumper it to the computer test connector. If you do, you will damage the computer.

What to expect:
You should get a code 11 (two single flashes in succession). This says that the computer's internal workings are OK, and that the wiring to put the computer into diagnostic mode is good. No code 11 and you have some wiring problems. This is crucial: the same wire that provides the ground to dump the codes provides signal ground for the TPS, EGR, ACT and Map/Baro sensors. If it fails, you will have poor performance, economy and driveablity problems

Some codes have different answers if the engine is running from the answers that it has when the engine isn't running. It helps a lot to know if you had the engine running when you ran the test.

Dumping the Engine Running codes: The procedure is the same, you start the engine with the test jumper in place. Be sure the A/C is off, and clutch (if present) is pressed to the floor, and the transmission is in neutral. You'll get an 11, then a 4 and the engine will speed up to do the EGR test. After the engine speed decreases back to idle, it will dump the engine running codes.

Trouble codes are either 2 digit or 3 digit, there are no cars that use both 2 digit codes and 3 digit codes.

Your 86-88 5.0 won't have a working Check Engine Light, so you'll need a test light.
See AutoZone Part Number: 25886 , $10
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Alternate methods:
For those who are intimidated by all the wires & connections, see Actron® for what a typical hand scanner looks like. Normal retail price is about $30 or so at AutoZone or Wal-Mart.

Or for a nicer scanner see www.midwayautosupply.com/Equus-Digital-Ford-Code-Reader/dp/B000EW0KHW Equus - Digital Ford Code Reader (3145It has a 3 digit LCD display so that you don’t have to count flashes or beeps.. Cost is $22-$36.
 
Ok 88 FORD mustang gt
EVery thing under hood is stock
I hhave changed oil and replaced iac because it died on idle when I got it
LLike I said it runs really good. Just real rich

IWould figure all these foxbody owners out here would be like oh yea I had one I bought it ran rich as hell so I replaced so and so this and that

I hhoping its like just needs a tune up spark plugs and???

Is this a obd1 or obd2 car

Either way does this just have a port I can plug that 20$ code reader into to see those codes it's throwing

If so I assume its under the left side by fuse panel area

Thanks again
 
Also may Be having un burned gas out the Exhaust because I was drifting it around and heard a loud pop I thought I blew a tire.. That has only happened once but what would cause the fuel not to be ignited all the way?

The o rings on my injectors are bad?
Injectors bad?
new plugs injectors o rings and plug wires fix it you think?
 
Ok 88 FORD mustang gt
EVery thing under hood is stock
I hhave changed oil and replaced iac because it died on idle when I got it
LLike I said it runs really good. Just real rich

IWould figure all these foxbody owners out here would be like oh yea I had one I bought it ran rich as hell so I replaced so and so this and that

I hhoping its like just needs a tune up spark plugs and???

Is this a obd1 or obd2 car

Either way does this just have a port I can plug that 20$ code reader into to see those codes it's throwing

If so I assume its under the left side by fuse panel area

Thanks again

I think you need to go back and read my post on how to dump the codes.

The location of the code reader diagnostic port is clearly shown in the two underhood pictures.

Everything is in there, including the link to the nice little Equus code reader with the LCD screen. You can even get it mail order through WalMart for $30 see http://www.walmart.com/ip/Equus-Products-3145-Digital-Ford-Code-Reader-1982-1995/16606975 or from Summit Racing for $23 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ino-3145/all
 
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'88's have no check engine light that illuminates, but they store codes.

Hook up the code read that's been linked to the test port under the hood and dump the codes. That will get you started.
 
Could be that...

Could be O2 sensors

Could be stuck open injectors....

could be a lot of things. You don't need to buy a code reader. Read the post above and you'll see there is a method to pull the codes for free with a paper clip and a test light/bulb.

Either way, pullin the codes, and performing a cylinder balance test is a better way to diagnose the issue than randomly throwing parts at it and hoping that was it.
 
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Take it to a shop so they can charge you to pull the codes, and diagnose the issues for you, since you don't want to read and follow instructions to get started, or read @jrichker's post, and let us know what you find.