Can anyone shed some light on my fuel(?)problem? At idle, I am running rich, not enough to blow black, but the exhaust smell keeps the mosquitos away (along with the neighborhood kids). My plugs read good. My fuel mileage is about 10mpg. I have had the car for about six months so I am not sure if this is normal. Any help would be great. Thanks.

 

With no cats, you'll smell unburned fuel. The cats are there to oxidize the unburned hydrocarbons.

You need to get a scanner on it and look at the O2 sensor readings at WOT.... might show you if its really running rich at WOT (although the stock, narrow-band sensors aren't really accurate at the A/F ratios required for peak torque/HP). Then look at the long term fuel corrections. If they are elevated, it might mean the PCM is adding fuel the engine doesn't need. Causes of a "false lean" might include leaks in the exhaust in front of the O2 sensors, misfires or faulty O2 sensors or wiring.

 

buying a scan tools as we speak. Thanks for the insight.

 

After you get the scan tool, read this before you use it

http://members.aol.com/InjuneerZZ/ScanMast.htm