Running rich, help.

[sleepyalero]

Well probably about 2 weeks ago my AEM wideband started saying I was running rich between 65-75mph. (Cruising) any speed under, or above it runs "starch". I went to autozone and asked them and told them what's done motor wise. They said I possibly need to upgrade my MAF.

Yet, I can't tell if it's just my gauge false reading or its actually the car. The car doesnt feel like its running rich, doesn't bog at that speed or anything. But at night when driving... I can see numbers on my AEM gauge kind of dim, then brighten up every so often, which makes me wonder the gauge could be false reading...

Recent mods/fixes

- 65mm TCE TB.
- MMS ported/polished UIM/LIM.
- universal o2 sensor which was wired up to a stock plug. (Possibility for running rich?)

What it has/had for some time now.

- headers
- CAI
- EGR delete
- no cat

Few other things..

But I bought fuel system cleaner because i feel it's needed so why not. Autozone also told me to try it first (was going to get it either way) and see what happens after. I will probably fill my tank and dump it in tonight to see what happens.


If a bigger MAF could help? Could I buy an LS1 MAF slap it on and go? Or do I need some tuning for it to work right? I've tried an ls1 MAF about 4 years ago when my car was more stock, and the car didnt like the change.. Don't know if it would now since I'm running more air into the motor now.

When i told the autozone guy about my bigger tb and ported UIM/lim he asked if I was running stock MAF I said yes, and he suggested that could be it because the more air flow, he suggested a GTP MAF and i said well most alero guys go for the LS1 maf's he said that will also work. Any insight would be appreciated.


Don't know if at ass someone could hook up HPT and go for a ride with me to tell me if it is the car or the gauge being stupid. And if the car, maybe a little tuning could help?


Thanks guys.


Oh also, like i said it started about 2 weeks ago. The car did not do this after the UIM/lim change or the TB upgrade.

[Mike The Canadian]

Have you noticed anything else with the way it runs?
You're not at the level that you'd need to upgrade your MAF..
The big boys running fully built motors generally don't max their MAF; that's for the boosted boys.

It's possible that there's an exhaust or intake leak (they'll cause this).
How's your idle?

[sleepyalero]

i figured so on the maf, but wasnt sure.

car accelerates well, idles like normal, no running rough or anything, like i said, it runs fine at any speed cruising or accelerating, and at idle, only at 65-75mph the gauge tells me im running rich. which kinda makes me wonder if its just the gauge. but its hard to tell since i dont have HPT

[Mike The Canadian]

True...

Is it a wideband or narrow band?
With a narrow band what it's reading may be normal..

[sleepyalero]

wide band, 14.1-15.9 is normal. anything before 14.1 is lean, anything after 15.9 is rich.

its also got the bars that hop around the digital numbers, so 14.1-15.9 is yellow. before 14.1 is green, and after 15.9 is red.

[Shiwnath]

If it doesn't smell like you're running rich, no check engine light, no change in performance or bad gas mileage I'd say its just your gauge.

Also you need to change your MAF tables in your tune in order to run a different MAF. Different MAFs aren't interchangable without a tune first.

[sleepyalero]

Originally Posted by Shiwnath

If it doesn't smell like you're running rich, no check engine light, no change in performance or bad gas mileage I'd say its just your gauge.

Also you need to change your MAF tables in your tune in order to run a different MAF. Different MAFs aren't interchangable without a tune first.

thank you. no smell either, and no to everything else, cant believe my gauge is already messing up, bought this almost a year ago new for 180$ wtf!!! i even tried re wiring it, seemed to work for a day, then it started reading wrong again. could i possibly clean whatever gunk is on the end of the o2 sender to see if that would help? (for the gauge)

also putting fuel cleaner in it soon, see what happens with that.

[tw0123]

any warranty on the gauge? if it's a 1 yr warranty, call them up and exchange it... if you can warranty it, save the stress and change it first at no cost, then problem solve if the new gauge still gives those readings...

[sleepyalero]

well sadly, i bought it new off a gagt member.

[sleepyalero]

okay update, tell me what you think, gauge or car?


so i went on a good drive, got up to 65 mph set cruise, car ran normal (from looking at gauge) for a good.... 15 miles? or a little less? then started running rich. so i let off, went down to 55, and back to normal. set cruise again, slowly went up to 65 mph hitting the accel button. so... 55 mph wait a min or two, then hit it, 56mph, wait then 57 mph, so on to 65 mph. once again at 65 was running fine, then after about 15 miles again, it started to run rich.

now does that seem like a bad gauge or the car? once again, i see no signa of the car actually running rich, idling fine as im typing this in a parking lot, no service light, no bogging, nothin. in 6th gear i can put the pedal to the floor and it will accelerate pretty well. rpms are steady no matter what, its just annoying to see the gauge in the red zone, i hope its the gauge and not my car.

[sleepyalero]

this would be so much easier if i had HPT, sigh..

[sleepyalero]

sorry i have it wrong, the car runs lean (red zone) not rich. im an idiot

[AleroB888]

Originally Posted by sleepyalero

Well probably about 2 weeks ago my AEM wideband started saying I was running rich between 65-75mph. (Cruising) any speed under, or above it runs "starch". .

Well, there's your problem, you need to avoid starchy fuel

[sleepyalero]

Well from my understanding the "yellow zone" 14.1-15.8 on the wideband means it runs "starch" or normal.

[AleroB888]

But seriously, folks....

I'm going to go out on a limb and say there's nothing wrong there. Not that there's always room for improvement.

drive it down and I'll scan it with HP, then we'll run it at Ohio Valley

[a.graham52]

Do u have an ultra gauge? What r ur fuel trims in conjunction with ur wideband?

[xXManwhoreXx]

Starch llololol stoich bro

[Mike The Canadian]

I have you have a tune (which I thought you did) it could be your car going into "lean cruise" mode or whatever they call it for fuel consumption?

I wouldn't worry too much, although I like you watch my gauges like a hawk and it drives me nuts when they're not right!!

[jackal2000]

So you are flowing more air with those mods, but have not added more fuel with a tune so I totally believe it is leaning out. My PowrTuner might be for sale soon.

[xXManwhoreXx]

No gauges for me just listen to her man. If she's sick she will tell you...