P0172 Running rich

Thinking of getting one of these
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Are they any good for testing and cleaning injectors?
 
The engine running too cool can cause a rich condition. Have you verified the fuel trims or has the code returned since replacing the thermostat?
Yes the code returned after replacing the thermostat.
Drove today to work and no code yet.
Guess I could pull injectors next. Very easy in this car since they are at the front.
Only issue is it's cold weather 3c here and I don't like doing car work in the cold.
Looking into ways to clean or lubricate injectors incase it's sticking open. But got to test them first I guess before I spend any money.

Can a dodgy pcv valve cause a rich condition?
 
I know the primary 02 sensor looks like its working - but that is the primary input into fuel trims. I might consider changing it before pulling injectors and such - more to rule it out than anything.
 
Guess I can go that route which is cheaper.
Car is 25 years old and done 96k miles dunno what the lifespan of the O2 sensor usually is

Then there is the other thing. Iv Googled this issue and only time someone has to replace an O2 sensor was due to a lean condition and never rich.
 
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I know the primary 02 sensor looks like its working - but that is the primary input into fuel trims. I might consider changing it before pulling injectors and such - more to rule it out than anything.
Been thinking about this some more and looking at the readings the O2 sensor is probably correct, it's voltage reading is as it should be and a fouled O2 sensor would under read rather than over read.
If the sensor was faulty and thinks it's over fueling and cutting fuel then car would end up running lean but I don't get any symptoms of lean running , car starts and drives fine.
Dont want to turn this into a parts cannon job so want to test things out properly and learn stuff along the way.
Since ECU is cutting less on the fuel at higher revs it does seem there could be more fuel or less air going into the mix.
 
Those MAF numbers look low to me. Extremely rough rule of thumb is 1 g/s per cylinder per 1k RPM, so you'd want to see 4 g/s @ 1k RPM, 8 g/s @ 2k, 12 g/s @ 3k RPM and so on. Might be worth a good clean, regardless.
 
Those MAF numbers look low to me. Extremely rough rule of thumb is 1 g/s per cylinder per 1k RPM, so you'd want to see 4 g/s @ 1k RPM, 8 g/s @ 2k, 12 g/s @ 3k RPM and so on. Might be worth a good clean, regardless.
thats cool to know, but does that rule apply regardless of engine size? mine is 1.8L engine naturally aspirated, would the 1g/s per cylinder be the same on a 3L engine too?
 
thats cool to know, but does that rule apply regardless of engine size? mine is 1.8L engine naturally aspirated, would the 1g/s per cylinder be the same on a 3L engine too?
I have always been told 1g/s per liter at idle.

For example my 4 liter pulls around 4 g/s pretty consistently. My 2.5 pulls about 2.5. Give or take - altitude obviously has an affect.

I don't think there is a way to track by RPM - because air is based on loading as well as rpm.
 
Hmm, I'm gonna check with the Celica club and see if other members can get some readings from their cars to which I can compare with
 
I have always been told 1g/s per liter at idle.

For example my 4 liter pulls around 4 g/s pretty consistently. My 2.5 pulls about 2.5. Give or take - altitude obviously has an affect.

I don't think there is a way to track by RPM - because air is based on loading as well as rpm.
Completely agree. The numbers I gave were what I would roughly look for in park/neutral, engine unloaded.
 
I have always been told 1g/s per liter at idle.

For example my 4 liter pulls around 4 g/s pretty consistently. My 2.5 pulls about 2.5. Give or take - altitude obviously has an affect.
Shouldn't my 1.8L be pulling 1.8g/s at idle then? but my reading is 2.7g/s so it's over reading?
 
Also with my experience of maf sensors when they are on their way out they tend to under read rather than over read resulting in a lean condition.
Dunno if my car has one but could an egr valve cause this issue?
 
Also with my experience of maf sensors when they are on their way out they tend to under read rather than over read resulting in a lean condition.
Dunno if my car has one but could an egr valve cause this issue?
It actually goes both ways - can be lean or rich both banks. Without known good data, it would be hard to interpret.
 
Cool, just need someone who has a gen7 Celica 2zz to chime in with Their data.
Suppose I could clean the maf but too many posts say I can make it worse by cleaning so I'm a bit reluctant to go that route just yet
 
Cool, just need someone who has a gen7 Celica 2zz to chime in with Their data.
Suppose I could clean the maf but too many posts say I can make it worse by cleaning so I'm a bit reluctant to go that route just yet
On the hot wire type like yours, you can clean them no problem. Just use the CRC MAF Sensor cleaner.

Also clamp the purge valve hose see if it changes the fuel trims.
 
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