So yesterday when I had my cat replaced the mechanic showed me my o2 sensor it was only a week old and already had a light coat of black soot on it. My concern is why ? I had no code except p0420 and the cat has resolved that hopefully. The o2 are switching well to. My buddy that works at oreillys got the cat back and said it looked pretty rough for 4 months. I haven't ever had any engine codes besides the 420 and my spark plugs aren't black any thoughts is appreciated .
running rich
- Thread starter Dakota1820
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You need to get the live data to find out how rich it is running and if it is running rich at idle or at load. This could get complicated very quickly if the underlying cause is stuck EGR valve or stuck evaporative solenoid.
FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU GET A CODE!
- Vikas
FORGET ABOUT IT UNTIL YOU GET A CODE!
- Vikas
I figured if it was running rich a code would set. I just don't want to burn up the cat
Bet ya with your engine'soil burning rate (and your repeated attempts to drown your engine with all sorts of pale oil, stoddard solvents, etc. to free up your oil control rings), your replacement cat and/or O2 sensor isn't gonna last very long (at least not for the replacement cat).
It's not designed "convert" a severe oil burning engine's exhaust into relatively harmless exhaust, period.
(** I know you gonna give me that "blah..blah..blah..." again, no matter how much I try to inform you (with my best intentions**)
Q.
It's not designed "convert" a severe oil burning engine's exhaust into relatively harmless exhaust, period.
(** I know you gonna give me that "blah..blah..blah..." again, no matter how much I try to inform you (with my best intentions**)
Q.
I did it 3 times tops to the other cat and we all know oil hurts cats but not in 4 months and If you think that your wrong. Plenty of people go thousands of miles on a cat with a car that Burns a lot of oil
It depends on WHEN is was taken out.
Take a cold engine, start it, and the O2 can have a little soot on it.
Do you know for sure the pre conditions?
This is normal, and expected.
Soot on a O2 sensor [front sensor] that just came out of a warmed up engine is a problem indicator.
Bad injector, regulator, O2 sensor, coolant sensor, etc..
Take a cold engine, start it, and the O2 can have a little soot on it.
Do you know for sure the pre conditions?
This is normal, and expected.
Soot on a O2 sensor [front sensor] that just came out of a warmed up engine is a problem indicator.
Bad injector, regulator, O2 sensor, coolant sensor, etc..
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
I did it 3 times tops to the other cat and we all know oil hurts cats but not in 4 months and If you think that your wrong. Plenty of people go thousands of miles on a cat with a car that Burns a lot of oil
OEM cats are a lot more durable than aftermarket cats (which vary in quality). Many cars are very sensitive to the condition of the cat, and can trip P0420 when it is still 95% good. So, if the aftermarket cat isn't as good to start with, it doesn't take much to trip the code.
Back to the original point, I agree that some deposits on the sensor mean very little unless the engine was fully warmed up for a little while the last time it was driven. Next time you take it out for a good drive, pull the sensor after everything has cooled down and see what it looks like then.
If you are really running rich you should at least get a pending code soon if you don't have one already.
I did it 3 times tops to the other cat and we all know oil hurts cats but not in 4 months and If you think that your wrong. Plenty of people go thousands of miles on a cat with a car that Burns a lot of oil
OEM cats are a lot more durable than aftermarket cats (which vary in quality). Many cars are very sensitive to the condition of the cat, and can trip P0420 when it is still 95% good. So, if the aftermarket cat isn't as good to start with, it doesn't take much to trip the code.
Back to the original point, I agree that some deposits on the sensor mean very little unless the engine was fully warmed up for a little while the last time it was driven. Next time you take it out for a good drive, pull the sensor after everything has cooled down and see what it looks like then.
If you are really running rich you should at least get a pending code soon if you don't have one already.
Have you ever done a leakdown test on your engine to determine if the oil consumption is from the rings, or if its actually from the valve stem seals?
I believe you have mentioned that you have done compression tests on it, and if I'm incorrect, can you get those numbers?
Oh, and another cause for running rich, which no one has mentioned in this thread, would be a weak ignition coil, or coils, if its the type that has multiple coils on it.
BC.
I believe you have mentioned that you have done compression tests on it, and if I'm incorrect, can you get those numbers?
Oh, and another cause for running rich, which no one has mentioned in this thread, would be a weak ignition coil, or coils, if its the type that has multiple coils on it.
BC.
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The compression was 196 194 195 196. I didn't do a leak down test. But I believe the valve seals aren't the culprit
^Read your PMs and check out the thread I linked ya bro.
Neither a leakdown or compression test will tell you anything about your oil control rings. Oil control rings only control oil and compression rings only seal compression.
Yea its a pain. I'm almost positive its the control rings
And until you perform a leakdown test, and listen to where the air is escaping through, you won't know, now will you?
What if you're spending all this time and money concentrating on the oil control rings when its actually the valve seals?
You've spent how much money so far on your car?
How much would a simple leakdown test cost you to have run on your car?
BC.
What if you're spending all this time and money concentrating on the oil control rings when its actually the valve seals?
You've spent how much money so far on your car?
How much would a simple leakdown test cost you to have run on your car?
BC.
A leakdown test won't show anything regarding oil control rings valve seals wouldn't use as much oil as I'm using either
I think we need award for "most discussed vehicle on BITOG". This Saturn has to be the winner.
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
A leakdown test won't show anything regarding oil control rings valve seals wouldn't use as much oil as I'm using either
As I said above, I totally agree with this. This is one of the biggest myths on any automotive forum. Both tests are useless for checking oil consumption.
A leakdown test won't show anything regarding oil control rings valve seals wouldn't use as much oil as I'm using either
As I said above, I totally agree with this. This is one of the biggest myths on any automotive forum. Both tests are useless for checking oil consumption.
My plugs and O2 Sensors tend to be a light color when I have replaced them. I have burned a lot of oil in my Saturn. It has the original cat with over 200,000 miles. I had a weak O2 Sensor at about 75,000 miles. It was replaced under warranty, but the Tech II scanner picked up a misfire. I was told bad ground at coil packs. I have removed them, cleaned the base plate, bolt threads, and terminals 3 times. With all the questions you have it seems you could get more accomplished utilizing the Tech Section at Saturnfans. They may be more equipped to quickly narrow down the cause of you car running rich. There are people that know these cars backward and forward. If a search does not find your answer, you can start a thread. I have done this many times. Saved a lot of time and money. There is a lot of great info here, but may not have the depth of understanding of your Saturn. I need all the help I get so I use multiple resources.
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