Help I'm ready to call it quits.......

born2drv

born2drv

Banned
Nov 1, 2005
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Burbank, CA
Car is really beginning to depress me......

My spark plugs keep fouling... this is the 5th time I've replaced them in about 2 months... the first set lasted a month, the 2nd a couple weeks, the third a week, the fourth a few days, and the fifth not even a day... you get the idea, something horrible is going on.

They're NGK 6282 standard coppers, gapped at 0.28.

The car sputters under boost, sometimes missfires, etc. Usually when I would replace the spark plugs it would start up like a champ and run perfect, but even now with this last set, the car just doesn't seem happy.

The guy who built my engine and did all my install says that my front facing intake manifold always caused problems getting the car running smooth and he is just recommending putting the whole intake side of it back to stock. Right now I have a custom FFIM, 80mm throttle body, large piping, etc. I'd hate to get all the parts and go back to stock just to have the same problem, so I'm really at a loss. I love my car but if I can't solve this thing I'm worried I may just have to part her out and cut my losses.

Any ideas? You think it really is the FFIM?
 
born2drv

born2drv

Banned
Nov 1, 2005
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Burbank, CA
I'm running AEM EMS.....

My AFR's are between 13-16 under normal driving conditions..... let off the throttle and it goes to 17ish..... with hard throttle, full boost and it's right around 10.2-11.0.

I'll see if I can get pics of the plugs, give me a couple days since I threw out the last batch and these ones were just replaced and not totally fouled out yet.

But I don't think it's oil that's fouling them... I think it's gas... don't think it's an injector problem.

Any advice would be appreciated...
 
born2drv

born2drv

Banned
Nov 1, 2005
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Burbank, CA
Yes the plugs definitely had charred black crap all over them. Mechanics who have looked at it are convinced they're getting fouled from gas, not oil.... no puffs of blue smoke coming out of the car at all.
 
Hmong_1G

Hmong_1G

Name the Place and time.
Dec 31, 2008
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California
Doesn't it matter how far along the exhaust system the 02 for the wideband be place? Putting too close and too far can effect the A/F readings? Hopefully Ian can come in and clarify. With all those mods I hope you didn't skimp on the ignition system. Sounds like its time to upgrade your ignition system... missing under boost is spark blowout (weak spark).
 
born2drv

born2drv

Banned
Nov 1, 2005
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Burbank, CA
we did upgrade the ignition system to the lexus IS300 coil packs....... not sure what else it could be ignition-wise?

the fuel system upgrades are 255 walbro pump and 550cc RC injectors.
 
born2drv

born2drv

Banned
Nov 1, 2005
1,199
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Burbank, CA
AEM wideband... AEM boost gauge...

people at Church Automotive in Wilmington, CA tuned it... supposed to be some of the best in Southern California...

No smoke at all, not that I can see... but it does "smell" rich.

At idle, it pulls about -19psi, on the highway @ 3000rpm it's -21psi...

Not sure about the ignition timing, what do I need to find out?

Idle is actually really weird, sometimes it idles very high like the ISC valve is stuck... I was planning on replacing it soon, just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. Do you think that could be related?
 
TurboStreetCar

TurboStreetCar

Formerly Nosechunks
Feb 25, 2006
2,778
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Long Island, Ny
Check ignition timing.

Do you have to calibrate the AEM wideband? I remember something about some of them you do, my zeitronix calibrates itself.

What did Church say about it?

Has it ever ran good? What did you touch before it started eating plugs?
 
jdub

jdub

Official SM Expert: Motor Oil, Lubricants & Fil
SM Expert
Feb 10, 2006
10,730
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Valley of the Sun
Std heat range on this plug? If so, go one step hotter.

What air filter are you using?
 
sethron71

sethron71

Authorized Vendor
Jul 19, 2005
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www.SethIngham.com
Sounds like you have very good vacuum, -19 at idle is very good, so no vacuum leaks. Which rules out the ISC leaking and manifold leak. Have you done a boost leak test? If you have any questions at the intake or the mechanic wants to talk to me PM me and I will get you my number.

My guess would be weak spark or break up. You did the COP mod but have you done anything with the stock multiplex, a lot of people have troubles with this and the AEM.

Check these links out:
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php/topic,25074.0.html
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php/topic,8345.0.html
http://forum.aempower.com/forum/index.php/board,57.0.html

Does it foul the plugs just sitting there idling? Or do you drive it and then it starts missing slowly dies out?

Again PM if you have any questions about the mani.

HTH,
Seth
 
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