Black Smoke

[civilizd]

black smoke is making my back bumper dirty. how do i eliminate this?? is it the gas? i dont think its burning oil???do i need a new cat??? or is it the o2 censor? hepl me out peeps??

[Calesta]

Running too rich is usually the cause... check your tuning, check your catalytic converter, check your oil levels. O2 sensor would be throwing codes through the MIL/CEL in your gauge cluster, but you should check it too.

[oompahlumpa]

first id check the oil level, if it's low your burning oil, if thats normal, check your cat.

[CivicSi04']

i would replace the oxygen sensors. ussually if thier not working correctly they cause really poor emissions which is signified by like black smoke. the cat can also be a problem but i would change ur o2 sensors first. do u live in jersey cuz i saw a car like that today. probly a coincidence.

[98ex2286]

i doubt its the oil cuz usually when yur buring oil blueish smoke comes out of the exhaust. but check it any way to be safe. check yur cat too

[dubcac]

Is your car modified? Are you running a piggyback ECU chip?
Black smoke is most likely caused by running rich. If you were burning oil, you would be blowing bluish/white smoke like 98ex2286 said.

[CivicSi04']

dude civilzd u gotta post back if u expect to get a good answer.

[DINANBLOWNBIMMER]

I concur with the running rich suggestion, this is the only thing I have seen cause a noticable build up of black suit on a bumper, just ask Calesta...I remember a picture of his car when it was running so rich he could write notes in the black suit on his bumper.

[Calesta]

10-11:1 air fuel ratios own white rear bumpers... now that I'm running without having to rely on a VAFC and a rich fuel map, I don't worry about the soot as much anymore.

[civilizd]

ok people! thanks for the input. my car is burning a little bit of oil but its nothing major, but there is no blueish/white smoke. the smoke is deffinitly black. my cat is original stock, and the o2 censor is also original stock. i got an intake and header,would this cause the feul ratio to burn rich??? ps. i dont live in jersy!