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Fuel Air Mixture

Most all vehicles today run on gasoline or diesel fuel. In order to make the vehicle move, the fuel is mixed with air and burned in an engine. In order for this to work properly, an exact amount of air must be mixed with the proper amount of fuel. The "perfect" fuel air mix is called a "stoichiometric fuel ratio." This is 14.7 to one: 14.7 parts air to one part fuel. In reality most engines rarely achieve this ratio: they run a bit richer most of the time. an engine runs especially rich when accelerating, when cold, or when under a load.

If there is too much fuel and not enough air, the engine is said to be "running rich", or "has a rich mixture". It will have a gassy or rotten egg smell from the exhaust, and will make black smoke. If there is too much air and not enough fuel, the engine is said to be "running lean." or "has a lean mixture" It will have a foul-smelling exhaust that will burn your eyes, but no smoke. On modern computer controlled engines this will cause the computer to turn on a amber check engine light which will give a trouble code of "rich oxygen sensor reading" or "lean oxygen sensor reading"

Either condition will result in poor fuel mileage and possible engine damage. A lean motor will run hot, sometimes so hot the exhaust will glow red!!



Auto, Car, and Truck Article List

A
ABS: Anti-Lock Brake Systems
ADVANCE: Car ignition timing
ALTERNATORS and Car Battery
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS
B
BAD CAR DESIGNS
Bad Drivers: How NOT to drive
BATTERIES: Auto, Car or Truck
BELTS AND HOSES
BEARINGS
BODY AND BUMPER REPAIRS
BRAKE REPAIRS: Car or Truck
C
Car Washing and Care
CARBURETORS:Car & Truck
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
CLEANING: Engine Cleaning
CLUTCH REPAIRS: Car & Truck
COMPRESSION: Car Engine
COMPUTER CAR CONTROLS
CV JOINT OR CV AXLES
D
DISTRIBUTORS (IGNITION)
E
ELECTRIC WIRING REPAIR
ENGINES: Car & Truck
ENGINE CLEANING
EXPANSION PLUGS
F
FILTERS: OIL, AIR, ETC.
FREEZE PLUGS
FUEL AIR MIXTURE
FUEL INJECTION: Car & Truck
FUEL PUMPS: Car & Truck
G
GAGES AND "IDIOT LIGHTS"
GASKETS AND SEALS
GLASS: WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS
H
HEADS & HEAD GASKET
HOSES AND BELTS
I
"IDIOT LIGHTS" AND GAGES
IGNITION TIMING: Car & Truck
J
AUTO JACKS: lifting cars safely
K
L
LEAN "Car runs lean"
LIGHTS: WARNING OR "IDIOT LIGHTS"
Limp Home Mode
M
MIL Light
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS
N
NO START: Car Won't Start
O
OIL CHANGES
OIL: What's right for your car?
OIL LIGHT ON OR GAGE LOW
P
PCV Valve
Q
R
RADIATORS: Car and Truck
RICH: Car runs rich
S
SEALS AND GASKETS
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT
SPARK PLUGS
STARTERS: Auto, Truck
T
THERMOSTATS
TIMING: IGNITION TIMING
TIMING BELT & TIMING CHAIN
TIRE REPAIR
TRANSMISSIONS: AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONS: MANUAL
U
V
VACUUM ADVANCE
WARNING LIGHTS OR "IDIOT LIGHTS"
Car Washing and Care
W
WATER PUMP REPAIR
WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELDS
WIRING REPAIR
X
Y
Z

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