What does it mean when a car is running rich?
Being rich is fantastic, right? Well, that's not the case if your car is running rich. When a car is running rich, the engine is getting too much fuel and getting too little air. You typically can still drive the car, but you could run into minor or even serious issues if it runs rich for too long.
Causes of a rich-running car might include:
- Dirty air filter
- Malfunctioning fuel injectors
- Bad mass air flow (MAF) sensor
- Faulty oxygen sensors
- Malfunctioning manifold absolute pressure (MAP) sensor
- Bad coolant temperature sensor
What does it mean when a car runs lean?
When a car is running lean, it's the opposite of running rich. In the case of a car running lean, the engine is getting too much air and too little fuel. You typically can still drive the car if it's running lean, but problems could arise down the road.
Culprits behind a lean-running engine might include:
- Vacuum leak
- Bad fuel pump
- Clogged fuel injectors
- Faulty oxygen sensors
- Damaged mass air flow sensor
It's worth noting that both rich-running and lean-running engines might be triggered by faulty oxygen sensors. Issues with the oxygen sensor can ruin your fuel efficiency and lead to costly repairs further down the road.
What are the symptoms of a car running rich or running lean?
When your engine is running rich or lean, your car will let you know. If you notice any of these symptoms, you might have an issue with your air-fuel mixture
Car running rich symptoms include:
- Slow acceleration
- Strong smell of gas
- Low gas mileage
- Backfiring
- Popping sound during deceleration
- Illuminated check engine light
Engine running lean symptoms include:
- Slow acceleration
- Jerking motion
- Clean or white spark plugs
- Car won't start
- Illuminated check engine light
How is your car affected by running rich or lean?
If your car is running rich or lean and you don't take care of the problem soon enough, it could lead to expensive repairs. Even before then, your car probably will suffer from poor performance if it's running rich or lean.
With an engine that's running rich, the catalytic converter can wear down because of a buildup of sediment. That sediment comes from the engine burning excess fuel. Running rich or lean can damage the engine.
To prevent engine performance issues, you should make sure your car is regularly inspected and maintained. Without regular inspections and maintenance, you might be putting your car in danger with a rich-running or lean-running engine that has gone unchecked.
INFINITI Parts & Accessories carries OEM-made mass air flow sensors and other engine components to help keep your vehicle in good shape. Shop online today and bring your INFINITI to the nearest service center for repairs.