Black smoke = good?

Shifty Eyes · 01-27-2005, 11:59 AM

I was told by someone that if I dont have a little bit of black smoke coming out of my exhaust at high acceleration that i'm not getting enough fuel.

My car hasn't been tuned to this ecutek yet, but the previous owner and I have the same exact mods; just different brand names (the same quality). The only thing that he doesn't have is an aftermarket BOV.

I dont see any "black smoke" during heavy acceleration. So is my car running lean? She's running like a champ at 12-14psi of boost. Is the only way to check this a dyno tune?

Mods

ecutek
hks upp
hks down p
hks hi power exhaust
AVO shorty intake
perrin manual bc (running pretty close to stock boost)
AVO bov

thanks guys
-trev

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pezman04wrx · 01-27-2005, 12:58 PM

I wish I were qualified to give a known comment on this, but all I can guess is that your friend has no idea what the hell he is saying ... I can't see any reason that under any circumstances that it could possibly be a good thing to see smoke of any color coming out your exhaust ... You have a turbo, not a turbo diesel ... Diesel's smoke, turbos only smoke when they've been destroyed ... Like I said though, I'm not an expert by any means, so please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll gladly learn ...

mbiker97 · 01-27-2005, 01:08 PM

Do you have any guages except for boost? I generally had some blackish smoke coming out of my exhuast during hard acceleration. It's not a rule that you have to have some though.

Shifty Eyes · 01-27-2005, 01:14 PM

Nope the only gauge that I have is boost. My car doesn't fart any smoke anytime, so I thought maybe my friend is right and I'm running her lean.

I have another friend with a stage 4 rex and he's got black smoke coming out his exhaust on a hard acceleration, but hes also putting out around 300 ponies. He's got a laptop and he knows what his car is doing at all times so his car is healthy. So I dont know. God I hate being such a noob.

Tgui · 01-27-2005, 01:28 PM

I think thats in reference to running rich. In general its safer to run on the rich side. When you run rich, a bit of smoke can be seen. At night though, you might also see flames.

-Eric-

TyrannosaurusRex · 01-27-2005, 01:29 PM

well black smoke is better than white smoke

blackwrecks · 01-27-2005, 01:36 PM

Black smoke is caused by running rich without any cats. Turbo cars need to run rich under boost (which would be experienced under heavy acceleration) to cool the combustion process and prevent detonation. Detonation is a preignition of the Fuel before spark that causes increased cylinder pressures causing heavy wear. It can eventually blow your engine if the detonation (KNOCK) is excessive.

I wouldn't be concerned if you don't see black smoke, as it is usually an indicator that you are running too rich, which could foul your spark plugs, especially if you're running plugs that are a step or two colder than stock. In any event, instead of relying on black smoke, your best bet is to buy some gauges and/or a Data logger to monitor your tune and do some research so you understand what you're looking at.

Since you have an ECUtek flash already, DeltaDash would be a good choice (it'll allow you to make minor adjustments to your tune as well). If you're going for gauges, get an EGT gauge and a knock monitor; maybe an AFR gauge if you got a spot to fill.

Shifty Eyes · 01-27-2005, 02:23 PM

cooll thanks guys

pezman04wrx · 01-27-2005, 02:53 PM

Learn something new every day ... Thanks for the info as well ...

bboy · 01-27-2005, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyrannosaurusRex

well black smoke is better than white smoke

perfect comment

Read a lot more, the day's of tail pipe reads and spark plug assessment are pretty much over. Ohhhhh, but brings back memories.

Once "drove" a car to a service station (these don't exist anymore either) by pouring gasoline in the carburator because the points were failing. Now, picture, how does one do this. Well it took two people: a brave one, and a wheel man.

engineerx · 01-27-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bboy

perfect comment

Read a lot more, the day's of tail pipe reads and spark plug assessment are pretty much over. Ohhhhh, but brings back memories.

Once "drove" a car to a service station (these don't exist anymore either) by pouring gasoline in the carburator because the points were failing. Now, picture, how does one do this. Well it took two people: a brave one, and a wheel man.

LOL !!

I remember, sometimes my Toyota Corona wouldn't start I'd trickle some gas thru carb and that would do the trick!

Physics Junkie · 01-28-2005, 01:28 PM

Black smoke = fuel
White smoke = coolant
Blue smoke = oh ****(oil)

wrxdrvr · 01-28-2005, 07:45 PM

Well black smoke is better than white smoke

Just because you don't see black smoke it doesn't mean it's bad, and just because you do it doesn't mean it's good.

erice1984 · 01-29-2005, 03:58 PM

black smoke - usually associated in completely OE cars is the driver of that car drives it really easy for a while then they floor it and big puff of black smoke comes out, carbon and a bunch of crap that builds up leaving the engine.

adeliciouspizza · 01-29-2005, 04:06 PM

a wrx with catless exhaust, intake, bov and mbc should generally have a noticeable bit of black smoke under wot in my experience. although as others have said you cant really judge anything just by that (unless the smoke is white or blue, in which case youve got problems).

01-27-2005, 11:59 AM	#1
Shifty Eyes Scooby Specialist Member#: 72126 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2004 Sold WRX Wagon Now 07 GT Leg Pearl	Black smoke = good? I was told by someone that if I dont have a little bit of black smoke coming out of my exhaust at high acceleration that i'm not getting enough fuel. My car hasn't been tuned to this ecutek yet, but the previous owner and I have the same exact mods; just different brand names (the same quality). The only thing that he doesn't have is an aftermarket BOV. I dont see any "black smoke" during heavy acceleration. So is my car running lean? She's running like a champ at 12-14psi of boost. Is the only way to check this a dyno tune? Mods ecutek hks upp hks down p hks hi power exhaust AVO shorty intake perrin manual bc (running pretty close to stock boost) AVO bov thanks guys -trev * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

01-27-2005, 01:36 PM	#7
blackwrecks Scooby Newbie Member#: 46311 Join Date: Oct 2003 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Phoenixville, PA Vehicle: 2004 Impreza WRX JBP	Black smoke is caused by running rich without any cats. Turbo cars need to run rich under boost (which would be experienced under heavy acceleration) to cool the combustion process and prevent detonation. Detonation is a preignition of the Fuel before spark that causes increased cylinder pressures causing heavy wear. It can eventually blow your engine if the detonation (KNOCK) is excessive. I wouldn't be concerned if you don't see black smoke, as it is usually an indicator that you are running too rich, which could foul your spark plugs, especially if you're running plugs that are a step or two colder than stock. In any event, instead of relying on black smoke, your best bet is to buy some gauges and/or a Data logger to monitor your tune and do some research so you understand what you're looking at. Since you have an ECUtek flash already, DeltaDash would be a good choice (it'll allow you to make minor adjustments to your tune as well). If you're going for gauges, get an EGT gauge and a knock monitor; maybe an AFR gauge if you got a spot to fill. Last edited by blackwrecks; 01-27-2005 at 01:42 PM.

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01-27-2005, 12:58 PM	#2
pezman04wrx Scooby Specialist Member#: 66558 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: MA	I wish I were qualified to give a known comment on this, but all I can guess is that your friend has no idea what the hell he is saying ... I can't see any reason that under any circumstances that it could possibly be a good thing to see smoke of any color coming out your exhaust ... You have a turbo, not a turbo diesel ... Diesel's smoke, turbos only smoke when they've been destroyed ... Like I said though, I'm not an expert by any means, so please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, and I'll gladly learn ...

01-27-2005, 01:08 PM	#3
mbiker97 Scooby Guru Member#: 7922 Join Date: Jun 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Tucson Vehicle: 04 CTS-V b/b/b 99 GMC Highrider	Do you have any guages except for boost? I generally had some blackish smoke coming out of my exhuast during hard acceleration. It's not a rule that you have to have some though.

01-27-2005, 01:14 PM	#4
Shifty Eyes Scooby Specialist Member#: 72126 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2004 Sold WRX Wagon Now 07 GT Leg Pearl	Nope the only gauge that I have is boost. My car doesn't fart any smoke anytime, so I thought maybe my friend is right and I'm running her lean. I have another friend with a stage 4 rex and he's got black smoke coming out his exhaust on a hard acceleration, but hes also putting out around 300 ponies. He's got a laptop and he knows what his car is doing at all times so his car is healthy. So I dont know. God I hate being such a noob.

01-27-2005, 01:28 PM	#5
Tgui Scooby Specialist Member#: 44771 Join Date: Oct 2003	I think thats in reference to running rich. In general its safer to run on the rich side. When you run rich, a bit of smoke can be seen. At night though, you might also see flames. -Eric-

01-27-2005, 01:29 PM	#6
TyrannosaurusRex Scooby Newbie Member#: 79046 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: san diego Vehicle: 2003 WRX sadona red	well black smoke is better than white smoke

01-27-2005, 02:23 PM	#8
Shifty Eyes Scooby Specialist Member#: 72126 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2004 Sold WRX Wagon Now 07 GT Leg Pearl	cooll thanks guys

01-27-2005, 02:53 PM	#9
pezman04wrx Scooby Specialist Member#: 66558 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: MA	Learn something new every day ... Thanks for the info as well ...

01-28-2005, 01:28 PM	#12
Physics Junkie Scooby Specialist Member#: 65609 Join Date: Jul 2004 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: <3s me some SCIC.	Black smoke = fuel White smoke = coolant Blue smoke = oh ****(oil)

01-28-2005, 07:45 PM	#13
wrxdrvr Scooby Specialist Member#: 79222 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: W. Canada Location: Canada BC Vehicle: '09 STi 297.5 WHP Blue	Well black smoke is better than white smoke Just because you don't see black smoke it doesn't mean it's bad, and just because you do it doesn't mean it's good.

01-29-2005, 03:58 PM	#14
erice1984 Scooby Specialist Member#: 11778 Join Date: Oct 2001 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Illinois Vehicle: 1980 VWRabbit Diesel w/AAZ Swap	black smoke - usually associated in completely OE cars is the driver of that car drives it really easy for a while then they floor it and big puff of black smoke comes out, carbon and a bunch of crap that builds up leaving the engine.

01-29-2005, 04:06 PM	#15
adeliciouspizza Scooby Specialist Member#: 7844 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: NorthEast Wisconsin Vehicle: 05 STI CGM	a wrx with catless exhaust, intake, bov and mbc should generally have a noticeable bit of black smoke under wot in my experience. although as others have said you cant really judge anything just by that (unless the smoke is white or blue, in which case youve got problems).