What do these plugs like to you?

[allante666]

these are out of my 'lumpy idle' 2.5. Does this look like a mixture problem? Ive tried everything i can think of. vacuum, tps, leaks, ht, timing, cam belt, IAC valve.

Compression check reads 12 bar in every cylinder.

Engine idles as though it was choked, with or without the air filter in.
Pulled the plugs to look and although the electrode looks ok the rest looks sooty. engine runs evenly with some revs on.

getting really fed up now!

plugs not oily. are almost new. probably 200 miles on them if that.

https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/11/c6d61c18-1.jpg

[Huffer]

Are they all gapped properly?

How is your fuel filter? Recently replaced? Could be an injector getting a low input signal until a certain throttle threshold input is received by the ECU...?

[allante666]

Its a dual fuel, it does exactly the same when running on LPG, which doesnt use the injectors.

[Okin DaVanh]

Have you checked the Charcoal Canister?

[allante666]

No I havent, where is it and why would it cause a lumpy idle?

[Okin DaVanh]

No I havent, where is it and why would it cause a lumpy idle?



#25 here:


https://sl-i.net/FORUM/images/imported/2010/10/366494942009png-1.jpg

i got this from DigiPhux. Check for the FSM in his sig (tho, I'm not sure if it's just for U.S. models)

[allante666]

Ok I see that but dont know how it would cause a lumpy idle? wouldnt it just make the fuel pressure wrong and the engine may idle too slow or stall but would still be even, mines uneven

[StatGSR]

I do not see how the charcoal canister could cause your idle problems, it is a start up/fuel tank emissions item that a car does not need to run properly. Unless Okin knows something about them that i don't...

[csweston]

Could be the gas your using? I know when i started using the cheapest gas in town my car started running like crap. Then i went to shell/chevron, the better gas and now its back to normal.

[allante666]

Could be the gas your using? I know when i started using the cheapest gas in town my car started running like crap. Then i went to shell/chevron, the better gas and now its back to normal.

Nope, it runs the same on gas(petrol) as it does on lpg (propane) so I can rule out fuel quality

[httrdd]

Looks like carbon build up. Are you running too rich? Maybe bad 02s causing it to lumpy idle and burn fuel faster?

[allante666]

well i wondered about the o2 sensor but then its the same if its cold or hot, im guessing it would change as it went from closed loop to open loop? I also tried it disconnected with no difference. I do have a new one to fit but am not convinced enough yet to get under there and take the skin off my knuckles trying to get the old one out!!

[httrdd]

I am pulling an 02 code on my Svx y pipe and I get bad idle in cold and hot weater. Not real bad, but enough to notice it. I had a really bad idle before this, but it was a combination of the timing jumping at some point (before I put in the engine) and the bad 02.

[Okin DaVanh]

I do not see how the charcoal canister could cause your idle problems, it is a start up/fuel tank emissions item that a car does not need to run properly. Unless Okin knows something about them that i don't...


I don't, I was just suggesting... but there was a similar situation in another thread.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19516 (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=19516)


It was found to be some hoses the owner removed from the unit.


Hi guys, I've got a little bit of an issue with my '99 Outback 2.5 5-speed. Over the last month or so it has begun to run worse and worse, the idle is often erratic (up and down, up and down) and very rough and when the car has sat for a day or so, or its only sat for 20 mins (still warm) when you try to accelerate calmly it stumbles and falls on it face, and if you hit the gas hard it will jerk back to life and take off. It also like to jerk when slowing down alot (coasting in gear).

I've replaced the spark plugs, front O2 sensor, run fuel system cleaner and sea-foam through it, and I'm running 93 octane.

[allante666]

yeah his looks like his idle was surging up and down, mine just sits and plops about! I have noticed tonight that one head has previously been off and the cam sprocket is plastic whereas my LH one is steel. is this a problem?