I've started this thread because of discussion of this topic on other threads.
My Exhaust Tips quickly soot up after cleaning, giving the appearance of a rich air/fuel mixture. My truck has exhibited this symptom since day one, and continues to do so after installation of the Superchip.
I live in an emission controlled region near Chicago, where I believe the gasoline has been oxygen enriched to promote "cleaner" burning in normal vehicles. I typically run 93 octane unleaded fuel, and don't baby the throttle much. The truck is daily driven 35 mile each way out into the "country" at speeds of 65-85+ MPH. For you guys who seem to be getting a more normal "gray" exhaust coloration, what type of fuel are you using, what region do you live in, and how is your vehicle driven? As many of us have the "black exhaust syndrome", is it possible that air/fuel ratio's are causing some of the power and gas mileage variances seen between trucks? Has anyone had their mixture checked? Corrected?
All thoughts and info on the subject are appreciated.

Lightning Bob

 

I don't know if our fuel has been enriched, but I use 91-94 and always has had a black deposit, no matter how light I work the throttle.

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99 Black Lightning
Rhino liner
Superchip

 

The vast majority of supercharged engines Ford has produced exhibit this characteristic. You'll notice it more and more the harder you drive it. What they do is to use a too-rich mixture at WOT, to protect the engine. The older Thunderbird Super Coupes with their Eaton-supercharged V-6's pretty much all did the same thing, including my own 94 SC.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

I guess thats my problem, it sees alot of WFO's. Maybe that why my GPM is so bad HUH!!!!!

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1999 Black Lightning SVT all options, (Factory soft tonneau cover, 6 Disc CD, Class III towing hitch), Loyd one piece floormat (Fits well, looks good), Tail light covers (Killer painted black to match), Black spray in bed liner (looks very good), Windows tinted gray 15% on doors, Dark Limo on back glass, Ordered 1st truck 1/21/99 till salesman told me a $5000 premium would be added, On the same day ordered second truck 2/24/99 (BEFORE getting my check back), Took delivery 6/21/99 After MANY many MANY promised ETA dates, Build date of 5/20/99

 

Pretty much same story.
Fairly black pre-chipped, quite black after chip. Don't understand why, I am sure I don't use WOT any more than unchipped......
Did have a lot of water condensation dripping pre-chip, a lot less now.
Interesting change in habits. I checked gas mileage every tank pre-chip, have not checked once after chip. I now calculate I have to fill up one day sooner. 6 days per tank pre-chip, 5 days per tank post-chip.
Maybe I have started a new SAE mileage measurement system????

Bill


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Bill Murray
Current year Lightning
Oxford Muy Rapido White
Tow Package CD Player
Superchip GTech Meter
HobbyTownUSA Graphics
Identical 1/10 Scale Tamiya RC Truck incl. graphics.
Truck interest e-mail:
fastwhitey@myf150.com
Two decals



[This message has been edited by Bill Murray (edited 08-30-1999).]

 

You may be on to something here, Bill. Trucks of the future would come standard with a TPG (time per gallon) instrument. The standard TPG (in a V6 XL, say) would be a nice dash mounted sun dial in a color complimenting the interior. The XLT upgrade would be a tasteful hour glass, with luminous sand for timing those late nite runs to the 7-11. And, of course, the ultimate Lightning upgrade would consist of an SVT calibrated atomic clock, capable of calculating the precise number of gallons required to make the 5 minute drive to the closest gasoline tanker for a refill.

Mike

 

Whew. How quickly we get off subject?

The pipes on my Lightning are black too. I have a '99 Grand Prix GTP with an Eaton SC and there is hardly any black in it all (of course that could be because I rarely drive it anymore <g> ).

Also, for what its worth. My '97 f-150 with a 4.6L in it has a little bit in the tailpipe also but not as much as the beast. There is probably quite a few factors involved but I don't think it necessarily indicative of a problem.

From what I've seen - more hp output - more black carbon stuff Maybe the buildup is a good thing...

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| '99 White Lightning + SuperChip
| '97 F-150 XLT (for sale)
| '99 Grand Prix GTP (gathering dust)
| '98 Grand AM GT (for the lady)

 

Good point, Ro. Too easy sometimes to stray from the straight and narrow. So, back to topic, my SHO started to run richer when I installed a Superchips chip. I can goose the throttle in the garage and end up with two black splotches on the floor. I put up with it because of the increased performance. If my Lightning starts to do this however, due to the side exit pipes I'll get black soot all over my Harley. The price of fun, I guess.

Mike

 

My truck has had "black tip syndrome" since I got it. Pedal position seems to have no effect on it or my dismal fuel economy (10 mpg combined).

I have been running 93 octane from Mobil here in the Detroit area. I have been noticing an increasingly poor idle quality lately though.....

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99 Lightning, Black, CD
changer, Downey SST tonneau, Class 3 hitch, Ford bed mat
DOB: 4-21-99
My one really cool toy..
(except my Mercury Parklane "hobby")

SVT RULES!!!!!

 

that black soot is a sight for sore eyes on a boosted engine, when you don't see any, your on the lean side and could cost you or ford an engine depending on your odometer. a lot of supercharger kits come with extra injector(s) to dump fuel for that reason. and if anyone is planning to go with higher boost or nitrous, you definately want that black soot. i do think our plugs are experiencing the same treatment that our exhaust tips are getting, can't see them lasting 100k.

 

Any suggestions on a better plug? Will the dealer replace these at no charge under warranty? How about a MSD system or something comparable to assist in burning more of this residue fuel in our cylinders. Or should we just increase the boost to steady 10psi to compensate for this!!!!!!

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1999 Black Lightning SVT all options, (Factory soft tonneau cover, 6 Disc CD, Class III towing hitch), Loyd one piece floormat (Fits well, looks good), Tail light covers (Killer painted black to match), Black spray in bed liner (looks very good), Windows tinted gray 15% on doors, Dark Limo on back glass, Ordered 1st truck 1/21/99 till salesman told me a $5000 premium would be added, On the same day ordered second truck 2/24/99 (BEFORE getting my check back), Took delivery 6/21/99 After MANY many MANY promised ETA dates, Build date of 5/20/99

 

Lightning Bob,
No it does not have the transmission out of my 95' White Vortech Supercharged and I just sold the red 99' with 868 miles on it for 24,650.oo.
Right after I got it I got laid-off from work and could not afford it. The day after I sold it, I got called back to work. Sometimes life sucks!!!!!

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95' Vortech Supercharged White Lightning

[This message has been edited by Joe Mama (edited 08-31-1999).]

 

Joe Mama

Sorry to hear about your bad luck, I mean that. Whoever bought your truck got one hell of a deal. Best of luck to you down the road.

Lightning Bob

 

i don't think there is anything out there for computer controlled distributor-less vehicles, i have been looking since 94 for my ram. your computer controls all the spark functions, so there is no way to get a MSD type control "in-line", i was considering those spark amplifiers that go in-between plugs and wires but at 20-25ea x 10 i wasn't willing to "test" them. the lightning doesn't have wires or the room anyway. maybe a special burn chip program is the only way.

 

So Mike or Sal, you programing GOD's can it be done? Is it a worth while program change?

------------------
1999 Black Lightning SVT all options, (Factory soft tonneau cover, 6 Disc CD, Class III towing hitch), Loyd one piece floormat (Fits well, looks good), Tail light covers (Killer painted black to match), Black spray in bed liner (looks very good), Windows tinted gray 15% on doors, Dark Limo on back glass, Ordered 1st truck 1/21/99 till salesman told me a $5000 premium would be added, On the same day ordered second truck 2/24/99 (BEFORE getting my check back), Took delivery 6/21/99 After MANY many MANY promised ETA dates, Build date of 5/20/99