check engine light
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Joined: Apr 2008
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check engine light
ok so i drive a 98' F150 4x4 ext cab, 5.4 engine, automatic, with 130,000 miles, the check engine light came on the other day, it came one when i was pulling about a 10,000 lb. trailer under full throttle up a hill. I plug it in and got a P0171 code, which said bank 1 running lean. The only modifications this truck has are a true dual exhaust system, cats were left in place just cut pipe at the Y. I cleared the code and got the light to go out, i also just started running E10 in the truck about a month ago, i just want to know if there is anything to look for that might have caused that code, i know E10 has a higher oxygen content and i was full throttle pullin a hill when the light came on, i would appreciate any thoughts on this, sorry so long!
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: South Florida
Its the ethanol. It takes more by volume to produce the same amount of power as gas. This caused a lean condition while towing. I dont recomend using it unless you have the engine tuned for it. Flex Fuel cars are able to adjust for this.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 500
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From: La Porte, TX
ok so i drive a 98' F150 4x4 ext cab, 5.4 engine, automatic, with 130,000 miles, the check engine light came on the other day, it came one when i was pulling about a 10,000 lb. trailer under full throttle up a hill. I plug it in and got a P0171 code, which said bank 1 running lean. The only modifications this truck has are a true dual exhaust system, cats were left in place just cut pipe at the Y. I cleared the code and got the light to go out, i also just started running E10 in the truck about a month ago, i just want to know if there is anything to look for that might have caused that code, i know E10 has a higher oxygen content and i was full throttle pullin a hill when the light came on, i would appreciate any thoughts on this, sorry so long!
In that case, BOTH banks would be affected.
Besides, most all fuel has been E10 for some time.
I bet there is an exhaust leak around that passenger side front O2 sensor...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 317
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From: South Florida
Pulling a 10000# It takes more than 1reading of the condition for the code to show and I think it is 8 times (I might be wrong on that number but its close) So if the #1 hit lean 8 times and #2 only hit lean 7 times the code will not show. If you crear the code and it does not return then that would rule out the leaking sensor.
My guess is you topped the hill before the other bank coded enough to que the code.
My guess is you topped the hill before the other bank coded enough to que the code.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25,641
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From: MI
That's incorrect. If it's a fuel problem - lean starts on bank 1 Injector #1 then 2,3,4 and so on. I doubt the truck would even run if both banks were starving for fuel. - It would have to get to #5 , if true. Fuel pressure/delivery problems start on the bank one side always. Unless it's the injector/harness/regulator itself.
Vacuum leaks are PE#1 for both banks leane.
Last edited by jbrew; May 7, 2008 at 01:43 PM.