Thread: Is running lean safe?

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  1. #1 Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    I've got a bad maf so I've been running lean and throwing a code or about a week now while I'm waiting to pick up my new one. Is it safe to be driving it around like this alot? Will it cause damage to anything?
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  2. #2 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    youtu.be/xhrBDcQq2DM FoSHO99's Avatar
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    Too lean is never good, if anything a little rich is best. Running lean and open throttle is a good way to chip pistons. Just take it easy.
    2001 GTP PT61 Turbo, E85, Stock Motor
    2011 Chevy Cruze MT6 1.4L Turbo
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  3. #3 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by FoSHO99 View Post
    Too lean is never good, if anything a little rich is best. Running lean and open throttle is a good way to chip pistons. Just take it easy.
    Alright, no more WOT till it's fixed then lol.
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  4. #4 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
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    if youre not knocking then youre not lean enough. your car will be WAY faster if you run it as lean as possible without knocking. im talking about 12.0 or higher AFR when WOT non-intercooled.

    but fosh is right, youll blow it up a lot faster running it lean.
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  5. #5 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    Donating Users gtpsleeper's Avatar
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    if your running lean enough to throw a code...then you are not just a little lean you are VERY lean...be careful!
    "My car is a racecar like Planet Fitness is a gym...."

    proud mark VIII victim!!! suck it...
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  6. #6 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gtpsleeper View Post
    if your running lean enough to throw a code...then you are not just a little lean you are VERY lean...be careful!
    Yeah it's throwing a system too lean SES code. I haven't been getting into boost at all since I posted this lol.
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  7. #7 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    If you know your maf is bad, unplug it and run off the pcm tables. At first the car will run like crap until it learns the tables. Running off the tables will most likely make you a little rich and safe.

    If you are getting a lean bank code, then the pcm is telling you based off the O2's that it's adding more fuel than it's allowed w/o pushing a code. It's not necessarily lean.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  8. #8 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillBoost37 View Post
    If you know your maf is bad, unplug it and run off the pcm tables. At first the car will run like crap until it learns the tables. Running off the tables will most likely make you a little rich and safe.

    If you are getting a lean bank code, then the pcm is telling you based off the O2's that it's adding more fuel than it's allowed w/o pushing a code. It's not necessarily lean.
    Alright, thanks. I didn't even know you could run it without an MAF.
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  9. #9 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    Turbo is the way to go. BillBoost37's Avatar
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    You bet you can. One of the first things in the FSM for maf testing is to unplug it.
    I drink..so consider that when reading my posts.

    2010 Audi A6 Dual IC's
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  10. #10 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
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    youre supposed to unplug the MAF and do a VE tune before you do any other tuning.
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  11. #11 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    Donating Users chrisb's Avatar
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    But if your car is like many other 3800 cars they are not coded at all to use the ve tables when the maf is working then it becomes pointless. But if you one of the few with it coded into the pcm then your good to go.
    99 Grand Prix old build- CAI, Custom exhaust, HV3, Stage 2 TB, custom tune, ported heads intense s1x cam, headers.
    Nothing great Just a small T66 Turbo with a Hv3 On a stock tranny untill i finish the other one.
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  12. #12 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    The mod from over yonder TheOtherNick's Avatar
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    So some 3800s use the ve table with the other fueling tables while the Maf is functioning?
    01 gtp-big cam e85 dd 78dodge- guzzling fuel 05 cummins- rollin coal
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  13. #13 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BillBoost37 View Post
    You bet you can. One of the first things in the FSM for maf testing is to unplug it.
    Which cable do I need to unplug?
    Theres a pic of my engine in the lounge if you wanna do some circling for my dumb ass
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  14. #14 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisb View Post
    But if your car is like many other 3800 cars they are not coded at all to use the ve tables when the maf is working then it becomes pointless. But if you one of the few with it coded into the pcm then your good to go.
    So you're saying if I get it tuned with the maf unplugged I wont even need an MAF?
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  15. #15 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    DUI BABY Bio248's Avatar
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    pretty much, but its still good to run it. your car will just be in better shape all the time if it can run independent of it.
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  16. #16 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GXP Level Member BwolfGT's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bio248 View Post
    pretty much, but its still good to run it. your car will just be in better shape all the time if it can run independent of it.
    Ok thanks. Hey bio, wanna grab that pic from the lounge and do some circling for me?
    1998 GP GT - Topswap - Ported M90 - N* - 4" FWI - Poly Mounts - 3" DP - 180 Tstat - Alt. Rewire - 3.29 gearing - Full Exhaust - Custom Tune
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  17. #17 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GrandPrix Junkie FastKatt's Avatar
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    Why isn't this thread in the tuning section?
    No trees were destroyed for this message.
    However, a great number of pixels were extremely inconvenienced.
    2004 Grand Prix Comp-G GTP Mod List - MySpace
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  18. #18 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    The mod from over yonder TheOtherNick's Avatar
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    Nobody post where they should anymore. Also the tuning section is kinda a dead zone .
    01 gtp-big cam e85 dd 78dodge- guzzling fuel 05 cummins- rollin coal
    SMGPFC Two Nipple General
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  19. #19 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    The mod from over yonder TheOtherNick's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by BwolfGT View Post
    Ok thanks. Hey bio, wanna grab that pic from the lounge and do some circling for me?
    You unplug the connector at the maf.
    01 gtp-big cam e85 dd 78dodge- guzzling fuel 05 cummins- rollin coal
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  20. #20 Re: Is running lean safe? 
    GrandPrix Junkie FastKatt's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by 01GTP View Post
    Nobody post where they should anymore. Also the tuning section is kinda a dead zone .
    Isn't that 1 of the Mod's Jobs?
    Moving topics to where they belong...

    I only read from "New Posts", I don't surf the "forums"...

    Do you really want to trust an answer from someone surfing the lounge?
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