plug gap, and AF ratio

[40th GT]

sup guys, i got a quick question about why I'm runnin rich.

my friend was driving behind me the other day and he said my pipes were blowing some black smoke in the upper RPM at WOT. The only thing that could possibly cause this is the fact that I gapped my plugs a little wider than factory recommendations. (just .001 more than the maximum recommended gap, which is .057) Can plug gap affect the AF ratio? I'm thinkin that the spark is weaker now, because of the wider gap, causing a rich condition.

 

[stangGT97]

recommended gap is 0.054" but you aren't that far out of range. What kind of plugs?

 

[Dragstr05]

If the gap was terribly off, you could get a misfire or incomplete burn, but I dont care if they are gapped at .070 it wont make your car run rich.

 

[twogts4us]

Check your A/F ratio with a meter, rather than basing it simply on the color of smoke when you stomp on it. Most folks with an OR pipe will burp out a good chunk of smoke at WOT.
By the way, "Sucess" is spelled "Success".

 

[mrvax]

The ideal a/f ratio on a non supercharged 4.6L is 13:1.

 

[40th GT]

Check your A/F ratio with a meter, rather than basing it simply on the color of smoke when you stomp on it. Most folks with an OR pipe will burp out a good chunk of smoke at WOT.
By the way, "Sucess" is spelled "Success".

lol, thanks.

 

[40th GT]

recommended gap is 0.054" but you aren't that far out of range. What kind of plugs?

These are the stock platinum plugs that Ford gave me. I have 17,300 miles on the car, and these are the original plugs.