dc2 vtir problems

[haiz]

heya all sorta new to this forum...well anyway i recently bought a dc2 vtir and have just noticed that there is black smoke (similar to backfire smoke) coming out of my exhaust everytime i shift after hitting vtec, any ideas watz wrong? :confused: itz starting to worry me..coz even as a car noob im sure that cant be good..

another thing is im looking to get a a CAI system (preferebly AEM :D ). does anyone know where i can pick one up cheap? or cheaper than rrp?

also looking for an exhaust system (full). friends say the apexi zorst is pretty good for my car..any help?

oh and btw i wanted to know if anyone can give me a rundown on how to service my car? any help or links would be appreciated!!

cheers thnx guyz

[T-onedc2]

Hey welcome mate,

The black smoke may only be that it is running rich, most engines are tuned to do this at higher revs but yours may be running excessively rich, I stand to be corrected on this though.
Take it to a reputable mechanic/Honda dealer to get checked out and they should also be able to help you out with servicing info.
If you like DIY servicing then read your service manual for what is required and when. I personally change my own oil every 5000km and keep check on fluids etc but go to Honda for anything else.:)

[Menthu Rae]

Ummm, is it happening WHEN you hit VTEC, or after you change gears?

If it's happening when you hit VTEC, it's normal - as Honda have programmed the fuel map to run rich at VTEC changeover point, to supplement the hi-cam profile.

If you're anything like me, the first few weeks of owning the car will leave you with a nice layer of carbon particles all over your rear bumper :p

If it's happening when you change gears (and after VTEC has already engaged/gone way past changeover point) - then I suggest you get your AFR (air-fuel ratios) checked out by a competent mechanic, or tuner/dyno place.

Also, resetting your ECU (disconnect battery for ~30 mins?) and doing some varied driving might help to reset the maps your ECU has learnt from the previous driver/drivers :confused: (I don't know too much about this with Hondas due to them running MAP, but I know with Nissans/other cars, this may help ;) )

[quangsta]

as for ur full exhaust system...ultimate header would be toda or smsp...buh there are many other competitive variables...decide whether u want 4-1 or 4-2-1 then u can choose ur brand...mugen if u got the $$ ching ching, x-force if u want bidget, dc or jdm for the in betweeners....thats just some of the headers available then u got which cat you want....keeping in mind that the headers are usually designed for japanese versions of our cars which use a smaller cat therefore wen buying these headers u gotta buy a smaller/shorter cat...as for cat back you have even more choices....fujitsubo, mugen twinloop, hks silent power...for the quieter ones....if u dont mind the sound...vision, 5zigen, hks if u want all out power....buddy club series...prolli the most loudest too...

as u can see plenty of choice best way to narrow them down decide what u want..
search the forums if u dont know...for example, headers, top end(4-1) or bottom end(4-2-1), cat back (size 2.25 or 2.5) dont think u should go any bigger unless turboing, loud (buddy clubs, apexi etc), quiet (mugen twin loop, fujisubo something etc..).....theres also the budget ones like x-force and stuff...buh if u look at the great header test compares the main headers..

as for your CAI...SRI supposedly loses bottom end...CAI mid range.....or you can go the mugen 'CAI' or comptech 'CAI'....

so many man...list goes on....

atm one of our traders are taking orders for the injen intakes....i would personally choose injen over AEM but thats just me...

enough from me

gL

[T-onedc2]

Oh and if the previous owner never used vtec then there's probably a carbon build up in the exhaust which eventually should disappear.

[kousoku]

haiz, you might not get as many friendly people like quangsta in this forum as topics like these are covered almost every week, so if u find you dont get all the answers in this thread use the search function.

quangsta has pretty much summed it all up for you.

[haiz]

T-onedc2 is probably right coz the previous owners were old and they had 2 other cars, they seldom used the dc2 (it had cobwobs from the wheels to the floor wen i came to have a look at it).
i really hope it is just a carbon build up in the exhaust coz i love vtec and to see black smoke thru my rear view sorta hurts and makes me refrain from using it. i did wipe the inside of my exhaust and there was heaps of carbon particles everywhere..like EVERYWHERE!! well how long do u think it would take till it clears?


as for the CAI where can i pik one up and for around how much??

btw THANKS :wave: to all that replied and gave me a few pointers

[T-onedc2]

It may take a week or two depending on how you drive it, but any car you see will blow out some of this carbon (albeit only a small amount) out when really gunning it. To have almost zero carbon build up would mean you have to constantly race the engine which unless it's a race car it ain't gonna happen.

[Spunkymonkey]

also remember your fuel may also have something to do with it as well. I always found heaps of black soot on my bumper from using Optimax - not all batches have been consistent when I've been using it, so I generally use Ultimate. Find its more consistent and burns cleaner.

[haiz]

yea i fill up with ultimate as well but still that might b a problem...btw how much km's do u guyz get aoff a tank of fuel? coz ive gota feeling im burning my fuel faster than i shud b...or maybe itz just my driving, itz my first car so im still getting into tune with the gears

[T-onedc2]

I should probably tell you to do a search for that answer but I'll let you off coz you're new.:p
I use Ultimate only, and get best of 650km from a tank on highway (measured an a trip from Melbourne to Adelaide) and as little as 400-450km when feeling naughty. Using vtec consumes much more fuel as the valves lift higher and for a longer duration allowing more fuel and air into the cylinder.

[yourfather]

i only have black smoke on optimax.

it pisses me off to no end, I hate optimax, and I hate the carbon build up.

[haiz]

dw i wont ask anymore stupid/simple questionz where id be able to find the answer if i searched around abit :p ...