Gray powder in tail pipes?

[Renthorin]

I have been running 110 leaded for about a tank and 1/2 now. Love the smell and it is the only high-octane close to me.

I was cruising the Woodward Dream Cruise area last night for about 4 hours which means I was basically idling for that long.

I stopped to get a bite to eat and noticed that the insides of my tailpipes were very light gray. I wiped my finger in there and it came off easily.

My Check Engine light came on towards the end of the cruise but went out when I got on the highway. It would come on again a few times on the way home but the car ran fine.

is all the gray powder and the CE light from the leaded fuel? I got a denso O2 sensor as I heard they last longer but I have only put on about 350-450 miles on this one.

 

[WHEEZER]

The high octane leaded will make a tailpipe burn"white". It doesn't take very much leaded fuel to eat an o2 sensor, I've done it before on 5 or so gallons. The lead will do a number on your plugs too after a while, deposits etc.

 

[Renthorin]

I hooked up Tlink and drove about 40 miles. Towards the end of the drive the CE light came on for a few seconds. I looked at Tlink and the O2 Cross counts were not changing. I stabbed the throttle and let off and they resumed rising by 30-40 counts.

Every now and again they would freeze on a number for a little while then pick back up again.

Car runs fine evern when the CE light is on and I have 12 more gallons sitting in the garage. I will just run all that through and replace the O2 sensor at that time.

 

[Silver 'T' Top]

A heated o2 sensor "supposedly" lasts longer when running leaded race fuel. So I've been told !

 

[WHEEZER]

A heated o2 sensor "supposedly" lasts longer when running leaded race fuel. So I've been told !

True but depends on brand of fuel, lead content, other additives, etc. Not a bad trade-off considering the alternatives of high boost without high octane, ya? :biggrin: