Running your engine too lean?

[lerningHHO]

Hello,

I have seen a lot of warnings about engine damage while running your engine too lean.  There are a lot of posted solutions on how to cause the the vehicles computer to run leaner to compensate for the addition of HHO.

So out of all these gadgets and modifications, is there any "fail safe" that removes the "lean" setting when the HHO generator fails to produce and it goes unnoticed for a long period of time? 

Is there any validity in damaging your engine running it to lean?

Thank you, looking forward to your response.

[adm]

Running a engine too lean can for sure cause problems!  Engines that run lean run hot, this isn't usually the kind of hot that you can see on your temperature gauge its mostly hot inside the cylinders and the exhaust system.

When engines run lean damage to the pistons and valves can be the result.  Pistons which get over heated and distort and melt and burn and basically cause lots of problems with compression and burning oil.

Lean conditions can also cause the exhaust valves to over heat and distort and not seal properly.  A valve needs to get a good seal not only to hold compression but also to cool it self.  Heat is taken away from the valve while it is closed, the heat goes into the valve seat and then into the cooling system.

Serious damage from extended periods of lean running are common and sometimes hard to spot.

I don't think a generator booster would cause a lean condition serious enough to cause engine damage.  The problem is going to be the computer not giving enough fuel to the engine because of EFIE's and other modifications.

When the O2 sensors see the lean exhaust because of the HHO it will increase the fuel mixture and therefor eliminates any lean situation.

Hope that makes sense.

Roy

[sfttailpaul]

Roy,
You hit the nail on the head, so to speak. The biggest problem I see is that all those "companies" selling "complete" HHO systems" FAIL to tell their potential customers about this fact. You CANNOT simply install a HHO generator (OBD-II) and expect to get mileage gains; in fact, you will loose because of the additional O2 that the ECU reads. Without an EFIE, you will surly loose. Most do not install the EFIE and then complain that they spent $1,500.00 to install a HHO system only to see negative gains. They simply do not understand the workings of the ECU. 1/2 the cars I've worked on do not even respond to the EFIE alone, rather, the ECU will by-pass this new information and rely on other sensors (11) to work with. I have even added Caps across the fuel injector leads to "rich condition" the signal back to the ECU. MAP/MAF only works where the manufacturer uses "voltage" to measure; frequency (GM/Mopar/Ford/Toyota/Honda) based sensors CANNOT be affected, so don't bother (depends on which year we are talking about, but most are post 2006). Until we either get the auto manufactures to stop hindering our efforts, or someone comes up with a generator that can COMPLETELY separate the H2 from the O2 (I have experimented over 3 years with not the results I want), we will be constantly fighting with the ECU about this issue! GOOD POST!

[firebrand]

Fellas,
            there is a company Volo Performance based in Arkansas, USA which will supply a chip preprogrammed for your vehicle which they can also programme (MAP) with HHO routines. It will do the job of the EFIE, your vehicle needs to be OBD2 compliant which most are given that OBD2 has been around since 1996 in the US and 2001 in Europe where I am. The chip is designated FS2.