Hey guys.

Ive looked thru the posts, found a few things I think this may be, but I couldnt find anything about brownish exhaust with the symptoms so Ill try here...

I started noticing my gas mileage has been getting worse over time. Then one day I was driving it around, and it was running great, I parked it, went into a store, came back out to start it, and it started running really rough. Then I had the CEL come on....checked the oil, it looks, smells normal. When I try to rev the engine, it feels like it bogs out, and theres a bit of a brownish tinge to the exhaust. Not blue, not smelling like oil is burning. So I had it towed home, just in case. Now I start it when its cold, and the same thing... Ive put in some gasline antifreeze, and started it again, to let it work thru a bit, but its still running really rough.

Last year I replaced the spark plugs with NGK Iridium plugs that were pre-gapped. I also replaced the air filter (Its a Ractive CAI). The fuel filter was changed 2 years ago or so, but I havent really driven it all that much since then. I just had the muffler replaced about 3 months ago. I put injector cleaner in every few tankfuls...

Its a 2002 Cavy Z24 2.4L 5spd.

Ive heard everything from O2 sensors, clogged cat, coilpack, timing chain etc...Any ideas? Is it driveable to go get the codes pulled? or should I leave it?

Thanks in advance

Well with brownish/black smoke is unburnt fuel and with the decreasing fuel economy i'd say that your engine is getting too much fuel. Which can lead to a clogged cat. I'd get some "new" injectors and see if that helps.




219whp - I <3 whine

Tinkles, too much fuel wouldn't that in some cases ultimately result in a flood condition meaning at some point the engine if it got bad enough would flood and not turn over at all.

Went to the auto wreckers today and found a coilpack. Tried it, and it worked. Car isnt shuddering, or anything anymore. Check engin light turned off after a bit of driving too...I think I might still go get the O2 sensor checked and the injectors, now that its running normally again