Fuel mix reading while driving

[Movin]

Curious, Fluffy seemed kind of weak at low rpm's, and idle was a little
high on HC. My analyzer shows CO and O2 on fuel diagnostics as well
as other stuff but I don't care about that stuff right now. I knew HC was
high but did not know if it was tired valves and compression or fuel mix off.

By now I know the answer but the same knowledge is easy for all with
simple tools too. It took a minute or so but I put my long radio shack
leads on one of the HF $3.99 meters and rigged connections from the Bat
Neg to the meter and using a "bed of nails" lead end to tap the O2 line
I had a driving reading of my fuel mix from idle to wide open throttle
in the passing lane. This was funner than being stuck in the shop anyway.
It turns out my idle is too lean for low HC readings, and it does not start
to read normal rich-lean until cruise. It goes richer wide open. It also
showed a sluggish O2 so I will be replacing it soon!! Anyway, pics below
Perfect is 0.450 volts. Lower is lean.

[bhazard]

You'll never truly know with just a narrowband.

[Movin]

You are right for any performance stuff but for a stock engine I am only interested
In AFR from 12 to 1 rich down to 16.5 to 1 lean, anything out side of that is a problem
for a stock engine. I have a couple shop analyzers, one is a clip on mobile unit but
for under $10 bucks I wanted to show how anyone could get an idea of their AFR.
In the chart below I want to see rapid oscillations between .3 volts and .6 volts.
O2 hot of course. It really is fun to play with while driving, especially since cell
phones and texting is illegal!
NOTE: When I edit the graph is correct, when I post it the graph moves columns
into blank spots, look a linear voltages and the graph will make sense. edit #2
I tried a bunch of periods to hold lines

Vout..........AFR.....NB O2 V
................10.00 ......1.02
1.40..........10.08*
1.45*........10.23*
1.50*........10.38*
................10.50 ......1.00
1.55*........10.53*
1.60*........10.69*
1.65*........10.86*
................11.00 .....0.98
1.70*........11.03*
1.75*........11.20*
1.80*........11.38*
1.85*........11.57*
................11.50 ..... 0.96
1.90*........11.76*.......0.95
................11.80........0.94
1.95*........11.96*.......0.93
................12.00........0.92
2.00*........12.17*...... 0.91
................12.20....... 0.90
2.05*........12.38*...... 0.89
................12.50 ...... 0.88
2.10*........12.60*...... 0.80
2.15*........12.83*...... 0.75
2.20*........13.07*...... 0.70
2.25*........13.31*......0.65
2.30*........13.57*...... 0.60
2.35*........13.84*......0.55
2.40*........14.11*...... 0.50
2.45*........14.40*...... 0.48
2.50*........14.70*...... 0.45
2.55*........15.25* ......0.40
2.60*........15.84*.......0.30
2.65*........16.48*.......0.20
2.70*........17.18*.......0.10
2.75*........17.93*.......0.08
2.80*........18.76*.......0.06
2.85*........19.66*.......0.04
2.90*........20.66*.......0.02

[denguy]

How do the spark plugs look?

[Movin]

white, and no carbon from the oil its burning. The head of the piston shows
plenty of oil coming by the rings. No sign of ping. I put a new o2 in and
I will try to video it later.

[Fordverde]

tried changing the cat for a new one? i believe the high HC is due to the cat being death...

[Movin]

when the cat lights it cleans things up good, but a lot of oil is coming by the rings.
The oil burning got worse after top end cleaning, and "stop smoke" oil additive
makes the smoke darker! I think it just needs rings and maybe bored with pistons!!

[denguy]

How many miles on it?

[Movin]

242 K miles