check engine light for engine running lean

Hey everyone

I had a weekend of off-roading this past weekend and on the drive home me check engine light came on. I noticed it was bogging a bit while passing people on the highway.
My buddy just came over and used his matco scan tool and it said bank 2 and 1 were running lean. The engine is getting to much air he says. we got some carb cleaner and sprayed all the spots on the intake where things could be loose, and this provided no answers...

I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and if anyone has any suggestions...

I appreciate all feedback!

Thanks!!

 

Smoke it

 

So what code was pulled?

 

Exactly...... pedal to the metal

 

I meant smoke test.

 

smoke what?

 

how?

 

A smoke test is the use of a smoke machine used to find leaks in many systems.

 

bank 1 and bank 2 running lean

 

Nah man, pedal to metal.... smoke it fast and the furious style!

 

real funny. i'm worried about my engine

 

Have you pulled the spark plugs. I felt my truck was running lean. My Spark plugs were bone white except one. After reading a number of posts by @Torspd I believed that it was a clogged fuel filter. Installed the URD fuel pump and external filter kit. The improvement was immediate. Smooth, better acceleration and better gas mileage.

 

P0171 and P0174 are the codes for running lean on banks 1 and 2....most times it's related to a vacuum leak so I'd start there. Or a dirty/bad MAF sensor (could be the case since you said it happened after offroading). Check closely for leaks in your vacuum lines and clean your MAF sensor. Other possible causes could be a leak in your exhaust, bad O2 or air/fuel sensors (not sure what 2nd gens are equipped with compared to 1st gens), spark plugs, etc.

Your air/fuel mixture is lean and throwing the code(s) so you might not be getting enough fuel rather than too much air, so might want to look at the fuel filter as well...though I think that's a much bigger task on 2nd gens being that it's inside the tank. I had this code on my 04 and it took awhile to figure out because there are so many possible causes. For me it ended up being a vacuum leak, mechanic that worked on my truck told me that's what usually trips a lean code.

 

You aren't running a K&N oiled air filter are you?

 

seafoam baby

 

could help if the lean issue is related to fuel delivery due to a clogged injector or fuel line, etc. Can't hurt to try it, run a can of Seafoam through the gas tank and another through the throttle body (use the spray can for this). Works wonders on higher mileage motors/systems.

 

i will check them, thank you for your suggestion!

 

i am yes, and for the last three years i've never given me an issue

 

I would ditch it and clean or replace your MAF sensor. Those oiled filters gunk them up over time. My last truck had one in it for 2 years before it ruined my MAF sensor and I got this same code (P0171 system too lean, bank 1). Had to replace my MAF and switch to a dry filter and it was fine after that. I know there are many similar reports on this forum as well.