Alright, my eclipse runs EXCELLENT with a really smooth idle. I took off the headers today, because i need to put on the new pacesetter headers and i noticed that two of the cylinders have more carbon built up than the other two. usually this means that those pistons are running rich. it doesn't really concern me, because i have had NO problems with the car so far. it's got 60 miles on it since i rebuilt the engine. could it be the injectors?

It's really a tough call. Frankly if your motor is a billion years old, you're bound to have some carbon buildup. It could be a number of things. The real concern is if it's still generating more carbon.

well, it's rebuilt so it's basically a new engine. like EVERYTHING on it has been thoroughly clean. it's like a brand new block and head. everything has been replaced.

also, it's not like a HUGE amount. im just curious why the 2 of them might be producing more than the other 2. like i said, it idle's and runs PERFECT.

it could be anything. I was going to ask how thorough the rebuild was. You addressed it a little bit. Valve job? Deck head? New seals? Everything properly torqued?

Maybe the rings in those two cylinders have a little more clearance than the other two and you're burning some oil. Maybe the plugs in those two are a little more worn. Maybe the wires. Maybe your distributor. Maybe injectors.

Also, it's only been 60 miles. That's nothing as far as break-in goes. Everything is still getting situated. If it's not a ridiculous amount and there's no unusual color or odor in your exhaust, don't worry about it.

no unusual color or odor. just the smell of never-seize being burnt off, but that's alright (and only in the engine bay, not exhaust... duh). yup, new valves, lifters, rollers, seals, everything. and the torques are right, and have been done in the correct pattern. where lock-tight might have been used, the torque was reduced a little bit, but that's what ive been told to do. and i know it takes a little bit for the piston rings to break in.

i can take a picture if you guys wanna see.

New plugs? Correct gap on said plugs? Plug wires?

yup. all of it new and i gapped them to the specs NGK had online for my engine. but i would expect a rough idle if they were gapped incorrectly, and i don't have that symptom.

anyways, here's my new headers. welding looks okay. not the greatest quality. wanted to get GReddy headers but they stopped makin them for my car.


kinda blurry...

oh! and here are my exhaust ports. you can see how 2 and 4 have more carbon.