2002 ISUZU AXIOM fuel additives

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6VE1 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS
dissatisfaction. The following list of non-vehicle faults
does not include every possible fault and may not apply
equally to all product lines.
Fuel Quality
Fuel quality is not a new issue for the automotive industry,
but its potential for turning on the MIL (ªCheck Engineº
lamp) with OBD II systems is new.
Fuel additives such as ªdry gasº and ªoctane enhancersº
may affect the performance of the fuel. If this results in an
incomplete combustion or a partial burn, it will show up as
a Misfire DTC P0300. The Reed Vapor Pressure of the
fuel can also create problems in the fuel system,
especially during the spring and fall months when severe
ambient temperature swings occur. A high Reed Vapor
Pressure could show up as a Fuel Trim DTC due to
excessive canister loading. High vapor pressures
generated in the fuel tank can also affect the Evaporative
Emission diagnostic as well.
Using fuel with the wrong octane rating for the vehicle
may cause driveability problems. Many of the major fuel
companies advertise that using ªpremiumº gasoline will
improve the performance of the vehicle. Most premium
fuels use alcohol to increase the octane rating of the fuel.
Although alcohol-enhanced fuels may raise the octane
rating, the fuel's ability to turn into vapor in cold
temperatures deteriorates. This may affect the starting
ability and cold driveability of the engine.
Low fuel levels can lead to fuel starvation, lean engine
operation, and eventually engine misfire.
Non-OEM Parts
All of the OBD II diagnostics have been calibrated to run
with OEM parts. Something as simple as a
high-performance exhaust system that affects exhaust
system back pressure could potentially interfere with the
operation of the EGR valve and thereby turn on the MIL
(ªCheck Engineº lamp). Small leaks in the exhaust
system near the post catalyst oxygen sensor can also
cause the MIL (ªCheck Engineº lamp) to turn on.
Aftermarket electronics, such as transceivers, stereos,
and anti-theft devices, may radiate EMI into the control
system if they are improperly installed. This may cause a
false sensor reading and turn on the MIL (ªCheck Engineº
lamp).
Environment
Temporary environmental conditions, such as localized
flooding, will have an effect on the vehicle ignition system.
If the ignition system is rain-soaked, it can temporarily
cause engine misfire and turn on the MIL (ªCheck Engineº
lamp).
Refueling
A new OBD II diagnostic was introduced in 1996 on some
vehicles. This diagnostic checks the integrity of the entire
evaporative emission system. If the vehicle is restarted
after refueling and the fuel cap is not secured correctly,
the on-board diagnostic system will sense this as a
system fault and turn on the MIL (ªCheck Engineº lamp)
with a DTC P0440.Vehicle Marshaling
The transportation of new vehicles from the assembly
plant to the dealership can involve as many as 60 key
cycles within 2 to 3 miles of driving. This type of operation
contributes to the fuel fouling of the spark plugs and will
turn on the MIL (ªCheck Engineº lamp) with a P0300
Misfire DTC.
Poor Vehicle Maintenance
The sensitivity of OBD II diagnostics will cause the MIL
(ªCheck Engineº lamp) to turn on if the vehicle is not
maintained properly. Restricted air filters, fuel filters, and
crankcase deposits due to lack of oil changes or improper
oil viscosity can trigger actual vehicle faults that were not
previously monitored prior to OBD II. Poor vehicle
maintenance can't be classified as a ªnon-vehicle faultº,
but with the sensitivity of OBD II diagnostics, vehicle
maintenance schedules must be more closely followed.
Related System Faults
Many of the OBD II system diagnostics will not run if the
PCM detects a fault on a related system or component.
One example would be that if the PCM detected a Misfire
fault, the diagnostics on the catalytic converter would be
suspended until Misfire fault was repaired. If the Misfire
fault was severe enough, the catalytic converter could be
damaged due to overheating and would never set a
Catalyst DTC until the Misfire fault was repaired and the
Catalyst diagnostic was allowed to run to completion. If
this happens, the customer may have to make two trips to
the dealership in order to repair the vehicle.
Emissions Control Information Label
The engine compartment ªVehicle Emissions Control
Information Labelº contains important emission
specifications and setting procedures. In the upper left
corner is exhaust emission information. This identifies
the emission standard (Federal, California, or Canada) of
the engine, the displacement of the engine in liters, the
class of the vehicle, and the type of fuel metering system.
There is also an illustrated emission components and
vacuum hose schematic.
This label is located in the engine compartment of every
vehicle. If the label has been removed it should be
replaced. It can be ordered from Isuzu Dealership.
Visual / Physical Engine Compartment
Inspection
Perform a careful visual and physical engine
compartment inspection when performing any diagnostic
procedure or diagnosing the cause of an emission test
failure. This can often lead to repairing a problem without
further steps. Use the following guidelines when
performing a visual/physical inspection:

Inspect all vacuum hoses for pinches, cuts,
disconnections, and proper routing.

Inspect hoses that are difficult to see behind other
components.

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6VE1 3.5L ENGINE DRIVEABILITY AND EMISSIONS

Crankshaft position (CKP) sensor.
Spark Plug
Although worn or dirty spark plugs may give satisfactory
operation at idling speed, they frequency fail at higher
engine speeds. Faulty spark plugs may cause poor fuel
economy, power loss, loss of speed, hard starting and
generally poor engine performance. Follow the
scheduled maintenance service recommendations to
ensure satisfactory spark plug performance. Refer to
Maintenance and Lubrication section.
Normal spark plug operation will result in brown to
grayish-tan deposits appearing on the insulator portion of
the spark plug. A small amount of red-brown, yellow, and
white powdery material may also be present on the
insulator tip around the center electrode. These deposits
are normal combustion by-products of fuels and
lubricating oils with additives. Some electrode wear will
also occur. Engines which are not running properly are
often referred to as ªmisfiring.º This means the ignition
spark is not igniting the air/fuel mixture at the proper time.
While other ignition and fuel system causes must also be
considered, possible causes include ignition system
conditions which allow the spark voltage to reach ground
in some other manner than by jumping across the air gap
at the tip of the spark plug, leaving the air/fuel mixture
unburned. Refer to
DTC P0300. Misfiring may also occur
when the tip of the spark plug becomes overheated and
ignites the mixture before the spark jumps. This is
referred to as ªpre-ignition.º
Spark plugs may also misfire due to fouling, excessive
gap, or a cracked or broken insulator. If misfiring occurs
before the recommended replacement interval, locate
and correct the cause.
Carbon fouling of the spark plug is indicated by dry, black
carbon (soot) deposits on the portion of the spark plug in
the cylinder. Excessive idling and slow speeds under
light engine loads can keep the spark plug temperatures
so low that these deposits are not burned off. Very rich
fuel mixtures or poor ignition system output may also be
the cause. Refer to DTC P0172.
Oil fouling of the spark plug is indicated by wet oily
deposits on the portion of the spark plug in the cylinder,
usually with little electrode wear. This may be caused by
oil during break-in of new or newly overhauled engines.
Deposit fouling of the spark plug occurs when the normal
red-brown, yellow or white deposits of combustion by
products become sufficient to cause misfiring. In some
cases, these deposits may melt and form a shiny glaze on
the insulator around the center electrode. If the fouling is
found in only one or two cylinders, valve stem clearances
or intake valve seals may be allowing excess lubricating
oil to enter the cylinder, particularly if the deposits are
heavier on the side of the spark plug facing the intake
valve.
TS23995Excessive gap means that the air space between the
center and the side electrodes at the bottom of the spark
plug is too wide for consistent firing. This may be due to
improper gap adjustment or to excessive wear of the
electrode during use. A spark plug gap that is too small
may cause an unstable idle condition. Excessive gap
wear can be an indication of continuous operation at high
speeds or with engine loads, causing the spark to run too
hot. Another possible cause is an excessively lean fuel
mixture.
TS23992Low or high spark plug installation torque or improper
seating can result in the spark plug running too hot and
can cause excessive center electrode wear. The plug
and the cylinder head seats must be in good contact for
proper heat transfer and spark plug cooling. Dirty or
damaged threads in the head or on the spark plug can
keep it from seating even though the proper torque is
applied. Once spark plugs are properly seated, tighten
them to the torque shown in the Specifications Table. Low
torque may result in poor contact of the seats due to a
loose spark plug. Overtightening may cause the spark
plug shell to be stretched and will result in poor contact