Ok I know this is going to sound like a stupid question because I am pretty sure I already know the answer...but, I have a D16Y7 I am about to do a mini-me on with a ZC head and I am getting a fuel smell coming from the bay as well as the exhaust, the only time I am getting the smell is when the car is first started before the engine heats up to temp, once it has gotten to temp the smell goes away, my question is, is this caused by the incorrect ECU being used with a non-vtec motor causing it to run rich?

 

you might have a crack on youir header near the primary o2

 

Yeah, I thought that might be the problem too, I check it out today and I couldnt find a leak but the header is being replaced this weekend so I should be able to tell then, right now it seems I'm chasing a gremlin but I think it has to do with the ECU being vtec on a non-vtec motor. A friend of mine suggested running his ECU on the motor before doing any work to see if it clears up the smell, I'm just hoping its not a problem with the fuel assembly, but I havent seen any dripping and the smell goes away under low idle.

 

Are you running a stock header or have you swapped it out for another one?

 

Running a d-series vtec ecu on a non-vtec d-series motor will not give it more fuel. It will only give it more fuel above the rpm at which vtec is supposed to engage. So it will only run rich in the upper rpm range. It will also let the engine rev a bit higher. That should really be the only difference. Engines equiped with vtec run the same as every other engine when vtec is not engaged.

May I ask why you aren't running the proper ecu?

 

Mike, you just answered a question I had!!!!!

 

Right now its the stock manifold, I checked it and the O ring and the center gasket are both shot, I've got a Megan 4-2-1 coming this week, was cheaper then buying just the gaskets so I thought what the hell..lol

Thanks for all the input guys, as suggested it was a exhaust leak in the rear of the manifold that was causing the smell, by this time next week I should have the head swapped, new header on and have it tuned so hopefully everything will straighten out.