I've noticed a black film on the lip of my exhaust pipe. Is this bad or normal? Could I possibly be running too lean?

If so, what could have caused that?

All I have is the JBA axle backs and the drop in K&N filter. The car runs great and I get good gas milage with no notable performance issues.

 

i have the K&N Aircharger and the Flowmasters, I have a very small soot film on the tips, not too bad, but I had the same thing when I had the stock mufflers and a regular air filter. My dad's 350Z has some soot film on his pipes, so I assume its perfectly normal.

 

I have the exact same set up as you and recently noticed the same thing. I believe it's normal.

 

Black soot on your tail pipes might indicate a bit a rich condition...but be careful if you plan to mess with your timing because of it. It's probably no problem (although I have no soot at all).

 

I have K&N aircharger and magnapacks and I get the same soot film. I started a thread about it a while back but none of us could really figure out what it is. I feel a little better that I am not the only one with this soot. The engine runs great though.

 

Hey Mav!

You ever get a dyno? If you ever do then they will certainly check the A/F ratio when your on a run. Like others said before me, loks as if it may be running a bit rich. You running that Jet chip?

 

I have not yet been to the dyno after i put in the K&N and the Flowmasters, I am due to do that soon. I got a gift certificate from my sister for college graduation for 2 dyno pulls. I'm gonna do one dyno pull for the mods I have now and then a pull for the throttle body spacer for when I get it sometime friday.

I had the soot thing on the stock mufflers as well, I dunno how I can be running rich when it was stock.

I do not plan on buying the JET Chip until I have put on the headers I want to get. Soon as I get the headers, then I will put the chip in.

 

How dare anyone have soot on their exhaust pipes!