Howell Odd Fire V6 Fuel Injection Kit Install

We put nearly 500 miles on the Howell setup in the last 2 days.
I have both good and bad to report.
First off..... with the carb setup I always got about 12 mpg..... this was always disappointing to me. I was convinced the carb setup ran too rich... but spark plug checks always revealed the perfect tan color..... jeep is less aerodynamic than a cow.....
Alturas, Ca is 160 miles from my door, many long hill climbs and a speed limit of 65 mph most of the way. Driving with the flow of traffic @ 70 mph I used 9.8 gal of gas. That's a solid 16 mpg! Very happy in that department.
The jeep runs really good on the highway and above 20mph..... I feel like I could go 100mph it pulls that hard.
I live at 500' and drove as high as 7500' in elevation with no noticeable change in engine performance.

The bad....
The thing doesn't want to hold consistent idle..... and it's making me crazy.
Everything feels hotter than before... floorboards, underhood, ect....
I have a low rpm cooling problem.... I ran entire Rubicon in July and never cracked 200*
Engine really dislikes lugging..... never had this problem with the carb..... I could lugg it down to each cylinder firing audibly before.

You sharp guys will probably tell me to check the timing......
I feel kinda like this now.....

I think this is the problem with idle, operating temp, inability to low rpm lugg, low vacuum signal.....

 

Just thinking out loud, sounds like it's still running lean, possible vacuum leak. What are the block learn and integrator numbers at? Can you post a vid of the O2, integrator data at idle with engine warm. Do you have a lab scope?
Is the O2 sensor heater working? with the key on engine off back probe the O2 connector to see if you have voltage at the heater circuit, use the temp gun to see if the sensor is heating up, you may have to pull the sensor out off the exhaust.

 

I have power to the oxygen sensor and it does heat up but only to about 250* in about 2 minutes. Should it be warmer than that?
Also I misspoke before. I have a 4 wire oxygen sensor that uses a flat 4 pin weather pack connection.

 

I'll compare it to the the Chevy I have here.

 

The one I have here got to 247 in the same time.
What I am wondering is if there is a condition that is not related to the injection that the Ecm is trying to compensate for. Lets try something, with the engine at operating temp. and the engine off disconnect the coolant temp sensor for the Ecm then start the engine. This should keep the engine in open loop where the Ecm ignores the O2 sensor and runs off a default value, this is usually a little rich. With the scan tool check to make sure the Ecm is in open loop and video the data list. If there is a lean or rich concern the O2 sensor should show it because the Ecm is not making adj. to the fuel system in open loop.

 

I'll give this a try today.

 

I checked the timing yesterday and I confirmed that the timing was incorrect. Total brain fart on my part.......
Timing is now set to 8* advanced at idle with vacuum disconnected. Test drive last night was an improvement but the hunting for idle is still there.

 

Kyle just want to say, I thank you for being honest with what is going on with the install of the EFI. Most people would not say much about problems they are having or was it the right product to buy. I know you are posting to find a solution to your problem. Again thanks, and I am learning something. Was going to do EFI this winter, may have to look at other venders. A few thumbs up

 

My goal is to remove all mystery about installing and EFI on our old jeeps. I have no problem admitting things that I screw up.... like the timing.... although it did not affect the idle.
I called Howell this morning and talked to Matt Howell. I told him my frustrations with the product and my satisfactions as well. Matt assured me that they have done quite a few odd fire TBI's with great success. He said that he would talk with Troy and get him on sorting out my issue... possibly with a new chip.
I still want to make this setup work. I really like the local parts availability and simplicity of the system. My small town NAPA store down the street stocks everything for this system except the ECM.

 

BRB

 

plug #1




plug #3

 

I really wanted TBI but with every post I like my carb a little more.

 

Did you ever swap out the drippy injector?

 

Yes, yesterday before a test drive.

 

Two things

Do you have the dual tank switch back in?

On your fuel economy ,MPG, is your speedometer read correct miles with the taller tires you are running?

 

Yes, I hooked the dual tank setup back up before the 500 miles last weekend. No change in performance or fuel pressure so I think I’ve ruled that out as an issue.

My speedo is incorrect. I am calculating the mileage base on gps mileage and fuel consumption from full tank to full tank. I did the drive shown below on Saturday using a total of 9.8 gallons. This drive is mostly 65mph roads and lots of elevation gain.

 

Maybe some progress...
Idle seems to be smoother than before. Here is an exerpt from a TBI forum I found.
Initial Setup of TBI, TPI and MPFI systems. Min Air Adjust, TPS set and Fuel Pressure

Get a strip of paper about 1/4" to 3/8" wide and maybe 5" or more long. Open the throttle and insert the paper into the throttle bore past the throttle plate and shaft. The paper should be perpindicular to the throttle shaft. Release the throttle and gently try to pull the paper. If the paper has a slight drag then the throttle angle is ok. If it's too tight you risk stalling and a sticking closed throttle when the engine's cold. If it's too loose you risk having a high idle the ecm is unable to control. Ensure IAC counts are 30-35 and tps volts are below .75 and you're usually good to go.

I followed the procedure above and this is the result. The idle is a tick higher than I like, but its the smoothest it has idles so far.

I’m going to take it for a test drive.