lamda sensor

[Colin Singleton]

We bought a Mazda bongo recently, everything was fine, until we filled her up with E10 petrol, not too long after doing so the engine management light came on. i bought a on board diagnostic device on amazon. This told me the lambda/oxygen sensor had a fault. After a bit of detective work, we found out that the Bongos don't like the E10 petrol. The OBD device would clear the fault, only to come back on very shortly. we then put E5 petrol in, but light stayed on even after a few fill ups. Then i read about CATACLEAN FUEL ADDITIVE. they recommend putting the whole bottle into a 1/4 tank of fuel. We did this but didn't clear the engine management light. Left it for a month or so, then when petrol was down to 1/4 of a tank, we put another bottle of cataclean in tank, this time took it for a longer run ie 50 miles. i cleared the error on obd device, and guess what, its not come on since. tip, don't use E10 fuel. and if you do and the engine management light comes on. Put a bottle of catacleane in a 1/4 of a tank of fuel. and run for approx. 50 miles, this should clear the management light. approx. £17 a bottle. cheers, Colin.

[g8dhe]

Was this with the V6 engine or the 2l? The later versions of the 2l (post 2004 ?) seem to be able to handle E10 but earlier 2l and the V6 aren't designed for E10, its meant to affect the seals long term, but hadn't heard any reports of short term problems. I have occasionally used E10 when there weren't any pumps for E5 available without problems so far.

[Bongolian]

My Moto Guzzi ain’t a fan of E10 either, not had any warning lights but it ran like a bag ‘o sh* on the one tank I used, as a 2010 bike it’s not exactly old either.
I’ve a Suzuki too but that drinks it happily, but I steer clear all the same.
I read an article according to which, the better mpg you get from the E5 stuff makes up for the slightly higher cost anyway.

[Hazzobongo]

My mates Guzzi (850 le mans) in the mid 80's pinked like fk on unleaded fuel so I'm not surprised to hear it runs crap on this wood alcohol garbage they sell us as 'petrol' these days, like you my 4 cylinder 20 year old kwack runs like a train on it and it doesn't appear to have affected carb seals/needles at all.