Have you ever went to get in your car to start the engine and your engine light turns on? If you have a code reader, you can find the source of this problem rather quickly.
But if you do not have a code reader, then you have to go to an auto parts store so they can read the code. As the codes come up, you see the dreadful lean bank one.
What does lean bank one even mean?
Lean bank one means that the engine is either running low on fuel on that side of the engine. The other option is that you are receiving too much air on that side of the engine. Let’s dive deeper into this so you can find the problem quick and easy.
When will I see lean bank one on my vehicle?
You will see lean in bank one if you are receiving too much air as in a vacuum leak.
You will also receive this error if you are getting not enough fuel. Your service engine light will come on and show the code P0171. Once you have corrected this problem, the code will erase itself.
You are also able to delete the engine code if you have a code reader. In the case that you do not have a code reader, here is a link to the one I use on Amazon. You will see me use this code reader numerous times in my Youtube videos.
It is easy to navigate and has a wide array of functions it can do. So if you plan on working on your vehicle, having a code reader is a must-have tool!
What side of my engine is bank 1?
The banks of the engine can be found by knowing the location of your number one cylinder.
Most auto manufacturers will clearly state that the side of the engine that has the number one cylinder is your bank one. Other manufacturers will say that the side of the engine that has the odd numbers on it is your bank one.
Yes, I know that both of these sentences say the same thing, but just in case one definition is easier for you to remember than the other. Knowing both of the descriptions will make it easier for you to remember in the future.
Also knowing which bank the problem occurs in will make your search much easier to find.
How can I find the cause of the lean bank one code?
Many times when it comes to having a bank run lean, it is due to a vacuum leak. Take a spray can of carburetor cleaner and spray the rubber vacuum hoses on that side of the engine.
Make sure that the carb cleaner you are using is combustible. Once you spray the carb cleaner over the spot where the vacuum leak is, the engine will suck in the cleaner, and you will hear the engine speed up.
Once the engine speeds up, you know you are in the right place and can search closer to find the vacuum leak. As I said in many cases, it is a cracked rubber line or a damaged gasket that is old and needs to be replaced. So make sure you are on the lookout for those indications.
How can I prevent a lean bank one code from happening?
Vacuum lines are made out of rubber, and it does not matter where you live, rubber gets old.
When the rubber gets old, it cracks and is not able to do its job correctly anymore. So a great way around this is to STOP using rubber! When rubber
gets cold it cracks; when rubber gets hot and dry it breaks, so the cure to this problem is to stop using rubber altogether.
With newer higher end wiper blades they too saw this problem occurring way too often. So just like the wiper blade industry, you need to upgrade to silicone hoses.
These hoses can be found at this link on Amazon. This is the same hoses that I use on the vehicle I repair and sell. Not only can you change the color scheme of your engine bay with these new hoses but you will lengthen the time your tubes have as a lifespan.
In conclusion
Doing the repairs on your vehicle will save you a lot of time and money in your car. Upgrading your hoses and gaining the knowledge to be able to diagnose problems on your vehicle in the future make you an even stronger driver.
Also, this maintenance to your car will show when you go to resell or trade your vehicle in. So make sure you keep your vehicle in proper operational order by repairing any engine codes and faults that come up promptly.
Thank you for reading my article. I hope you enjoyed it and found it beneficial. Check out my YouTube channel today and make sure you hit subscribe to get more DIY Auto repair and flipping cars for profit videos! Thanks again, everyone and see you in my next piece!
