Short Term Fuel Trim

If the oxygen sensors are warmed up and the PCM determines that the engine can operate near stoichiometric air/fuel ratio (14.7 to 1 for gasoline), the PCM goes into closed loop fuel control mode. Since an oxygen sensor can only indicate rich or lean, the fuel control strategy must constantly adjust the desired air/fuel ratio rich and lean to get the oxygen sensor to "switch"around the stoichiometric point. If the time between switches are the same, then the system is actually operating at stoichiometry. The desired air/fuel control parameter is called short term fuel trim (SHRTFT1 and 2) where stoichiometry is represented by 0%. Richer (more fuel) is represented by a positive number and leaner (less fuel) is represented by a negative number. Normal operating range for short term fuel trim is +/- 25%. Some calibrations will have time between switches and short term fuel trim excursions that are not equal. These unequal excursions are used to run the system slightly lean or rich of stoichiometry. This practice is referred to as using "bias". For example, the fuel system can be biased slightly rich during closed loop fuel to help reduce NOx.

Values for SHRTFT1 and 2 may change a great deal on a scan tool when the engine is operated at different rpm and load points. This is because SHRTFT1 and 2 will react to fuel delivery variability that can change as a function of engine rpm and load. Short term fuel trim values are not retained after the engine is turned off.