Could someone please explain wideband o2's. I'm clueless to what they do, why to get one, and there cost. While searching, I found they cost close to $1000! Is that what they really go for. Thanks for the help.

Steven

 

they are a highly acurate A/F meter. you rig one up on your exhaust stream and then use a handheld display or something similar and it gives you a air/fuel ratio. ive used one a little bit on a friends old T2, its real easy to use. from what i understand its the best way to tune a car.

 

This should prove useful. http://www.autospeed.com/A_0618/page1.html

 

Thanks guys. Whats the cost of them?

 

www.motec.com sells WB's that I'm looking at. MoTeC sells the PLM In kit form. The complete kit Includes: a Bosch LSU-4 Lambda sensor, the PLM, a wiring harness, a communications cable, a users manual (duh), the control software and a Lambda sensor bung which can be weilded Into the exhaust pipe.

 

Widebands O2's are one of the most powerful tuning tools you can have. Ive used the Uego type on my car (although i dont own one) and its amazing how much it helps you dial in your car. It also shows me how rediculously inaccurate any type of regular 02 sesor/guage really is. They should be getting cheaper, i think the Uego is somewhere around $550 but i could be wrong. If you have a haltech or a wolf, the wideband helps tuning in a BIG way.

A wideband sees "shades of grey" whereas a regular 02 sees "black or white". A regular 02 uses 14.7afr as its reference point. Anything above 14.7 is deemed as "lean" and anything below is deemed "rich". The wideband can tell you HOW lean or HOW rich you are. Widebands read in a digital display and go in steps like this : 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5 afr and so on and so forth. They range from 25.5afr to 10.2 afr. As you can probably see, widebands are FAR MORE ACCURATE than a regular 02.

I hope this helps you out a little bit.

 

http://techedge.com.au/vehicle/wbo2/default.htm

 

We've just been over this on the "big list"...

A "wide-band" is just an over-priced, more accurate O2 sensor.
Nothing more, nothing less.

I find an EGT gauge a lot more useful.


-Ted

 

But EGT numbers are only vehicle-specific correct? Meaning that all EGT readings don't equate out to the same air/fuel ratio in different cars, right?

 

Nope.
EGT readings are highly dependent on where the probe is placed though.



-Ted

 

Ya? Wasn't there a chart on some site that told you what temps to aim for?

 

Yes, well, used to.


-Ted

 

OK, my egt probe is just behind the O2 sensor in my RB downpipe(87T2). What should I tune for at WOT and 11lbs? I dont know if a straight awnser for this exists! Also my meter reads in Farenheit(unfortunately).

 

First, let me say thank you all for your input. Second would be (correct me if I'm wrong) that the use of a wideband o2 is not a neccesaty. For dyno purpases but for enjoying a good brisk drive and some modification one could get away with some gauges...ie A/F and EGT. Correct?

Steven

 

yes you are correct. wideband is really only used when tuning the cars fuel, not as a monitoring system. one reason is that widebands only have a short life. they wear out pretty quick compared to a regular O2 sensor. but for just monitoring your car when out having some fun, a EGT or *good* A/F gauge will work.

 

Thanks FC drifter. I am putting together a budget and trying to figure out steps towards upgrading and rebuild and wanted feedback on the wideband issue. I'll leave the wideband for the dyno. I suppose if I get ambitious I could get one but, I can leave it out of the budget. Thanks again everyone.

 

My GReddy used to read about 720C - 740C at WOT.
Which is around 1300F - 1350F - try to shoot for that.


-Ted

 

I remember hearing something about not going above 800*C at WOT. Is that correct? My probe is like a few inches into the DP. I just want a safe number to tune by until I get on the dyno at least.

 

That would be like 1472F