How important is the O2 sensor??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 107
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How important is the O2 sensor??
I have an 81 corvette and was woundering how important the O2 sensor is on it. The car is mostly stock but has been desmogged. I'm not sure if the O2 is bad or not, but im assuming it is. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 8,918
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From: New Hill NC
If by maximum performance you mean maximum power under acceleration, the O2 sensor will not effect that much. If you mean getting fuel regulation for optimum fuel ratios under varing conditions then you need a good O2 sensor.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Originally Posted by HighHeat303
I have an 81 corvette and was woundering how important the O2 sensor is on it. The car is mostly stock but has been desmogged. I'm not sure if the O2 is bad or not, but im assuming it is. Thanks.
Jim
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
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From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by wombvette
If you have the original carburation and want it to work, its damn important. If you replace the electronics and carb, it is useless.
Not totally useless though. It does plug the hole in the y-pipe.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Originally Posted by HighHeat303
I do have the orginal carb. So to get maximum performance i should probably just replace the O2 then? Alright I just wasnt sure as to how much it actually tweaked the AF ratio.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
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hmm
well my smog pump seized up, and I didnt like it in my engine compartment any way because it took up so much space and made a bunch of clutter, and I just couldnt see spending money on a part that would rob HP's, even though its not much. So i took the smog pump and all hoses that went with it off, along with the cat, I did not think this would make the comp. run in closed loop though. The O2 comes right off of the exhaust manifold so i assumed it could still get a perfectly fine reading, car is much more responsive with these components off however.
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Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
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From: Scottsdale Arizona
I can't think of anything in the smog pump circuit that wold prevent the sytem to switchin over to open loop as long as you've closed of the vacuum hoses and not introduced a major leak.
If that's all that you've removed, I agree with Jim.. It's a cheap part. Just go ahead and change it.
If that's all that you've removed, I agree with Jim.. It's a cheap part. Just go ahead and change it.
