Lead resistant O2's?

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Apr 26, 2005 | 04:14 AM

Fubar569

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Burning Brakes

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From: Bradford Pa

Lead resistant O2's?

does such a thing exist? i know that normally lead is really bad for this and the catalyst but i have no cats but am concerned about tuning my car to run without the O2...is this even possible? where could i get a decent mildly lead resistant O2 that doesn't break the bank? or is there a regular O2 that has a good enough resistance that i only have to change it once a year or something, cause if i only have to foot 100 bucks a year to run this engine, i can do that till i swap heads...

OR...is there any lead substitute that is suitable for this application? IE that will not damage my O2 sensor or will at least make it last tons longer than if i used straight leaded fuel?

Last edited by Fubar569; Apr 26, 2005 at 04:34 AM.

Apr 26, 2005 | 05:45 AM

85vet

Melting Slicks

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From: Heidelberg PA

Cruise-In V Veteran

gm high performance mag did have an article on a lead resistant o2 a while back. They tested a few of them , not sure of brand, and it was hit or miss. Go to google and try a search.

Apr 26, 2005 | 11:02 AM

jburnett

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From: Little Rock Arkansas

You can clean the lead deposits off the sensor a few times before it degrades too much to use any longer. The best way is with a propane torch or a neutral oxy torch; heat the O2 until it's red hot and let it cool slowly. This will almost always burn the deposits off.

I have a couple of wideband A/F meters (an expensive Horiba, an AEM, and a LambdaBoy) all of which use expensive UEGO sensors. The Horiba is the worst with a replacement sensor being about $350.00; it's also the one I use the most to tune with. I've been using the same UEGO sensor on it for two years now, and it's had a ton of VP race fuel burned across it. About every two or three dyno sessions I burn it off...
-Jeb

Apr 26, 2005 | 11:11 AM

Fubar569

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

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From: Bradford Pa

i do need a WB O2 for dialing this in when its built, but 350 a sensor...OUCH! it's nice to know i can attempt to resurrect them a couple times before they're totally dead though...

Apr 26, 2005 | 11:43 AM

jburnett

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From: Little Rock Arkansas

I'm getting ready to sell one of my wideband meters, the LambdaBoy unit and it uses a cheaper NTK/NGK UEGO sensor. That sensor is only about $130.00 as is the one for the AEM unit. It's just the Horiba that's hella-expensive, but the meter is also about $3k...
-Jeb

Apr 26, 2005 | 06:42 PM

Fubar569

Thread Starter

Burning Brakes

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From: Bradford Pa

what would you part with the wideband for? is everything i need there and in good shape? i might have to consider this when you're ready to sell...

Apr 26, 2005 | 11:16 PM

comp94

Pro

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From: Taunton MA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fubar569

Look into a DENSO o2 sensors alot of the GN guys like to run them because they are less sensitive to leaded fuel. I also think that they are only a few dollars more than the bosch ones.

Apr 27, 2005 | 11:21 AM

jburnett

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From: Little Rock Arkansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fubar569

what would you part with the wideband for? is everything i need there and in good shape? i might have to consider this when you're ready to sell...

Brand new they're $485 and this ones only been used twice; I loaned it to a buddy to tune his import racecar and he burned the O2 wires so it has a brand new O2 as well. It's got the laptop software and also can be logged to a Palm. I'd take $350.00 for it.
-Jeb