Wide band O 2 sensor?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee FL
Wide band O 2 sensor?
If you replace a stock O2 sensor with a wide band O2 sensor how will it affect your vehicle? Will any codes come up and what is the performance gain? I've heard different opinions on this and looking for more....thanx....G
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by 96vetteLT4
If you replace a stock O2 sensor with a wide band O2 sensor how will it affect your vehicle? Will any codes come up and what is the performance gain? I've heard different opinions on this and looking for more....thanx....G
I'm sure a web search would have told you this.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,322
Likes: 248
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
There is no performance gain from a wideband O2. It just gives info used for tuning/warning of your AFR. From what iv'e read, it's safer to use your existing O2 sensor for the ECM rather than use the simulated version from a wideband.
With that said, i'm installing my wideband in the other header and using it only to monitor my AFR for tuning/warning.
With that said, i'm installing my wideband in the other header and using it only to monitor my AFR for tuning/warning.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
What I have read somewhere is that our stock sensors are of course very accurate right around stoichiometric 14.7, as soon as you go too far away from that they have trouble.
I wideband is of course more accurate at richer than 14.7 AFR, like 13:1 for example but NOT very accurate around stoichiometric. I don't know too much about running a wideband in narrowband more though I would think a stock sensor would provide more accurate readings in the "narrowband" since that is what it is designed for. I would stick with the stock sensor and then use the wideband on the dyno when you tune.
I wideband is of course more accurate at richer than 14.7 AFR, like 13:1 for example but NOT very accurate around stoichiometric. I don't know too much about running a wideband in narrowband more though I would think a stock sensor would provide more accurate readings in the "narrowband" since that is what it is designed for. I would stick with the stock sensor and then use the wideband on the dyno when you tune.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee FL
O 2 sensor
Yes I did do a web search and that is why I had the conflicting info....some say to install it and there will be a performance gain as the ecm will be allowed to run richer thus more power, some have said don't waste your time or money and there will be a performance loss as the ECM wont be accurate and will run rough. I getting ready to replace them and looking for as much info as possible. I see that some say it would be usefull for tuning? I have Autotap now and with my laptop I can measure A/F ratio and 500 other test now as I drive. Would I get additional info from an O 2 monitor and would it give me anymore info than I now have? ....thanx....G
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee FL
O 2 sensor
Yes I did do a web search and that is why I had the conflicting info....some say to install it and there will be a performance gain as the ecm will be allowed to run richer thus more power, some have said don't waste your time or money and there will be a performance loss as the ECM wont be accurate and will run rough. I getting ready to replace them and looking for as much info as possible. I see that some say it would be usefull for tuning? I have Autotap now and with my laptop I can measure A/F ratio and 500 other test now as I drive. Would I get additional info from an O 2 monitor and would it give me anymore info than I now have? ....thanx....G
Pro
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 522
Likes: 3
From: Rolling Meadows IL
The wideband O2 sensor (and controller) is accurate over a “wide” range. Like %10 – %20 AFR and is accurate at 14.7. The ECM treats the stock narrowband O2 sensor like a switch. It is either rich or lean. In closed loop if the ECM reads a rich from the sensor it pulls fuel. If it reads a lean it adds fuel. The simulated narrowband output of a wideband O2 controller gives the ECM the switch like behavior of the narrowband O2 sensor.
Just because you get a reading of A/F ratio from your scanner does not mean it is accurate. The narrow band O2 meter is not something you can use to tune for WOT. My stock O2 sensor was way off.
Just because you get a reading of A/F ratio from your scanner does not mean it is accurate. The narrow band O2 meter is not something you can use to tune for WOT. My stock O2 sensor was way off.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,949
Likes: 23
From: Bowling Green KY
Originally Posted by dave_85
The wideband O2 sensor (and controller) is accurate over a “wide” range. Like %10 – %20 AFR and is accurate at 14.7. The ECM treats the stock narrowband O2 sensor like a switch. It is either rich or lean. In closed loop if the ECM reads a rich from the sensor it pulls fuel. If it reads a lean it adds fuel. The simulated narrowband output of a wideband O2 controller gives the ECM the switch like behavior of the narrowband O2 sensor.
Just because you get a reading of A/F ratio from your scanner does not mean it is accurate. The narrow band O2 meter is not something you can use to tune for WOT. My stock O2 sensor was way off.
Just because you get a reading of A/F ratio from your scanner does not mean it is accurate. The narrow band O2 meter is not something you can use to tune for WOT. My stock O2 sensor was way off.
