Long Tube Heated O2 Sensor
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 28
From: Montclair New Jersey
Long Tube Heated O2 Sensor
I have a 1986 coupe. I am installing a set of LT Headers. I understand what a heated O2 sensor does. Do you have to automatically install a heated O2?? Do some cars function fine with the stock O2?
Thanks for the information...
Thanks for the information...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,735
Likes: 413
From: WV
Most headers with the 02 sensor in the collector will need a heated 02 sensor, you will know because the car won't go into closed loop..Try it with the stock sensor, and if it keeps dropping out of closed loop , or won't go into closed loop, then you know you need a heated 02...WW
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 226
Likes: 22
From: Dade City Florida
What is the cause for the change to need the heater? I have an 88 that the precast was cut out. Would this need it? Just purchased it and I'm working out bugs and 43 and 44 are the current codes.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 346
From: Anaheim CA
The O2 sensor powers itself and needs to be hot enough to operate. If it's too far from the exhaust manifold then it won't get hot enough. If you look at the stock location you'll see that it is right after the exhaust manifold flange, which is as close as possible to the head.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
A heated O2 sensor is not a requirement, but can be a benefit.
The O2 sensor requires a certain amount of heat to read the proper voltages to send to the ECM. The ECM is looking for a certain range and if its out that range, it ignores the O2 reading and goes to Open Loop tables (based on coolant temp and throttle position) to do its fuel calculations.
Headers allow the temperature inside the exhaust to drop lower at idle conditions. On a hot day that didn't really happen much to me. In winter it does. It may also take a little longer to reach closed loop operation on startup. The heated O2 has another wire to add some heat back into itself and it prevents the sensor from dropping into Open Loop when you stop at a light.
In my experience its not a big deal so I don't use one. It would help you save fuel at idle however, and running too rich at idle with the big behemoth catalytic converter on the L98s will eventually plug it up with carbon.
The O2 sensor requires a certain amount of heat to read the proper voltages to send to the ECM. The ECM is looking for a certain range and if its out that range, it ignores the O2 reading and goes to Open Loop tables (based on coolant temp and throttle position) to do its fuel calculations.
Headers allow the temperature inside the exhaust to drop lower at idle conditions. On a hot day that didn't really happen much to me. In winter it does. It may also take a little longer to reach closed loop operation on startup. The heated O2 has another wire to add some heat back into itself and it prevents the sensor from dropping into Open Loop when you stop at a light.
In my experience its not a big deal so I don't use one. It would help you save fuel at idle however, and running too rich at idle with the big behemoth catalytic converter on the L98s will eventually plug it up with carbon.
