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Installing Wideband question?

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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 02:27 PM
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Default Installing Wideband question?

Hi,
I have longtubes with the front o2 sensors installed in them and with the Cats removed and rear o2's removed.
My question is, if I install my Wideband o2 sensor in one of the rear o2 holes will it register the AFR's ok?

Thanks for the help!
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by SacCityCorvette
Hi,
I have longtubes with the front o2 sensors installed in them and with the Cats removed and rear o2's removed.
My question is, if I install my Wideband o2 sensor in one of the rear o2 holes will it register the AFR's ok?

Thanks for the help!
Close enough. Assuming there are no exhaust leaks.
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 09:30 PM
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There are no exhaust leaks, so I'm cool!
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by SacCityCorvette
Hi,
I have longtubes with the front o2 sensors installed in them and with the Cats removed and rear o2's removed.
My question is, if I install my Wideband o2 sensor in one of the rear o2 holes will it register the AFR's ok?

Thanks for the help!
THat's how I have mine. No issues
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 09:55 PM
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would the A/F reading be more accurate before the cats?
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Old Feb 16, 2011 | 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by spdmn75
would the A/F reading be more accurate before the cats?
Originally Posted by SacCityCorvette
Hi,
I have longtubes with the front o2 sensors installed in them and with the Cats removed and rear o2's removed.
Not an issue here. But yes, if you have cats the O2s should be placed before them.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by spdmn75
would the A/F reading be more accurate before the cats?
Cats produce oxygen. An oxygen sensor placed after the cats would give a false lean reading.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 10:26 PM
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makes me wonder when you see a dyno run done and the best reading is taken at the exhaust tip with a clamp on wideband sensor. I would think it would be off a bit.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by spdmn75
makes me wonder when you see a dyno run done and the best reading is taken at the exhaust tip with a clamp on wideband sensor. I would think it would be off a bit.
Yep, it's the absolute worst place to get an accurate reading. One, like I said above, cats produce oxygen and two, taking the reading at the end of the tailpipe introduces outside air, which contains oxygen, skewing the readings even further (leaner reading meaning actual AFR is richer than it shows on the wideband). Back in the "old days" when you took your catalytic converter off, one of the ways to trick the computer into not showing a check engine light was to weld a "spark plug tester" (bung) at the very end of the tailpipe, screw in the rear O2 sensor and extend the wires back to it. The added oxygen content of this rearmost exhaust was enough to satisfy the computer into thinking that there was still a functioning catalytic converter in front of the rear mounted O2 sensor.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 'VETTE PHASE
Yep, it's the absolute worst place to get an accurate reading. One, like I said above, cats produce oxygen
They produce oxygen?
I thought they catalytically combined NO / NO2 with Carbon Monoxide and unburnt Hydrocarbons...

Originally Posted by 'VETTE PHASE
and two, taking the reading at the end of the tailpipe introduces outside air, which contains oxygen, skewing the readings even further (leaner reading meaning actual AFR is richer than it shows on the wideband). Back in the "old days" when you took your catalytic converter off, one of the ways to trick the computer into not showing a check engine light was to weld a "spark plug tester" (bung) at the very end of the tailpipe, screw in the rear O2 sensor and extend the wires back to it. The added oxygen content of this rearmost exhaust was enough to satisfy the computer into thinking that there was still a functioning catalytic converter in front of the rear mounted O2 sensor.
How does adding a bung to the exhaust somehow introduce oxygen into the system?
OBD-2 Systems check for the operation of a catalytic converter by varying the air/fuel ratio at idle and part throttle, and then checking that this AFR lags on the post cat O2 sensor. Without the cat in place the two readings are the same and the computer throws a "P0420": Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold.
The reason why moving the O2 away from the exhaust stream eliminates the code (sometimes) is because that also makes the readings lag.
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Old Feb 17, 2011 | 11:39 PM
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Hi,
I'm NOT running CATS so I guess I'm good to go!

Thanks for all the help!
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 12:48 AM
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Originally Posted by PowerLabs
They produce oxygen?
I thought they catalytically combined NO / NO2 with Carbon Monoxide and unburnt Hydrocarbons...
Yeah well, sometimes you think too much. Not being a narcissist, I don't feel the need to throw around big words. I'm more of a laymans terms kind of guy. When the nitrogen oxides (NO2) pass across the media in the catalytic converter the nitrogen atom is scrubbed off, leaving O2. The oxygen produced by this reaction is then used to change the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and also to change hydrocarbons into carbon dioxide and water. Not all of the oxygen is used and it travels out of the catalytic converter where it is read by the post cat 02 sensor.



Originally Posted by PowerLabs
How does adding a bung to the exhaust somehow introduce oxygen into the system?
Seriously, did you really ask this?


Originally Posted by PowerLabs
OBD-2 Systems check for the operation of a catalytic converter by varying the air/fuel ratio at idle and part throttle, and then checking that this AFR lags on the post cat O2 sensor. Without the cat in place the two readings are the same and the computer throws a "P0420": Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold.
This is mostly right but I still can't give you full credit for it......B-

Originally Posted by PowerLabs
The reason why moving the O2 away from the exhaust stream eliminates the code (sometimes) is because that also makes the readings lag.
I know, that's what I said.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 10:59 AM
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Originally Posted by 'VETTE PHASE
Yeah well, sometimes you think too much. Not being a narcissist, I don't feel the need to throw around big words..
Like "Catalyst"? If that's a big word for you you probably should stick to carburators
Putting an extension on your O2 sensor does not add oxygen to the system, unless you can't weld and you leave a bunch of gaps in there. The fact that you think it does makes me think you don't really understand how they work... Howstuffworks.com has a great layman explanation.
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Old Feb 18, 2011 | 07:37 PM
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Originally Posted by PowerLabs
Like "Catalyst"? If that's a big word for you you probably should stick to carburators
It's carburetor. webster-dictionary.net .......and that's bigger than "catalyst".
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Old Feb 20, 2011 | 11:11 AM
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I run a LM1 wideband 24/7 and when I mess around on the dyno, I use the tail mounted dynojet wb. There isnt much difference in the reading and I have cats. Its usually an overstated issue. Its a tenth or so which isnt an issue. Cars dont blow up if they run 13.1:1.

Most LS engines make max power in the 12.3 to 12.8 range. Its likely due to E10 fuel and not having the tune reflect a 14.1:1 stoic.
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