narrowband o2 sensor output

[BobDoLe]

not sure if this is the right section of the board for this...

i've read that the stock narrowband o2 sensor is pretty useless for giving readings above or below 14.7 A/F ratio. that is to say that if you are above or below, it is incapable of indicating how lean or how rich.

if you wanted to go just a little leaner than 14.7, A/F gauge will say you're running lean. if you were running very rich, there is no indication that it isn't just slightly rich.

how do you get around this? do you shoot for stoich and only become concerned when A/F gauge indicates lean?

i guess if you suspected you were running a little too rich, your spark plugs will fill you in on the rest.

i was thinking about getting an autotap to watch a/f, air temp, timing activity, misfire activity, etc... my primary concern was to watch the a/f and get some data logged.

how have some of you worked with/around this narrowband o2 sensor? could it be resolved as easily as replacing them with wideband sensors?

[shock_core]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

widebands will do the trick. But widebands are expensive.

[BobDoLe]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

widebands will do the trick. But widebands are expensive.

will they work with my car's computer?

[shock_core]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

uhm, they should. i don't see any reason why they wouldn't. I would contact an exaust shop and your dealer or mabye even give TSP a call to see if they have any insight on this before you throw money at it.

[Silv6]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

im guessing that your talking about a/f gauge that uses the stock narrowband as the input. they arent accurate enought to propperly tune a car.

your best bet is to get a program like hptuners so that you can log and make changes, best bet would be to jump on a dyno that has a wideband and tune from there. or if you got the money get a wideband (LM-1) and tune on the street.

[shock_core]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

Bob, do let us know what ends up happening. I'm quite curious.

[BobDoLe]

Re: narrowband o2 sensor output

what ends up happening?

its like this...

once upon a time there was a straight-edge 2001 red camaro convertible without any modifications except for exhaust. in 2006, along came a new owner who put in a dry 75 shot of nitrous. this new owner liked the 2001 red camaro convertible on nitrous so much that he continued to spray more and more nitrous through the little 3.8L motor. eventually the owner spent so much money on nitrous refills that he stopped pushing the damned nitrous button and shut down his aftermarket modification budget completely.

i'll get a cheap a/f gauge for my narrowband o2 sensor and save up until after christmas. maybe the car will get hp tuners if it is extra nice.