Hey Guys! It's been a while. Long story short....

I have a Greddy bosted b18c tuned w/Hondata S300. It's tuned by Church Automotive. Would there be any performance advantages to installing a wideband o2 sensor in place of the stock? I'm not tuning it nor will do I have plans on tuning it myself.

Thoughts?

 

 

No idea what that means but any helpful input would be appreciated.

 

Lol! My bad. It's helpful, yeah. Showing the possibility of not running a wideband. I mean, yeah, you can but... You run the risk of missing out when you're leaning out.. If I hadn't had my wideband, I wouldn't have caught my injectors were in need of service until it was too late. It's an inexpensive insurance policy.

 

All good! I'm old school - all of these pics etc are confusing lol. Anyways. Is the wideband then more for monitoring rich/lean conditions? Would it benefit a tuner at all if I had one and the engine/turbo is already tuned?

 

Yes, for the same reasons I mentioned. The tuner will use a wideband to tune anyways, whether it's yours or they install their own.

 

I've only been to a tuner twice, and both times they installed their own wideband, regardless of whether or not I had one already installed. I'd say it's going to be used mostly for monitoring AFR while you drive. I may get crucified for this, but I don't think it's necessary to install one if you don't plan on messing with the tune at all (and you would go back to the tuner if you did have an issue). I do think it would be a good idea to have them, but I don't think you NEED any additional gauges.

 

^^ That's about what I was getting to. It's insurance. Now for the gauge itself, I also do not have one. I DO have the ability to monitor it via laptop when I hook up, but otherwise, I'm not using an additional gauge. TheShodan I believe also runs with 100% complete confidence in his tune, which is a very brave thing to do. Lol! I'm tuning myself though at this moment and choose to monitor still, but I did even before when I had a pro tune by a very reputable tuner.

 

Since I’m using e85 without the use of a flex fuel sensor I must keep that gauge near my eyes. Having the gauge is always best, but depending on your situation determines the importance. If your keeping the car under 250-300whp with 93oct I would not be as worried. But like me with e85 where the fuel content changes and effects the tune, I would not be caught without a wideband

 

Yes, a wideband is a necessity as a boost gauge. Go with AEM instead of Innovative.

 

If you don't trust the tuner, sure. (Church Automotive is trustworthy). I never ran one in 20 years. Road racing too, so, . My tuner is my saviour, and therefore, never had a need. There's no performance advantage per se, but if you want to have something else to read while driving, sure..

 

If not even more. Like oilpressure gauge. You mean Innovate, what wrong with that? Just thinking reasoning.

Most wideband controllers which use Bosch LSU 4.9 sensors are good.

 

Rather cynical for someone that would agree to "overbuild" an engine for a given power range, wouldn't ya think?

 

Not at all. Went from 350-600whp without it too. I guess I don't see the cynicism in your statement. Please explain

 

A joke isn't quite as funny when it has to be explained. lol! However, for you to say the wideband is unnecessary (after tuning) as it is just something to watch, (and it is helpful throughout the life of your car FOR that reason); yet fully back building a block well past what it would be handling.
Puzzles me.. Anywho. Just pulling the chain here. Sheesh..

 

My bad...yes, Innovate. Their gauges are glitchy compared to the AEM ones. Nothing to do with the sensor.

 

I see where you're coming from now, but I think the difference between the block reinforcement and the wideband is that the block reinforcement can work whether you have a wideband or not, in addition to the better tuning, and can be protected from other catastrophic failure outside of just a tuning error (lost oil pan, dropped valve, or other issue unrelated to tuning.) you cannot look at a wideband gauge in circuit racing (too.many things going on) but even if you could, all you do is hopefully shut the engine down at the last second, if you're fast enough. that's it.

So yeah, there's a method to my meaning, although you shouldn't make it a joke, just call it what you feel it really is, which is irony..

 

I'd say that no it's not necessary, however it is good insurance, compared to the price of a turbo the wideband is pennies. And to me it's worth every penny. Now chances are if you have a good tune you should be gravy but like TxDragon said it helped him find a malfunction, that if he didn't find he would have been toast.

 

I see that most of is watching wideband for just gauge aspect. There's also benefits for engine management systems operating. Faster and precicer reacting, and ofcourse wider scale. Data is more useful for lean protecting and etc. functions.

 

Welllll My Innovate MTXL is super accurate and super fast! I love how fast it reacts. The AEM units are the glitchy ones in my experience as well as there other products! AEM ( Another Engine Malfunction!..) ! my brain hurts just looking at them while trying to read the AFR. Had an entire brand new AEM V2 EMS and AEM COP kit all brand new crap out on the dyno at churches. We finished the tune on my stock dizzy and wires lucky I had them in the trunk! Returned it had it tested by AEM and they confirmed all there products was a POS!..

 

Necessary, no. Factory O2 is fine to keep closed loop working.

If you tune it yourself and / or like gauges like an aircraft cockpit in your car (like me haha) then definitely.

I would assume we are talking B series though. My FA5 has a wideband from the factory so its not even an afterthought with a more modern vehicle.