DIY Wideband O2

[K2Orion]

I've been looking at wideband O2 setups for tuning my junk and others.
What are you guys using?
Anybody built their own?
I'm trying to get a functional meter that is portable so I can take it from one vehicle to another and just add a bung to vehicle I'm working on. So it doesn't need to be a "cool" looking 2 5/16" white face, blue backlight gauge hanging off my widshield pillar.
I would like to think I can piece 1 together off web less than a kit from Summit or Jegs.

 

[Samson]

I, too am interested in this! Been wanting to put a relatively decent priced wideband on my 280z so I could tune the AFR's accordingly..

 

[GeneralDisorder]

Either of these depending on what you like:

https://www.plxdevices.com/product_info.php?id=WDBDSMAFR_DM6

https://www.plxdevices.com/product_info.php?id=WDBDM300TE

Wideband sensors need a control unit. The entry price on a decent wideband is about $200 to $300 and down a lot from a few years ago.

GD

 

[Turbo_Prop]

I use a Wego III from Daytona TwinTec. It works very well. I like the log feature.

I have my shop setup so that when I return to the garage my bike gets parked on the lift, the battery tender is plugged in and then I plug in a USB cable into the logger where it is saved to the shared drive. Then it is upstairs to the man room to analyze the last 40 minutes of run time on the big screen. I like to tinker.

http://www.daytona-twintec.com/WEGO3.html

 

[antinym]

I picked up the kit from prosport gauges... mainly because it matched my other gauge..
I suggest you mount it nearly in your sightline or get data logging on it.

 

[JerseyBoatBuilder]

I use the Innovate motor sports LM-2 Basic kit usb to lap top with Hp tuners software

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/lm2.php


I have friends that use and like this one it is cheaper priced I think

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/products/performance/afx.asp

 

[Fastbird]

You won't find a better bang for the buck portable wide band O2 than the Innovate LM1 or LM2 IMO.

 

[K2Orion]

Yeah, The Innovate or AEM systems seem to be the best value.
I'm just trying to get as cheap as I can. With a coupon code, the Bosch LSU4.2 can be had for under $50 from Advanced Auto, so I was wondering if I could get the other pieces "a la carte" and come in cheaper.
Maybe I need to keep searching for a Summit Racing or Jegs coupon code.

 

[cammok5]

a litle more then halfway down this page it shows you can do nit yourself with a dvm and cheao o2 snsor. might be worth a try.
http://www.bob2000.com/carb.htm

 

[MachYou]

I used these on several projects and worked fine.

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/MTXL.php

 

[IP2GSR]

a litle more then halfway down this page it shows you can do nit yourself with a dvm and cheao o2 snsor. might be worth a try.
http://www.bob2000.com/carb.htm

A quick Google search on the differences between a narrow band ( single wire ) sensor and the Wideband sensor should convince you not to waste your time as bob has.

The Innovative sensor works great. If you are electrically inclined, there are a few DIY circuits and boards but really, for the money the commercial products are an incredible deal.

 

[Danglerb]

Lots of car guys I know use the innovative setup. My understanding is that you tend to blow through the O2 sensors fairly quickly during gross tuning when the mix is off a lot, so I found the Bosch part number for the O2 they use, same as VW something I recall, and bought my own sensor off Amazon for about $47, and plan to borrow a meter for tuning or logging.

I think a DIY is very possible to do, but kind of doubt it will be a money saver, the LM2 is too much a commodity for it to have much fat in the price.

OTOH once you digitize the signal it should be trivial to log and convert to AFR.

 

[383 240z]

I use the Innovate motor sports LM-2 Basic kit usb to lap top with Hp tuners software

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/lm2.php


I have friends that use and like this one it is cheaper priced I think

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/products/performance/afx.asp

You won't find a better bang for the buck portable wide band O2 than the Innovate LM1 or LM2 IMO.

I used these on several projects and worked fine.

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/products/MTXL.php

A quick Google search on the differences between a narrow band ( single wire ) sensor and the Wideband sensor should convince you not to waste your time as bob has.

The Innovative sensor works great. If you are electrically inclined, there are a few DIY circuits and boards but really, for the money the commercial products are an incredible deal.

This is the one I use for tuning MegaSquirt set ups. See a trend? Keith

 

[TommyK]

If you don't care about data logging the AEM is the best value IMO. It's what I use and it works great. The thing about portability is the car you are using it on must have a bung welded in the exhaust system. I know other systems claim they can be used with a tailpipe mounted sensor but from what I have read they are not that accurate/reliable.

If data logging is important then it is hard to beat the Innovate stuff.

 

[LG63]

I'll be fabricating my own exhaust system soon and was considering adding bungs just in case I decide to add one of these systems in the future. Is there a standard size bung or are they unique to each manufacturer?

 

[Thunderbisciut]

Another for Innovate Motorsports. I have an LC-1 myself, cheap, easy, reliable...

 

[K2Orion]

Innovate MTX-L will probably be my choice. I intend to use this setup on my '72 Chevy truck and friends other carb'ed vehicles. Most of these are SBC powered and already have headers and dual exhaust, so adding a bung or two won't be a big deal. Just trying to get more power and less raw fuel stink out of these rides.

 

[TommyK]

I'll be fabricating my own exhaust system soon and was considering adding bungs just in case I decide to add one of these systems in the future. Is there a standard size bung or are they unique to each manufacturer?

M18 x 1.5 is the size for the Bosch sensor that is typical for these systems.

 

[Danglerb]

Maybe obvious, but sensor distance from the exhaust valve is important, hot, but not too hot, and absolutely before the catalytic converter. When you place the bung, think about where the O2 sensor and wiring will be going, and how to get a wrench on it to R&R.

 

[gripen]

Bummer

Title had me thinking there were more alternatives to the JAW wideband.
http://14point7.com/

Maybe something more DIY and less expensive.

Oh well

 

[boosteddsm92]

Anyone know how the Bosch sensors stand up to leaded gas? I know it shortens the life of my regular o2 sensors. Of they go at the same rate I'm ok w/that, as long as it's not considerably more...

 

[GeneralDisorder]

For the same price as the MTXL you can get the PLX version that I noted above and have the ability to add gauges to it in daisy-chain mode. Exhaust temp, boost pressure/manifold vac, etc can all be cycled through the same touch-screen gauge display. The range isn't quite as wide at 10 - 20 vs. 7.35 - 22.4 but frankly you should never need readings that low or that high. The NGK one mentioned in a previous post is one I have owned and it did no go lean enough for my taste. Max lean was around 15..... 20 is crazy lean though and should handle anything you could ever want to test. If it's leaner than that you need to adjust for sure.

GD

 

[hermes93]

I recently picked up the PLX, though thinking I need 2 given that I'm on a V6 and given that my car (99.5 Audi A4 2.8 w/ Supercharger) is native 'narrowband'. Elsewhere I was told that the narrowband emulation on one side will cause the ECU to code out due to the delay between sides.

I'll have the PLX in in a couple days and post my review of it. Personally, I'd love to do a DIY instead, but decided to go for quick and convenient for the time being.

 

[MBfreak]

Hi.
Been around DIY widebands for quite a long time. Built several. Quite complicated.
But, nowadays there is not much sense in it. Innovate is good and works very well, their calibrating and setting analog output PC based tool is really simple. There are others just as good.
We have some Innovates sitting in hot cars like Pantera, GT40 replica, Shelby replica with V8s of up to 600 hp.
They can also be used when helping a friend tune a carburetted noncat car. Power the Innovate up and stick the sensor up the tail pipe 10 ".

You will get fairly reliable readings.

It is posible to destroy the sensors if the engind blows out massive amounts of soot and / or oil. But the sensors are decently priced nowadays, A BOSCH LSU2 is often below $100.

Ola

 

[theoldwizard1]

Hi.
It is possible to destroy the sensors if the engind blows out massive amounts of soot and / or oil. But the sensors are decently priced nowadays, A BOSCH LSU2 is often below $100.

Very true ! Even though these are heated O2 sensors (faster reacting and work at idle) they don't like soot or oil. You can use them on 2 stroke engines. They will work "for awhile", depending on how much oil you are mixing with your gas.

Minute amounts of some silicones can also damage them.

Any one know if they can be cleaned with a solvent or be running them in a "clean" exhaust stream ?