HOw many of you run a wideband 100% of the time?

[turboglenn]

Just like the topic asks. how many of you run a wideband 100% of the time you drive your car? And for those who do, do you let it heat up then start driving or jsut start the car and let it heat up as you go. ALso how fast do you burn through sensors? I've been thinking about a dedicated wideband, but am unsure. But i have an extra sensor for my wideband that i could risk burning up or ruining but would rather not if it's notn going to last too long.

I take a great deal of care in my wideband and it's sensors, so they normally only go in a car once it's warm, and then the car isn't started untill the sensor is hot and functioning. BUt, i know some manufacturers run them in their cars as dedicated sensors ( some hondas, VW's and saturns) I would like to know how they get decent life out of them since they are so sensitive to water/condensation, carbon build-up before they are warm enough to "self clean" and so forth.

First hand experience only please!

I run the bosch LSu4 , anyone know a good source to get tehm cheap?

 

[SOADweskey]

I run a Zietronix setup in my car all the time. I even have the simulated narrowband from my wideband feeding the ecu. My current sensor is about 15000 miles old and is going strong but I have never run race gas in my car. And I usually do wait for it to warm up as until that time my ecu has no front O2 signal and runs like crap.

My wideband sensor is in an additional bung right before my flex section

 

[Ajax]

I run my LC-1 all the time. Probably 4000miles sofar and that is in 3 years!! Just switched to E-85 500miles ago still going good not sure what kind of effect the E-85 will have or not.

 

[turbolover10]

I run the Aem 24/7, been about 3k miles now and still perfect. I have an extra sensor just in case.

My bung is also welded in right before the flex section. I do let it heat up before I drive it, not sure if that would make a difference..

 

[turboglenn]

During warm up my car throws a wet carbon mix out the pipe (enough to stain teh driveway) that is the main thing i wory about if i do this. I woould hate for some of that wet carbon to hit the hot ceramic on teh O2 and crack it. Do any of you ahve this symptom? I don't have a cat and that's the main reasn i get it so much. plus teh humidity around here stays pretty high and causes a LOT of condensation in the pipe.

Still wondering if anyone knows a good source for LSU4 sensors at a reasonable price?

 

[turbosax2]

During warm up my car throws a wet carbon mix out the pipe (enough to stain teh driveway) that is the main thing i wory about if i do this. I woould hate for some of that wet carbon to hit the hot ceramic on teh O2 and crack it. Do any of you ahve this symptom? I don't have a cat and that's the main reasn i get it so much. plus teh humidity around here stays pretty high and causes a LOT of condensation in the pipe.

Still wondering if anyone knows a good source for LSU4 sensors at a reasonable price?

Modern Automotive Performance  :: DSM  :: Electronics and Gauges  :: Adapters/Wiring  :: Bosch Wide band Oxygen Sensor : Innovate LM-1

Cheap enough?

 

[CanadianTSi]

I've run the AEM for the last 2 years on my DD.

 

[daren_p]

I run mine all the time & car is summer DD'r. Probably 20k on it so far & seems to still function perfect. Have it installed in its own bung between the flex section & the CAT.

 

[SOADweskey]

Modern Automotive Performance :: DSM :: Electronics and Gauges :: Adapters/Wiring :: Bosch Wide band Oxygen Sensor : Innovate LM-1

Cheap enough?

That's a pretty good price. I got my last one from Road Race for $80. I haven't seen anything drastically cheaper. I have a perfectly functioning sensor with jacked up threads around somewhere I sell for a cheeseburger (there was a bit of slag protruding from the weld job on the bung and it ate the threads upon removal for a down pipe swap).

 

[SpeedAddict62]

I've had my NGK AFX installed all the time since it was new. Its been there for 1 year, 10k miles or so with no problems. It has its own bung on the downpipe before the flex section. No cat either. I usually like to let the car warm up a bit (cause its a slug when its cold) but I'm too impatient and usually just take it easy for the first couple miles.

 

[turboglenn]

I've had my NGK AFX installed all the time since it was new. Its been there for 1 year, 10k miles or so with no problems. It has its own bung on the downpipe before the flex section. No cat either. I usually like to let the car warm up a bit (cause its a slug when its cold) but I'm too impatient and usually just take it easy for the first couple miles.

I have mine mounted in the stock secondary location , behind where there use to be a cat. Do you let your sensor warm up EVERYTIME before driving? I do before running the motor when i have teh wide band on a car, but it seems like that would be a PITA for a DD to ahve to deal with...2 minutes to leave anytime you want to start the car would drive me mad

 

[selmerguy]

4 years on my wideband (lc-1) I am on my second sensor just because I thought I had a problem with the first one. It turned out to be fine. Well over 20k and have been on long trips with it in 2 different cars. Right now I run ds-map and it used the wideband for the o2. I ran 16:1 Afr on the highway durring my last cross country trip. Got about 39MPG!

Oh yeah and I just get in he car and drive.

 

[SpeedAddict62]

Oh, I guess I misread your question. No I don't let the sensor warm up before I start the car. I just start it and go. And my car is my DD, so waiting around for the sensor to heat up would drive me nuts too!

 

[Tarantula]

100% here as well. Installed in its own bung right after the flex section. I have the Innovate LC-1 setup. So far have been running E85 mix for a year on the sensor, still going strong. I calibrate it every couple of months. I have about 10K miles on it now. My rule is change it every two years, regardless if its still good. The sensors usually go for $80 and every two years its just $40 a year, not bad.

 

[assault187]

I run an AEM wideband, I love it...just having the peace of mind. I usaully let my engine warm up before I drive the car. I would most likey still be on my 1st sensor but it got wrapped up in my axle which ripped the harness on the sensor apart. I have been runing this wideband for 3 years now, just replaced the senor due to the mishap about 6 months ago.

 

[JayRolla]

I run my LC-1 all the time. Probably 4000miles sofar and that is in 3 years!! Just switched to E-85 500miles ago still going good not sure what kind of effect the E-85 will have or not.

The e85 should be ok, my brother has been running his wb with e85 for about 4 months and my mechanics have done it for almost a year with no side effects to the wbo2.

 

[99gst_racer]

I've had mine installed since '05-ish. It's had nothing but leaded race fuel ran in the car since then, and it's still reading accurately.

Still wondering if anyone knows a good source for LSU4 sensors at a reasonable price?

For a replacement LSU4 sensor, you can try any of the wideband companys. Most of them use that sensor, and they all offer replacements. Or, if one knows what to look for, you can pick one up at any parts store as well.

 

[aero_sallee]

Search amazon.com for Bosch 17014. Its available for $50-55 most of the time.

 

[turboglenn]

So, for all of you who run one on your DD's, I still haven't heard from many of you about letting teh sensor warm up before driving. I also am curious to who else spits black watery suit out of their pipe when the car is warming up in the morning?

I just ruined my first LSu4 yesterday when doing some driving to teh pharmacy and a few other spots. It locked at both 25:1 and 9:1 and wouldn't budge. I put my spare sensor in and all was good. On further testing the "bad sensor" would only stay heated for about 5 minutes, then it would go cold and the inner part wouldn't glow after that. Oh well, i've been tuning countless cars on that sensor for over 5 years now, it was time for a replacement. I'm surprised it lasted that long to be honest.

 

[biglady112]

PLX M-300 full time for over two years now. Been running E85 for at least 18 months. Personally I am not concerned with the sensor heating up. I do let the motor get to operating temperature each time though. Always let ALL of my cars warm up before we take off. As far as I know, the PLX does not require a warm up period. It usually takes less than five seconds for the guage/display to start cycling.

Steven

 

[2gGSX]

By the very nature of how an O2 sensor works, it has to warm up. I have black gunk flying out of my exhaust every time I warm up (meaning time to Seafoam), but it doesn't seem to affect my sensor too much. I just turn the car on and let it warm up like usual.

 

[BaileyBoy]

are you guys still running the factory 2 sensors in addition to you wideband. If you are, then no need to worry about it having to warm up....no effect on driveability. My wideband comes in this weekend....suggestions on where to mount it?

 

[aero_sallee]

are you guys still running the factory 2 sensors in addition to you wideband. If you are, then no need to worry about it having to warm up....no effect on driveability. My wideband comes in this weekend....suggestions on where to mount it?

The question isn't about drivability so much. Its mainly about WB sensor life. They don't like being in the exhaust for long without being hot. It can kil them in short order.

According to logworks my LC-1 is typically heated up within 30-45 seconds. I worry about the engine, not the sensor, IMO that is not long enough to do anything to the sensor. If it was a lot more people would be having to replace a lot of sensors.

 

[turboglenn]

The question isn't about drivability so much. Its mainly about WB sensor life. They don't like being in the exhaust for long without being hot. It can kil them in short order.

According to logworks my LC-1 is typically heated up within 30-45 seconds. I worry about the engine, not the sensor, IMO that is not long enough to do anything to the sensor. If it was a lot more people would be having to replace a lot of sensors.

I've decided to buy a second one to run in my car at all times. For the last few days I've been running with the one i use to tune all the customers cars, but knowing the designer and circuitry acuracy of that particular one i will keep it for customrs cars and just get one of the PLX m300's for my DD'ing. My display/control unit is pretty large as it's meant to go with an in shop dyno setup. Where the PLX looks nice and easy to stash in a vent or make a clean little place for it in the dash or A pillar with the 250 model.


I'll just use it's analog out to run my closed loop as well. So i've either got to tune a car, paint a house or sell some motorcycle 12 bars if i want it before christmass. Seems like all 3 of my jobs ( or the 2 businesses i own ) get really slow between thanksgiving and christmass. So i may have to wait till january, but i hope not.

 

[dsmmack]

I run my FJO all the time. Never had any issues with it either. Doesn't hurt to replace the sensor every season or two though.