A/F gauge questions... worthless?

[ZenkaiRacerDsM]

Ive read a lot about how the blinking light a/f gauges suck and arent worth a damn. What are your opinions on this? Im talking about the one from autometer. If thats the case. Are there any A/F gauges that are any accurate? Ive also heard that the gauge can alter the voltage reading the o2 is supposed to send to the ecu thus messing some things up. Is that true?

 

[talon1979]

They are completely and utterly worthless unless you want to look like Knight Rider. I know that places can modify them to read better, but IMO it is not worth even having that gauge.

 

[talon1979]

IMO the 4 most important gauges are these and in this order
#1 Boost
#2 EGT
#3 Fuel Pressure
#4 Oil pressure

 

[Mike 99GSX]

Put the money towards a logger. It will be your only "necessary" gauge besides a boost gauge.

 

[nine5raptor]

Originally posted by ZenkaiRacerDsM
Are there any A/F gauges that are any accurate?

The problem is not with the guages, but with the sensor itself. A narrowband 02 sensor is just not sensitive enough in the range we are most interested in due to the shape of the stoichiometric curve.

A wideband 02 sensor would be accurate and useful, but that is another topic entirely.

EGT's are nearly as worthless as blinkety-blink a/f guages.

 

[kpt4321]

Check this site out, for very good information about stock narrowband O2 sensors compared to widebands:

http://www.cmperformance.com/techinfo_oxygen.html

The fact that the owner of the shop has a DSM and a 800 horsepower Viper is pretty sweet too.

 

[nine5raptor]

I spent like 20 mins on yahoo looking for a site like that.

Thanks kyle, I got it bookmarked for future reference now.

 

[kpt4321]

The guy that owns that shop is my hero.