Gathering Data - Wideband
One of the most important reasons for tuning is ensuring the vehicle is getting the most efficient ratio of air to fuel in the combustion chamber. This is commonly referred to as AFR or Air Fuel Ratio. This is measured by capturing the exhaust gasses while they are exiting the combustion chamber and passing through the exhaust. A wideband oxygen sensor attached to the exhaust pipe in the rear of the vehicle or welded in with a bung at the appropriate location within the exhaust captures this data for the tuner to analyze. Unburnt fuel in the exhaust indicates that the engine has too ‘rich’ of an air to fuel ratio than is required. Alternatively, a ‘lean’ air-fuel ratio is indicative of not enough fuel provided to the engine for efficient combustion. It is important to note that the wideband oxygen sensor is not the same as the narrowband or ‘front O2’s’ that are already placed in the exhaust manifold. These sensors measure a different range and output different data. In our partner shops and on our dyno we utilize the AEM X-series UEGO Wideband setup. Since upgrading to the HP Tuners MPVI 2.0 the passthrough design on the X-series UEGO, means we can collect CAN-BUS data through the OBII port under the dash and overlay that data in the HP Tuners VCM Scanner.
When it comes time to mount your wideband sensor in the exhaust you have several options, and choosing the best one for you depends on your situation. It is important to remember with external mounting locations, that many newer cars have active exhaust valves and some of the rear exhaust pipes might not output the same amount of exhaust as the one next to it.
On the floor near the exhaust exit:
If you are planning on staying on the dyno, and not doing any street testing, a wideband welded to a jack stand placed in the tailpipe will serve your purpose.
Attached to the exhaust tip:
This temporary solution utilizes this Innovate Clamp. Its a perfect, simple solution for temporary wideband installs that leaves the exhaust intact after use and allows for street testing during the custom tuning process. The wideband is completely removable and can be used on multiple vehicles for tuning.
Weld in Bung:
This is a permanent solution and required for customers who would like to mount the provided gauge into their interior for monitoring AFR long term. Utilizing the provided weld-in bung, a fabricator can place bung and run the wiring into the interior of the car into a gauge pod on the dash or in an inconspicuous location in the cab. This is recommended for complex builds and high horsepower vehicles and is great for providing data to the driver about how the vehicle is running.