Wideband Sensor Positioning
The wideband sensor must be carefully placed in order to prevent
damage to the sensor itself and to maximise accuracy. Also, if you
use the sensor's output directly (via the simulated narrowband output) to
drive your ECU then you should be doubly careful. Please follow all of these
"rules" :
- The sensor should always be placed on the engine side of a catalytic
converter, unless you are testing the effectiveness of the convertor itself.
- The gas temperature to the sensor should never exceed 850 degrees
C (about 1560 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The sensor should never be run without power to the WB unit (a hot
sensor burns off carbon residues)
- Always have the long axis of the sensor perpendicular to the gas
flow (stops sensor clogging)
- Position the sensor vertically or at most between 10 o'clock to the
2 o'clock position (this avoids cracking the internal ceramic structure
should moisture condense internally)
- We don't recommend using a short sections of exhaust pipe shoved
up your tailpipe. A specially welded additional bung is the best
mounting strategy.
The sensor reads the partial pressure of gases in the exhaust and infers the
AFR, rather than by measuring some magical AFR directly. This may be an issue on
forced induction, and in particular, on turbo-charged engines.
- AFRs will indicate richer than they are, causing you to run leaner than
you think.
- Lean AFR's will be richer (or less lean) than indicted.
A solution is to ensure you locate your sensor away from the turbo, and
certainly on the exhaust (low pressure) side of the turbo rather than the engine
side.
