Wideband bung - CEG Archives

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I want to get a bung welded in for a wideband. Right now Im making 2 assumptions:

1. Wideband sensors use the same thread size as regular o2 sensors.

2. The bung should be before the main cat for increased accuracy (no precats- headers).

Am I correct? I also havent found any bungs that come with thread in plugs. Anyone know where to get some? Also, should I worry about the y-pipe coating after getting the bung welded on? TIA.

Chris,

The wideband needs to be a certain distance away from the exhaust chamber to keep from burning out so use that as your distance gauge of where to mount it. In my case it got placed just in front of the center resonator since I don't have hany cats to worry about and it needed to be further back due to higher exhaust gas temps on my car.

As far as getting a bung, if it didn't come with one (it should have) any exhaust or parts store should have one. Just take the sensor in with you in case it is some oddball size though I think they're mostly standardized.

Rick

Well unfortunately I still have the main cat. Am I correct in assuming that the cat will change the readings (Should show a more lean condition, since it burns up some of the fuel spit out, meaning less fuel is getting to the sensor.)?

If right before the main cat is too close, however, I guess I dont have much choice.

Im also still deciding whether I want to buy a wideband sensor, or just use the one at whatever dyno I go to. Im in the process of getting an Xcal2 so I want to be able to use the data logging to its full capability. I dont need the whole setup with the gauge (like the AEM unit) if its possible to just get the sensor to plug into the Xcal. I am trying to decide if I will be on the dyno everytime I datalog, or if I should pick up my own to do in my free time.

I have a pretty good dyno hookup (about $10 a pull), but its on a dyno dynamics unit. I wish it was dynojet b/c that seems to be a more universal standard

Right before the cat, and it should be a standard O2 bung.

Right beofre the CAT!?!? What if you really cannot do this because your 2 y pipe is the cat.

Well then get rid of that silly 2 into one cat...

Theoretically one bank should be the same as the other.

Putting the O2 bung after the cat is a waste of money. It's not really accurate enought like that to really use.

The bungs are I think 18x1.5mm thread and it's a standard. Cheapest place i've gotten a stainless bung is ebay.. got 2 for 8 bucks. Also found an exhaust place by my parents that has them cheap w/ plugs.

NGK is making a wideband now... looks like a pretty good deal. PLX I think makes one.. and there's the innovate LM-1..and a couple other. Innovate has the LC-1 now which is smaller and it's pretty darn cheap for a wideband.

And yeah you have to keep it a certain distance away.. but if you go too far away then you're slowing response time. I think my AEM said something like 30" after a turbo... but closer for a N/A car. As a note I have mine 2" after the turbo and it's still fine after almost a year.... but they will burn out faster that way.

Also make sure the sensor itself is pointing downward so moisture cannot condense in it. I think AEM recommends at least 10deg from parallel to the ground.

Originally posted by KingpinSVT:
I want to get a bung welded in for a wideband. Right now Im making 2 assumptions:

1. Wideband sensors use the same thread size as regular o2 sensors.

2. The bung should be before the main cat for increased accuracy (no precats- headers).

Am I correct? I also havent found any bungs that come with thread in plugs. Anyone know where to get some? Also, should I worry about the y-pipe coating after getting the bung welded on? TIA.

You are correct. If it is an innovate motorsports sensor you can also run it in the stock O2 sensor location and use the output to power the input of the pcm from the sensor. Only thing like buckshot was saying is it could be damaged from long term use if you are running a turbocharged system. If you have a turbo then it should be mounted After the turbo. If you don't, then don't worry about welding a bung onto the collector of one of your headers. It will work fine in that location.

Hey, you don't want it to run so far back that the exhaust is too cooled down!
Must be before the main cat. I'd recommend the y-pipe where the two banks come together for the best measurement.

Originally posted by KingpinSVT:

I dont need the whole setup with the gauge (like the AEM unit) if its possible to just get the sensor to plug into the Xcal.

what about this...is it possible to hook it up to just the Xcal?

Originally posted by warmonger:
Hey, you don't want it to run so far back that the exhaust is too cooled down!
Must be before the main cat. I'd recommend the y-pipe where the two banks come together for the best measurement.

That's where I have mine. My tuner was very appreciative that mine was already there when he went to hook up the wideband. Guess it was good planning on my part having it welded in before I had my headers/y pipe re-coated.

Heat shouldn't be too big of a deal. Innovate makes this heat sink, but it is $90. A cheap heat sink is a 3X3 piece of copper sheet that has a hole barely large enough for the sensor to pass through so that is sandwhiches between the sensor and de bung. MANY people on the Innovate forums do this.

I have had my wideband mounted in the secondary O2 bung for bank 1 (14-16" from the head outlet) for about 2 years now.
Still works as accurately as the day I installed it.

Or so you surmise since you don't have another wideband double checking the first...

j/k. I'm sure you can get a very good indication by comparing upper to lower and bank to bank. Still. You don't knowwwww

Psst. Actually the LM-1 has a calibration tool Mr Forgetful. Mine has always said 20.9% 02 in free air.

Just a side note since I odn't think anyone mentioned it yet. If you are welding in the bung with the piping on the car, try to find a location where the wideband O2 will be horizontal (worst case) or pointing downwards (don't recall the ideal angles, but use the stock ones as a ball-park). If the O2 is pointing up a) you will remove it quickly on your first speed bump and b) condensation can pool on the sensor leading to poor readings and premature failure.

Well if you just plan on having it in for more accurate dyno A/F readings it doesnt sound like mounting position will be a big deal.

10&2 or there abouts is good for mounting an 02. Like mentioned before on the bottom is no good.