Ive been reading all of the supercharger threads and think I understand some of it. I know that AFR is Air Fuel Ratio...but i keep seeing reference to wideband AFR, almost like its something different. Can someone please explain this to me...is it the same thing as AFR...or is wideband something different?

 

stock cars come with narrowband oxygen sensors, they merely tell you if the AFR is above or below stoich. Its basically an on/off switch for above and below stoich.

Wideband oxygen sensors on the other hand register the full spectrum so you can get an exact AFR. Widebands are required to tune an electronically injected car.

You don't need to purchase one unless you're doing the tuning yourself though. Your tuner will definitely have one and there's not really much point to buying one to monitor the ratios while driving because they won't change unless you tinker with the engine significantly (which would require a retune).

 

thanks! So when they say wideband they are really talking about the sensor itself. I didnt really want to spend the money on all the guages, this is getting expensive enough as it is! You dont think its necessary to monitor EGT, AFR and all of that? I am going to use the URD 7th kit so Im hoping his tune will work for me out of the box, so I can just hook it up and run it!

 

Well im a huge import tuner, pushing cars to their limit. Running a Wideband is to show you what your air fuel ratio is, exactly, you can buy a AFR but gives you a large area for error. Widebands come in various ways, you can get one that you just plug into your computer and use it as a gauge, the gauge is an addition that allows you to monitor at all times. An EGT is a good thing, tells you your exhaust gas temperature, tells you if your getting too hot, vital for turbo temps. Taking your vehicle somewhere to get tuned is gonna run you several hundreds of dollars, if you have an idea of how to tune id say try too, spend the 200 on a wideband an extra 100 for a gauge, 200 on an EGT. it'll cost you that plus to get your vehicle tuned. this way you get to monitor whats going on as well.

 

I did.

 

http://www.innovatemotorsports.com/r...B_Shootout.pdf

 

http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_artic...sors-work.aspx

 

I'm fairly certain the Original poster figured it out in the past 5 years. haha

 

 

I run the Innovate wideband (stand alone gauge with sensor) and I would NOT do without it.
Simple fact is when you add performance parts, particularly boost, then you need to monitor it all the time. If something fails, and you don't see the change in AFR, you can just ruin the whole works.

 

It is very good info for the upcoming people searching this that need answers as well. no just the OP