4.6L 2v Discussion forum for the 4.6L 2v Mustangs

Dyno tune: AFR reading from tailpipe?

Thread Tools
 
Old 04-12-2007, 08:20 PM
  #1  
CMOC Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
KanuckiStang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 57
Dyno tune: AFR reading from tailpipe?

At a recent dyno session I went to I noticed the exhaust sniffer for AFR monitoring was placed into the tailpipe of a car with catalytic converters.

How valid a reading can one get from this? Modern three-way catalysts convert HCs into water and CO2...what is the sniffer actually measuring?

If the exhaust stream content is being chemically altered by the cats, which way does it err? If a tailpipe AFR is 13:1, what would a wide-band sensor placed in the downpipe before the cat read? Richer or leaner?
KanuckiStang is offline  
Old 04-17-2007, 10:41 PM
  #2  
CMOC Newbie
 
FST281's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Quebec City
Posts: 1
leaner would be my guess... but by how much???
FST281 is offline  
Old 04-18-2007, 03:07 AM
  #3  
CMOC Addict
 
jibbijib's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Brampton ON
Posts: 689
By 12 pounds per hour.
jibbijib is offline  
Old 04-18-2007, 02:31 PM
  #4  
CMOC Rookie
 
NOVI VERT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Halifax,NS
Posts: 56
If your bringing your car to a place to get it tuned and they use a tail pipe sniffer............run, and i mean run they have no clue. They should be using ther own wibeband system to get proper Air/Fuel Readings.
NOVI VERT is offline  
Old 04-18-2007, 05:33 PM
  #5  
CMOC Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
KanuckiStang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by NOVI VERT
If your bringing your car to a place to get it tuned and they use a tail pipe sniffer............run, and i mean run they have no clue. They should be using ther own wibeband system to get proper Air/Fuel Readings.
Well, I assume the sniffer is a wideband since it doesn't simply show rich or lean. I'm just concerned about what the thing is actually reading since it's in exhaust that's been modified by the catalysts.

But okay, if the only other option is a wideband sensor pre-cat, is every dyno shop equipped to lift the car in the air, punch a hole in the midpipe, weld in a bung and install their WBO2 sensor? What's the drill?
KanuckiStang is offline  
Old 04-18-2007, 06:05 PM
  #6  
CMOC Addict
 
P.Meister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 536
The tailpipe sniffer used by "tooners" is junk and these people have no place tuning a car....period

If a tailpipe is all that can be used, at least buy a quality one that limits the amount of air onto the sensor not the dynojet copper tube. Not to mention, the sensors used by 90% of these shops never get calibrated, and drift rich/lean because they are standard off the shelf crap wideband sensors that have had all types of fuel on them.

A reliable tuning shop should be using HAND BUILT lab quality sensors
P.Meister is offline  
Old 04-19-2007, 10:26 AM
  #7  
CMOC Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
KanuckiStang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by meister@steeda.ca
The tailpipe sniffer used by "tooners" is junk and these people have no place tuning a car....period

If a tailpipe is all that can be used, at least buy a quality one that limits the amount of air onto the sensor not the dynojet copper tube. Not to mention, the sensors used by 90% of these shops never get calibrated, and drift rich/lean because they are standard off the shelf crap wideband sensors that have had all types of fuel on them.

A reliable tuning shop should be using HAND BUILT lab quality sensors
Thanks Paul. Okay, so, again: When a car comes into your shop for a dyno tune, do you put it up on the hoist first, cut a hole in the midpipe, weld in a bung, screw in your WBO2S and, when you're done tuning, put the car back on the hoist, remove the WBO2S and screw in a plug and let the guy go on his way?

What does your shop do?
KanuckiStang is offline  
Old 04-19-2007, 12:07 PM
  #8  
CMOC Addict
 
P.Meister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 536
Yes. I will not tune a car unless our wideband is installed before the cats. We use a lab quality setup with hand built sensors
P.Meister is offline  
Old 04-19-2007, 12:20 PM
  #9  
CMOC Rookie
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
 
KanuckiStang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 57
Originally Posted by meister@steeda.ca
Yes. I will not tune a car unless our wideband is installed before the cats. We use a lab quality setup with hand built sensors
Thanks. My 02 GT has a stainless MRT catted midpipe: Does your shop offer the service of welding in the needed bung (and, obviously, a plug for it once tuning is done)? What does this process cost over and above the tune?
KanuckiStang is offline  
Old 04-19-2007, 12:29 PM
  #10  
CMOC Addict
 
P.Meister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 536
Yes. We have all the tools necessary for this job. You are looking at $75.00 with the bung and plug including welding
P.Meister is offline  


Quick Reply: Dyno tune: AFR reading from tailpipe?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:57 AM.