Im not sure how to even awnser this after all previous replies but I’ll give it a go....
I have worked on both carbs and FI (I generally dont mess with carbs on cars or trucks anymore) and I would not call myself a “pro tuna” by any means but I have dabbled in more than a few ecu’s and tuned cars “open loop” off of wideband readings. Does it work? Yes sometimes. Can it be inaccurate? Yes sometimes. Would I call it useless? No definitely not. I see both sides of the fence here as Hotrod says its basically useless to him...... but has been effective for me any many others BUT i have seen people chase their tails around O2 readings in a less than perfect setup that would either give false data OR had some type of variables of input (examples-different fuel types or octanes, vac leaks past worn throttle shafts, oil in combustion chamber) The O2 might help you dial it in but you reslly need to already have the “ear” for it or sometimes you will make a good running setup run like crap following a A/F number. Im very comfortable in open loop fuel tuning on setups making 300hp up to 1300hp with turbos. Aftermarket closed loop fueling setups have really only caught on in the last few years and I will say I LOVE THEM. Holley terminator and dominator or similar systems will literally go for a target you set and no matter what happens in between it will aim to run that target even if it means the car is on its last cup full of fuel and fuel pressure is 1psi it will hold injectors wide open to hit the target haha. Its great. So that was a long winded awnser but moral of the story is if your comfortable try it. Worst case scenario you re sell the gauge and sensor later.
******* just remembered also you should be aware that you can have a what you think is good AF like a 13.0 on guage and cylinder 1 might be 17.0 dead lean burning up. That AF sensor is a average of all cylinders. I have seen widebands readings from different cylinders on dynos read wildly different to the point that it made me question A LOT of things in my past that I built or tooned. 🤣
Last edited by Barnfind49; 07/19/2021 4:19 PM.
