41 replies to this topic

[minotaur]

just been looking into fitting one, anyone got any experience, reviews, thanks
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...#ht_1391wt_1141

Edited by minotaur, 26 May 2011 - 08:17 PM.

[bmcecosse]

Why do you want to do this? Just look at the colour of the plugs to check the running mixture.

[lrostoke]

If its for a carb engine that won't work alone, its just the gauge, you also need the bung for the exhaust manifold, the lambda sensor that screws into the bung and the wiring.

There are full kits out there but close to £200

[BeardedMidget]

I have an LC1 wideband lambda system on my MX5 with a digital gauge. Like this........
http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item483de3c6f4
They are a great bit of kit-really useful for setting up the fuelling of a turbo car. Overkill on a mini though. Traditional stuff like colourtune, plug colour, gas analyser works well. Nothing beats a rolling road session though! Definately a mini essential.

[minotaur]

great feedback guys, i hear the overkill argument, maybe wise to watch the market, imagine in a couple of years we're paying 70 quid for stuff like this would be a great tuning accesory, i'm used to building 2 stroke engines with egt sensors and they're great when an air leak appears saving a seizure.

i like the idea of seeing how the car is running mixture wise under various day to day engine loads, maybe ideal for those without a rolling road facility nearby, interesting to hear the feedback of those who've used one

[Sprocket]

This particular gauge is narrow band and only goor for entertaining your passengers as they watch it gor from lean to rich as you boot it. Useless for tuning purposes.

You need a wide band kit

[minotaur]

ok, so this is more practical then.....http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-AEM-WIDEBAND-AIR-FUEL-RATIO-CONTROLLER-O2-KIT-/270736203504?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3f09229ef0#ht_2258wt_1141

[mini13]

Yep, bang on.

the AEM is the cheapest of the wideband gauges, an is a good bit of kit,

there are some cheaper than the one you found tough,

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item45eff60fa0

[afhuey]

I have an innovate LC1 w/G4 that I'm in the process of installing. I figure that between rolling road sessions and all the upgrades I do, it will pay for itself.

It is very much overkill for a mini. I have LC's in my bike and because I constantly change cylinder sizes and intakes and exhausts, I have been able to keep my bike running consistantly and safely. I tweak on my mini just as much (if not more) as my bikes. It's just piece of mind that I'm not running too lean. Stoichiometry is becoming a passion of mine. 14.2 is my goal.

[Turbo Nick]

bought an AEM for my mini years ago and haven't been for a rolling road tune up since, saved myself a fortune in the long run by profiling the needle myself and monitoring with the wideband.

[morley]

cheapest AEM gauge you will find with free shipping too:

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[minotaur]

ok, the price of 130 inc p&p seems very reasonable, i am about to fit a stage 1, with maniflow etc. if i decide to fit one where would be the best place to fit. I can see how obsessive it can be to find that optimum power/economy and with fuel prices, and rolling road prices this could pay for itself in the long run.

i read an artical somewhere where this type of kit allowed a guy to sand & profile his needles exactly by watching the gauge through different road speeds / loads

[minotaur]

...to answer my own question it seems best to fit more than 18 inches from exhaust port!

[lrostoke]

The article I read on using one also showed a gauge fitted to the carb so the owner could see exactly which part of the needle corrisponded with the A/F reading he was getting.

Basically it was a calibrated stick which fitted into the top of the dash pot inside a clear sealed tube which fitted where the dashpot pluger sits.

Article here

http://www.terryhunt.../picsb/pics.htm

[Wil_h]

Why do you want to do this? Just look at the colour of the plugs to check the running mixture.

hahahahaha, in 1950 this may have been a perfectly reasonable way of checking the mixture. But I assure you if you put a wideband AFR gauge on you will see how poor fuelling by carbs is. There is a BIG differance between a car feeling right and actually being right.

Plug colour really tells you very little, how can it possibly tell you if the mixture is weak at a certain load point, or rich on cruise?

Colour tunes are little better, they tell you the mixture at idle only.

Use an AFR wideband and not only will you be able to get the mixture spot on for power but you will be able to sort a nice lean cruise achieving better MPG (all within the limits of the carb of course, which is always a compromise)