Wideband o2 and open headers

I understand when using a wideband o2, exhaust leaks and or air pumps will cause false lean readings.

No air pump on my 65 Mustang, but open headers are the norm at the drag strip.

How far does the sensor have to be from the open collector to ensure accurate readings?

Thanks,

Jeff

i run mine 12" from the end you wont get an accurate reading at an idel but at wot they work fine

If your installing the sensor on the tube part of the headers, you will want to put a heat shield between the bung and the sensor to reduce erronious readings. Like a copper heat baffel....20 gauge 6" x 6" plate. The headers on a race engine get a lot hotter (white hot) then a stock engine, and can cause failure.

If you have Open headers with an extension pipe, put the sensor in the pipe, and not at the 6:00 o'clock position. Either 3, or 9 o'clock position. If straight down, accumilated water will hurt your sensor.

If your more then 8 inches into the pipe ( from it's end) you should be ok at idle, and any other throttle position.

Also, if the engine is running, you better have the sensor powered on all the time, or you will wreck the sensor.

You can not simply slip it into the pipe, since the sensor wants fresh air at the wire end, to keep itself sane. Part of how it works....

Photo of my sensor installed just after the collector

Originally Posted by Mikes66

If your installing the sensor on the tube part of the headers, you will want to put a heat shield between the bung and the sensor to reduce erronious readings. Like a copper heat baffel....20 gauge 6" x 6" plate. The headers on a race engine get a lot hotter (white hot) then a stock engine, and can cause failure.

The header tubes do NOT get white hot. They do not come anywhere close to being white hot. The header tubing would melt WAY before they got white hot. A heatsink is not required, except for turbo systems when installing the sensor right at the hottest part before the turbo.

If you have Open headers with an extension pipe, put the sensor in the pipe, and not at the 6:00 o'clock position. Either 3, or 9 o'clock position. If straight down, accumilated water will hurt your sensor.

If your more then 8 inches into the pipe ( from it's end) you should be ok at idle, and any other throttle position.

Also, if the engine is running, you better have the sensor powered on all the time, or you will wreck the sensor.

You can not simply slip it into the pipe, since the sensor wants fresh air at the wire end, to keep itself sane. Part of how it works....

Yup. That's what the directions say.

Thanks to everyone for the info.

Jeff