FrontEngineDragsters.Org Forum

Drag Racing Discussions => Front Engine Dragsters => Topic started by: MikenMpls on January 03, 2016, 12:50:25 PM

Title: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: MikenMpls on January 03, 2016, 12:50:25 PM
Has anyone played with using a wide band O2 sensor and gauge to tune their 8 stack injector (on Alcohol)?  Knowing that most of these devices have data recording capabilities it seems plausible that using one could help tune all aspects of the fuel curve (idle to full throttle). All of you have tried most everything at least once ,what were your experiences with this? Thanks!
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: ricardo1967 on January 03, 2016, 01:06:42 PM
Mike, do you mean one O2 sensor per pipe (8 total)?
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: wideopen231 on January 03, 2016, 02:02:42 PM
Lots using them.Most for injection and carb run one.While one will work if you use plugs to tune cylinders to be equal.8 would be optimal or one with 8 egt's.I use EGT's.Thing with using them is you have to understand there is no magic number.While one car may be perfect at 1200* the next may need 1300 or 1050.They are great for keeping check on system and as referance as to what is happening compared to other runs..
Now there are folks who swear by O2 and hate egt's.Like other things its what you are use to and how you use them.
If you can not use data recorder per rules then a O2 maybe perfect and if nothing else it will get you real close on system.
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: dreracecar on January 04, 2016, 08:07:59 AM
First you must understand that alcohol is not gas and a sloppy fuel the way we use it.  Alc is also not a complete burn since it is consumed as a liquid and not a vapor(like gas). I believe the sensor would get overwelmed buy the amount of raw fuel left over in the exhaust. Exhaust heat out the port is a better way to moniter tuning.
 Very few things are new in the tuning world and if there was a way to use multiple 02 sen's it would already be out there on the market
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: oldmanreo on January 09, 2016, 06:08:09 PM
all pro stock team and many comp. racers use o2 to tune their engines
include pro mod also .if i had the money i would use o2.as for alh. being a liquid
in the cyl.chamber i belive tht it would hydraulic the engine
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: dreracecar on January 09, 2016, 06:57:53 PM
All those classes run gas, not alcohol
YouTube the video of a nitro fuel pump demonstration, alc is the same, just less volume
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: masracingtd1167 on January 10, 2016, 10:18:52 AM
all pro stock team and many comp. racers use o2 to tune their engines
include pro mod also .if i had the money i would use o2.as for alh. being a liquid
in the cyl.chamber i belive tht it would hydraulic the engine
     When you run alcohol you have to be carefull that you don't close your intake valve too early . With all of the extra liquid in the cylinder it can raise your dynamic compression too high and cause engine damage . As far as the o2 goes the cost to monitor 02 for each cylinder would be through the roof ! The best method I have found for tuning is to monitor engine temp . If it won't build heat during a run it is too rich . If it builds too much heat it is too lean . Pretty simple but it works . Bill
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: JrFuel Hayden on January 10, 2016, 06:08:46 PM
I have talked to at least 3 teams racing alky that have tried, with no sucess, or help with O2 sensores .
 They seem to help with gas, but not alky. 
 Still the best is reading spark plugs, and ET slips.
Yes, engine temps help, but you can build real good temp by leaning the barrel valve, but to check temp build up, check the engine temp with a temp gun after the run.
 I try to get my engine temp to 180° to 200° while staging the car, [ with water in the block/ heads, 160° dry]  alky burns better with a hot engine.
I know some bracket racers that change their engine temp to run the number, cooler to slow down, hotter to run quicker.

Jon Hansen, JrFuel Dragster Association
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: slingshot383 on January 13, 2016, 10:48:07 AM
You can do O2 with collector header and alcohol, but zoomies don't have enough length.  While temp probes are typically 2" from the head, O2 sensors are usually 8" or more from the head.
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: wideopen231 on January 13, 2016, 11:08:38 AM
what is this collector you speak of sligshot? Is it like one of those carb things? Urban legend.
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: slingshot383 on January 20, 2016, 10:27:32 AM
It be those long headers that all four tubes get squeezed into one tube.......Not at all like those nice flowing individual pipes that just curl up and back from the exhaust ports!
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: masracingtd1167 on January 20, 2016, 12:08:29 PM
Now guy's some of us run those funny pipes
Title: Re: Wide Band O2 tuning for an FED
Post by: wideopen231 on January 20, 2016, 04:56:55 PM
consider the soure of the picture above.Enough said.LMAO