Are both necessary, or is an EGT gauge overkill with the WB AFR gauge?

 

Um depends, technically they tell two very different things. Wide band will just tell you what kind of fuel mixture you've got in the cylinders and how much is being burned (rich lean stoich). Exhaust Gas Temperature tells you if your stuff is waaay too hot and is melting the hell out of stuff in your car. WBO2 tells you if your engine is in danger from ping/knock. EGT lets you know if your set up is bad and you need better flow.

 

Depending on how much boost you want to run the EGT will tell you if you can safely run 12.5 or if you need to run 12.0 or 11.8 XX XX XX so on and so forth I believe.
Depending on how much boost or power you are putting out things will run at different temps. You want to tune for max power but some cars at max power will also be on the brink of meltdown. Which is not going to be something you want your miata to be doing. I feel it's important when tuning to the max. If you're happy with running a little rich to be safe then I wouldn't bother.
Also a smaller or less efficient turbo will get much hotter than a larger or more efficient turbo at higher boost. So that is another reason for running EGT. You will of course not optimumly run your turbo over the peak efficiency but near that point things might be getting toasty under there.

 

WBO2 wont tell you if you've retarded your timing too much.

 

yeah, you're EGTs will skyrocket if you advance or retard your timing too far.

 

I recommend an EGT- it's very usefull for dialing the ign on a stand alone.

 

EGTs it is, then.

On the same note, how many of you with WB02s have a gauge hooked up? The gauge is mighty expensive (or is it), and it seems like I could just hook it up to tune with, and run all the inputs into a laptop or the Megasquirt and read the WB through Megatune.

 

How much you'll have to pay for a gauge depends on which controller you choose. My PLX M300 came with a digital readout. From what I have seen on casual checking, a lot of setups even have 52mm gauges as an accessory now (?). I know PLX has an adaptor that lets you read the wideband signal using any one of those cheapie sweep type gauges. Regardless, I find my digital readout incredibly useful in everyday driving. When I've had my car dynotuned, I just went with the facilities tailpipe sensor and referred to my own wideband just to check the accuracy of my setup.

 

I have the AEM Uego unit that comes with the gauge, both sweeping and digital readout.
I like the gauge, it lets me know when anything is haywire. The aem has different gauge faces and bezels, I like the solid black combo, it isn't as obnoxious.

 

I run the AEM too. They are inexpensive and work well..

I put mine in the vent..

 

You want a wideband first for sure. If you can afford both then even better.

 

PLX R-500 here:



EGT & WB.

I'm fairly sure the EGT saved my engine, but i am not running the usual course though as i'm not running a IC.
6psi was fine, but i found i needed to retard my timing during the summer months by as much as 6 degrees (14btdc base).

My EGT's shot through the roof after that exceeding 900c, thing is i had a 115mm pulley (12psi) sitting in my garage ready to fit.

I'm sure if it wasn't for the high EGT's i'd have fitted it and retarded more.

Pretty sure the result wouldn't have bin good.


Cheers
Mark

 

The pyrometer is only $100. A pittance in the big scheme of things.

Anyone have a cheaper lead on a WBo2 and a gauge than $290 from Innovate?

 

wideopentuning can hook it up for a complete AEM setup for somewhere in the ballpark of $265.
Pretty sure he has access to the new innovate digital gauge as well.
Hit him up and see what he's got.

 

I retail the AEM for 265 as well.

I giggled a little bit when FM announced they lowered their price "as much as 20%"

 

I also have the new Innovate DB series for even cheaper.

 

I feel a wideband blow out battle comin' on

 

woot!

I have a WB but only for tuning the hydra / closed loop. But the check engine light does flash if there's knock or lean conditions. No provision for using the hydra's O2 with a gauge unless I get creative. Maybe later in spring.

 

OK, I'm about to pull the trigger on a full compliment of Autometer gauges with the Innovate DB wideband gauge. $300 for mechanical boost and electric EGT and oil temp from Summit. Where am I going to put all these things? I don't have a head unit so I have room for plenty of gauges down low but I want to get at least the oil temperature gauge into the cluster somewhere, perhaps in front of the latter half of the tach or speedo ranges. How's everyone else mounting gauges?

 

$20 on ebay for the 3 gauge din mount.

I'm using my EBC as my boost gauge.
I'll have the AEM WB, Oil Temp, and EGT eventually.

All that wiring mess you see through the holes has been cleaned up. That was all a quick temporary install. No more vamp. clips in there and about 3' of wire was removed.
Also, that purse is the g/f's... I promise.

Edit: So is the hair tie on the e-brake handle.