Permanent Wideband Or Handheld?

By Author: vikram kuamr
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When you are tuning a car for better performance, you will want certain modifications to be permanent whereas others may just be temporary. The extent of modifications you want to perform with your wideband oxygen sensor is the determining factor in whether you should choose a permanent install unit or a handheld one. Permanent units are usually installed along with a gauge you that you can constantly monitor the air to fuel ratio even while you are driving. A permanent O2 sensor must be installed properly to ensure that the adjustments the computer system makes to the air/fuel mixture are based on accurate data. A permanent unit also has the additional benefit that it is usually less expensive than a handheld sensor. In what instance may a handheld sensor be more useful then a permanent install.

If you are planning on tuning the air to fuel ratio for a number of vehicles then a handheld wideband sensor is a better option for your needs. A handheld O2 sensor will connect into the dataport of a variety of different vehicles. If you are a mechanic then a handheld sensor is a much better option for you. The more ...
... expensive handheld models allow you to log a wide variety of data that can be referenced later, to determine if the vehicle is running at the desired performance specifications.

Installing a permanent wideband sensor in your vehicle allows you to determine the exact air to fuel ratio over a broad range for the life of the vehicle. You may wonder what some conditions are where you would do better to run lean instead or rich and vice versa. Well in general when you are trying to conserve fuel and improve fuel economy a lean fuel mixture is the way to go. For lean mixtures the ratio of air to fuel is reduced beneath the benchmark standard 14.7:1 ratio. On the other hand if you are trying to increase things in the power department you want an O2 sensor that can accurately tell you when you have an air to fuel ratio over the 14.7:1 benchmark. This means more fuel in the mixture and more power when you accelerate.

If you are embarking on or have already started and engine tuning project you know it involves a lot of work. Make sure that effort is not in vain because you are using equipment that does not provide you with the data you need to make accurate modifications. When it comes to the fueling needs of your vehicle, the only way to make an accurate determination of your needs is to use a wideband sensor. A standard O2 sensor can only provide you with a limited amount of information. If you are a car enthusiast with several cars to test and modify, then a handheld sensor will give you the flexibility you need to be able to work on all of your cars. On the other hand if there is only one car that is your pride and joy and you want to tune it to perfection, the permanent oxygen sensor will allow you to track the performance of your masterpiece over its life.

Author Bio.

To accurate measure fuel data your o2 sensor must be Wideband. WidebandO2sensor.com had the oxygen sensor you need whether permanent or handheld.