For those of you that run an air/fuel meter and use leaded race gas when at the track, how often should the o2 sensor be replaced? I know they foul with leaded gas eventually, but how fast before the readings become inaccurate?
Unless you are running race gas constantly, I think they are fine. I've used my A/F meter at the track with a Race fuel/Pump gas mix for 3 seasons (once a year to the track). I run straight storage fuel (leaded) over the winter, so I pull the sensor and plug the hole until I get some pump fuel in a few tanks, then reinstall it. So far, so good.
What you think that race gas is going to make it racier..lol Or you got your eye on a race coming up, I just happen to be on full with 5 gal of race gas in there from Michael's ha looking for prospects..
Cheap insurance against detonation at sustained WOT, which will kill your engine, or any engine for that matter. Yeah, it will slow you down a little, I'd rather have that than a ventilated block.
Do you really need to run the a/f gage after you have already set your mix? Seems like nothing will change unless you throw 110 VP in the tank and head to the strip. Street driving I wouldn't think you need to keep monitoring it after setting it. I don't. Mine is a Fast two sensor system. The o2 sensors get pulled, plugs replaced, and put away after tuning.
I think its a good idea, you can see any changes from your baseline. Same thing as your oil pressure, you see the trend of say 70 lbs cold, 55 cruising on the highway, and 20 hot idle, and if all of a sudden you have only 40 lbs on the highway and 8 or 10 lbs hot idle, somethings up
I remember you told me that at last years Buick Bash, it kinda stuck with me Its kind of a fine line between running just rich enough for max power and rattling the engine to death. The thing that concerns me is I've never heard any detonation with 11 to 1 and iron heads. Is it happening and Im not hearing it, or is the cam bleeding off enough compression to avoid it?
remove the plugs, threaded part off and inspect the inner porcelain for signs of detonation. 02 sensors are only good for about 50,000 miles max. After that they give false readings. On a non boosted vehicle remove the sensor when not testing the air fuel ratio. for carbed vehicles the life of the sensor is way less than 50,000 miles. They get fouled up. remove the sensor and plug the bung, then test it when needed.
E-85 is the best option. I’m going to run 10.3:1 and turbos. The detonation resistance is incredible and the fuel is low cost.
