What does a wide band o2 gauge do?

[240sxka24dex64]

Im trying to figuer out what exactly a wide band o2 gauge does or helps to have in my car? by the way im turboing it and aiming for about 400hp

[Chris28]

It googles questions like this before you ask them on a forum. I suggest buying one for that purpose.

It measures your AIR to FUEL ratio on a wide band. The stock oxygen sensor is narrow band, it basically reads only RICH or LEAN. A wideband unit tells you exactly what your ratio is.

If you're asking questions like this then I think you should re-think your power goals.

[rico05]

A wideband lambda gauge reads the air to fuel ratio over a range. Typically displaying a range between 10:1 and 16:1 (air:fuel). A "narrow band" lambda sensor will output rich, lean, and stoicmetric (roughly 14.7:1) which is the "optimal" ratio for most reasonable cylinder pressures at sea level. Remember: the otto cycle engine is an air pump.

Short answer: it tells you how well balanced the blend of burnt fuel to other trace gasses in the exhaust flow to more exacting resolution, allowing you to better meter the fuel. A narrow band lambda is a ricer light show and does nothing to assist in tuning.
Modified by rico05 at 10:48 PM 1/20/2010

[mrgreeneyes]

Im trying to figuer out what exactly a wide band o2 gauge does or helps to have in my car? by the way im turboing it and aiming for about 400hp

you have NO idea what an AF Ratio is and youre "aiming for about 400hp"

rethink your plan homie.

learn. then plan.

[brokeded]

Im trying to figuer out what exactly a wide band o2 gauge does or helps to have in my car? by the way im turboing it and aiming for about 400hp

your going to hurt yourself or the car one