Sensor Problems

[sykotic1]

Ok guys, I have a good performance related issue for ya. I have a 91 z28 tpi, 305, with flowmasters and no cats. I found out recently that my plugs keep fouling out because of having no cats with the stock O2 sensor (how the dealer put it). One option thats been given to me is to put high flow cats on the car, another that I haven't been able to find much info on is if there would be the option to put a performance O2 sensor on. Are there such things? Would an aftermarket O2 help my problem any? I'm also a little confused as to what the difference is between the MAF and the O2 sensor. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Chevyracincamaro]

ive heard that if you move the o2 sensors further downstream in the exhaust (away from engine) that it helps to fool the computer into changing the fuel ratios because the concentrations of the gases change as they move through the exhaust tubing. of course ive never tried it or anything but maybe some one here will confirm and then maybe you can use that to remedy your situation. also, i know that ive never seen "performance" o2 sensors, i figure an o2 sensor is an o2 sensor. what you can to however is pull out the stock ones and try to open the slits in the sensor end (i think its open). supposedly that will allow more gas to flow through and will help to fool the comp also.

[4onFloor]

O2 sensor reads exhaust gases to adjust the mixture for lean and rich. MAF (mass air flow) measures airflow coming into the engine so the ecm can confensate for load conditions. it's a wire that heats up to about 200 degrees celsius, and the ecm monitors how much current it takes to keep the wire at a constant temp. more airflow, the cooler the wire goes and the more current it takes to keep the wire hot etc.

[89IROC&RS]

the "performance" 02 sensor is actually a fake O2 sensor, it plugs into the harness where the O2 sensor goes, but dosnt actually go inside the exhaust stream, it sends a constant 14.7:1 ratio to the engine i beleive, perhaps a bit richer, say 13:1 or so. so you would have to plug those in and seal off the holes where they originally went. as far as moving them down the exhaust, wont work, still screw up your plugs, i would recomend the high flow cats, random technology makes them, and they work great, have one on my RS, whats left of her anyway lol.

[KaotiKCamaro5]

the same thing was happening with my 93 camaro. i had the cat cut off about a year ago and about a month later it started sputtering and losing RPM while accelerating.. i didnt have the money to get it fixed, so i left it in the driveway for about a week or so and havent had a problem yet.. no idea what happened, but it runs great now..

[89IROC&RS]

the spark plug fairy came by

[DaMoNe6969]

Ive had both cats off my 91' Z28 L98 and Ive never had a problem with my plugs fouling? The O2 sensor on these cars is way before the cats so I dont see how the cat could change your O2 sensor readings?

By performance O2 sensor, he may have meant you could get a Wideband O2 sensor? Just a thought

[sykotic1]

is the l98 running a carb? maybe the tpi has something to do with it i just dont know. i dont think the exhaust would get in the way either. all that i could find out is to fix the problem i could get high flow cats and that supposedly would solve it. ive seen a heated o2 sensor on the market. all i know is im blowing carbon out the back and the buildup is also fouling my plugs. gonna research a little more here..

[DaMoNe6969]

No, the L98 is TPI too.. maybe you just have a bad O2 sensor? is your engine light coming on?

[sykotic1]

it did a few times before i had it in the shop. i just had it tuned so im guessing they would have known if the o2 sensor was bad but then again maybe im an idiot for that hah.

[DaMoNe6969]

Try replacin the O2 sensor.. Sometimes those dealer mechanics like ta say things like that ta try make a few part sales.. That y-pipe with the dual cats is a very expensive part

[sykotic1]

yeah im kind of ruling that out as an option id try to trick the damn thing before i put that into it.

[89IROC&RS]

yeah, if the check engine light isnt on at the time, they wouldnt check it. so dont expect anything from them beyond the basics. if your fouling plugs its running rich, O2 sensor tells the engine what mixture to run. so thats where i would start.

[4onFloor]

i've cut the cat off TBI camaro's before, and no problems with fouled plugs. chances are the cat you took off wasn't doing anything anyways, there usually worn out by that age, and it would have fouled the plugs along time ago. do the paper clip trick and check the engine codes

[phantomz28]

ok easiest way to solve this problem. O2 SIMULATORS! you can get them on ebay got like 80 bucks (for 2 if you have dual cats)