Notices
Series I Trouble Shooting This is the place to learn more about or discuss any issues you're having with your RX-8

Test front o2 sensor

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 02-14-2020, 03:23 AM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Remuron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Test front o2 sensor

Hello i am searching forum but cant find anything relevant about testing front o2 sensor.
I dont have cell codes but car has rough idle and STFT1 is -5% or lower. When STFT1 goes lower it nearly stalls then STFT1 jumps up and it fires up again then again STFT1 starts to fall and it goes like this in cycles.
I fear i have very lean mixture on idle and it will kill the engine. Also exhaust is stinky. Not like unburnt fuel but instead i dont know what to compare it to. Car has no smoke and healthy CAT. Car has modified intake and exhaust ports on side walls. The exhaust ports are larger than on 6 port.

Last edited by Remuron; 02-14-2020 at 03:26 AM.
Old 02-14-2020, 06:48 AM
  #2  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,729
Received 957 Likes on 835 Posts
The ECU regularly runs diagnostics on the O2 sensor, it does its own testing. You can confirm the mixture by looking at the spark plugs, but I would bet the fuel trims are doing their job and keeping your mixture in a safe range.

Something is either causing too much fuel to be delivered, or restricting air to the engine. How is LTFT? Was the car tuned for the enlarged ports?

Can't comment on the smell if you can't describe it.
Old 02-14-2020, 11:14 AM
  #3  
What am I doing here?
 
NotAPreppie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Posts: 3,606
Received 649 Likes on 510 Posts
So, you've modified the intake and exhaust ports and now you have an awful lope?
Old 02-14-2020, 11:18 AM
  #4  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Remuron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
No it havent been tuned. I just need this engine to last untill technicall/emision test are done then it is going out.
Its a fresh built engine so it needs to run for little bit till it gets proper compression.
I just want to be sure it wont get destroyed by idling on wrong mixture.
Old 02-14-2020, 12:26 PM
  #5  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,729
Received 957 Likes on 835 Posts
If it was me, I would pull and read the plugs to ascertain the mixture. However the actual problems sound like a combination of untuned porting, engine not broken in yet, potentially mistakes during engine installation (some people have put secondary injectors in primary positions, for example).

How reliable is the rebuilder who worked on this?
Old 02-14-2020, 02:18 PM
  #6  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
Remuron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I built the engine. I did like 20 engines already.
Injectors are ok doublechecked by wire colors.
But back to base question is there a way how to check front o2 sensor?

I will pull the plugs. But i am running premix and it was only idling until now so they will be black as ash.

Old 02-14-2020, 02:47 PM
  #7  
Registered
iTrader: (1)
 
Loki's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Montreal
Posts: 7,729
Received 957 Likes on 835 Posts
Like I said, the ECU tests the oxygen sensor and pops codes if anything. O2 sensors don't fail by providing an offset reading, they fail by being slow to respond to mixture changes or providing an erratic signal when mixture is stable. The ECU looks for both of those conditions.

You're welcome to try changing the sensor, but it's not the sensor.

Also mixture at idle is far less important than under load. The worst thing that happens is the engine stalls.

​​​​​​For a fresh rebuild you shouldn't let it idle. Drive it, vary the rpm range. That will help it wear in and if you still have problems you can treat them accordingly.

You built 20 rotaries or 20 other engines?

Last edited by Loki; 02-14-2020 at 02:52 PM.
Old 02-16-2020, 02:37 AM
  #8  
No respecter of malarkey
iTrader: (25)
 
TeamRX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 26,727
Received 2,010 Likes on 1,639 Posts
2 + 2 = 5
Old 02-16-2020, 08:56 AM
  #9  
What am I doing here?
 
NotAPreppie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: 2017 Miata RF Launch Edition
Posts: 3,606
Received 649 Likes on 510 Posts
For very large values of "2".
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Solmors
Series I Trouble Shooting
4
03-19-2018 02:03 PM
logalinipoo
Series I Engine Tuning Forum
10
03-18-2013 02:09 AM
Fr430n
Series I Trouble Shooting
6
03-03-2012 10:19 PM
nlsolja123
Series I Aftermarket Performance Modifications
33
12-19-2011 01:21 PM
draco067
Series I Tech Garage
1
01-09-2005 06:15 PM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Test front o2 sensor



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:11 AM.