Anyone try: NGK Powerdex AFX Air-Fuel Ratio Monitor?

[RatFink]

I wanting to get an AFR. I'm looking at the NGK. Anyone try this one or know anyone using one?

NGK Performance Products - Powerdex AFX™


What's a better alternative IYO?

 

[Rodimus_Prime]

I'd much rather have something with a guage that fits in the pillar guage pod, you have to be rather creative to get that in the car and not looking like a hack job and someplace you can see it

 

[RatFink]

I've ran out of room for gauges, scanM, boost controllers, along time ago. :biggrin: I'm not too put off by it's looks, but the operation and ease of use is what I'm curious about. I could make it temporarily mounted like my other stuff. I still need to find a place for trans temp gauge.

 

[JP112_89]

..

Nice review.

http://www.paceperformance.com/paceperformance/pdf/widebandshootout.pdf

 

[Scott89TTA]

get a Powerlogger with Scanmaster update...hook the Scanmaster to the Powerlogger...install a wide band O2 and wire to the PL and veiw AFR & knock on the Scanmaster instead of O2's & knock. Now need for a gauge. I'm really liking my PL & SM...wide band O2 and new AFR TT chip is going in over the Winter...maybe a EGT as well.

-Scott

 

[Pronto]

Yes, I use the AF/X. I could not get the LC-1 to work so I went with NGK unit. It's very easy to install. It's about the size of a pack of butts. I used a relay to power it. The main cable has an nice plug that you disassemble to run it through a hole in the floor to the sensor. I have mine mounted right beside the center console by the glovebox. The numbers are large enough to see from the drivers seat. I use it with the Powerlogger and TT's 6.0 chip. I am very happy with this system. Eric from TT has also given it a thumbs up on his site. You really don't need to view the O2s constantly like the Scan Master for knock. The numbers move too fast anyway. AF/X, Powerlogger and the Scan Master fast update chip work great. Add the 6.0 chip and you can use the AF/X to control WOT and tune your car to an a/f ratio you pick.

 

[RatFink]

get a Powerlogger with Scanmaster update...hook the Scanmaster to the Powerlogger...install a wide band O2 and wire to the PL and veiw AFR & knock on the Scanmaster instead of O2's & knock. Now need for a gauge. I'm really liking my PL & SM...wide band O2 and new AFR TT chip is going in over the Winter...maybe a EGT as well.

-Scott

Thanks for the info fellas, Scott, when you say"wire to the PL" is this a plug and play or actual hacking and soldering? Any pictures? Do I have to get my Scanmaster updated? It's like 4 years old.

 

[RatFink]

Yes, I use the AF/X. I could not get the LC-1 to work so I went with NGK unit. It's very easy to install. It's about the size of a pack of butts. I used a relay to power it. The main cable has an nice plug that you disassemble to run it through a hole in the floor to the sensor. I have mine mounted right beside the center console by the glovebox. The numbers are large enough to see from the drivers seat. I use it with the Powerlogger and TT's 6.0 chip. I am very happy with this system. Eric from TT has also given it a thumbs up on his site. You really don't need to view the O2s constantly like the Scan Master for knock. The numbers move too fast anyway. AF/X, Powerlogger and the Scan Master fast update chip work great. Add the 6.0 chip and you can use the AF/X to control WOT and tune your car to an a/f ratio you pick.

Thanks for the info. Why couldn't you get the LC-1 to work?

 

[Pronto]

I tried for month to get it to work. I rewired it, relocated it, went on their board to ask questions, called their support, adjusted their software, replaced the O2, tried a shield for the O2 and sacrificed a goat. It just wouldn't figging work right on my car. AF/X worked perfect immediately. No fuss, no muss. Biggest issue was deciding where I wanted it mounted. Originally I wanted it in the glove box since I really don't need to see the numbers but finally I decided to put it in the open.

 

[Scott89TTA]

Thanks for the info fellas, Scott, when you say"wire to the PL" is this a plug and play or actual hacking and soldering? Any pictures? Do I have to get my Scanmaster updated? It's like 4 years old.

when you buy the Powerligger from FullThrottle you will also get a update for your Scanmaster (new chip). You have to open up the SM and replace the chip...real easy. Since it then gets wired to the PL instead of the diagnostic port it gets a faster refresh rate and displays additional features like boost/vac, AFR, etc.

The power logger has a small terminal board that gives you a inerface for accessories such as: SM, WBO2, EGT, Fuel Pressure etc. very easy


Go here and you can download and read the manual... Buick PowerLogger & Scanmaster Support - Full Throttle Speed Tech Support

Scott

 

[RatFink]

when you buy the Powerligger from FullThrottle you will also get a update for your Scanmaster (new chip). You have to open up the SM and replace the chip...real easy. Since it then gets wired to the PL instead of the diagnostic port it gets a faster refresh rate and displays additional features like boost/vac, AFR, etc.

The power logger has a small terminal board that gives you a inerface for accessories such as: SM, WBO2, EGT, Fuel Pressure etc. very easy


Go here and you can download and read the manual... Buick PowerLogger & Scanmaster Support - Full Throttle Speed Tech Support

Scott

Thanks for the help!:biggrin:

 

[89ICBM]

I wanting to get an AFR. I'm looking at the NGK. Anyone try this one or know anyone using one?

NGK Performance Products - Powerdex AFX™


What's a better alternative IYO?

Hi!

I can only ask, are you running with a wide band O2 sensor? If not, yer dollars a head using a ScanMaster and Directscan for tuning. With a wide band you can tune with egt which translates to afr. Well, that's just what I have learned.

 

[Pronto]

Hi!

I can only ask, are you running with a wide band O2 sensor? If not, yer dollars a head using a ScanMaster and Directscan for tuning. With a wide band you can tune with egt which translates to afr. Well, that's just what I have learned.

Dude, you're all messed up! First of all he's asking about getting a wideband O2 sensor, he doesn't have one. Next, why would he want to use Directscan in these days? Directscan is difficult to get to work because of the connection to the ecm board and the interferance it makes. You also need old windows programs. Powerlogger is a snap to install and works very easily with new laptops. And most wrong is wide band does NOT measure your exhaust temps. It measures your O2 reading in a wide band format to translate into an accurate air/fuel ratio.

 

[TurboDave]

I wanting to get an AFR. I'm looking at the NGK. Anyone try this one or know anyone using one?

NGK Performance Products - Powerdex AFX™


What's a better alternative IYO?

What I don't like about that unit is that it only reads to 16:1 I run leaner than that when I have my "lean cruise" function turned on.

I prefer units that read from 10:1 to 20:1 and don't need the constant calibrations.

 

[Pronto]

I've had no issues with calibrations.

 

[89ICBM]

Dude, you're all messed up! First of all he's asking about getting a wideband O2 sensor, he doesn't have one. Next, why would he want to use Directscan in these days? Directscan is difficult to get to work because of the connection to the ecm board and the interferance it makes. You also need old windows programs. Powerlogger is a snap to install and works very easily with new laptops. And most wrong is wide band does NOT measure your exhaust temps. It measures your O2 reading in a wide band format to translate into an accurate air/fuel ratio.

OK! I guess there's one in every crowd. I did't relate his question to a wide band. Perhaps that's because I didn't read 'wide bad o2 sensor' in his question. There's Buick guys here that use Directscan and have great success with them. Also, I didn't say that a wide band o2 measures egt, I said egt translates to afr. I apologize for the poor choice of wording. So, with 'all do respect' to your electronic genious I can only ask for your help. Just how do YOU tune with afr? Do you just set your afr at 14.7 all the time or do you 'by chance' adjust your afr to reach a certain egt number? I was just trying to help DUDE!

 

[TurboDave]

OK! I guess there's one in every crowd. I did't relate his question to a wide band. Perhaps that's because I didn't read 'wide bad o2 sensor' in his question. There's Buick guys here that use Directscan and have great success with them. Also, I didn't say that a wide band o2 measures egt, I said egt translates to afr. I apologize for the poor choice of wording. So, with 'all do respect' to your electronic genious I can only ask for your help. Just how do YOU tune with afr? Do you just set your afr at 14.7 all the time or do you 'by chance' adjust your afr to reach a certain egt number? I was just trying to help DUDE!

Assuming that EGT directly relates to AFR is a good way to get into big trouble one day. It doesn't always.
And as far as tuning by WBO2, it depends on what you're feeding that WBO2 signal into. If you're feeding a stand alone or piggy back ECM that can use the data and make it's own changes according to the tables you setup, then yes, you set your desired A/F ratio for various conditions such as idle/cruise/WOT.

 

[TurboDave]

I've had no issues with calibrations.

Most don't. I just don't like running controllers that aren't sophisticated enough to take care of mundane tasks like that on their own.

 

[Pronto]

89ICBM, you certainly missed the jist of RatFink's question because he specificly asked about the Powerdex AF/X which is a WIDE band O2 montior. As far as Direct scan goes, years ago I had one and couldn't deal with the issues ie; connector to board, clumbersome shielded cable, old software. For today the Powerlogger is THE way to go if you going to stay with chips. It's easy to set up and there is fantastic support on the Full Throttle forum. Is there still support for Direct scan? Pretty much the closest thing you can get to a FAST system is the Powerlogger with the supporting chips and inputs. I'm no "electronic genius" but I do use the Powerlogger to log my a/f ratio. I did it first with the TT 5.6 chip with only the narrow band. It was useful but not the best way to see what's going on with the a/f. Next I added the Powerdex AF/X. It was very useful to see a whole run and where the O2s were going. From the readings I could adjust my fueling as needed. I recently stepped up the TT 6.0 chip. I can set the a/f I want to maintain. I use Alkycontrol so I started with a tune for a/f around 10.8 and slowly leaned it out while adding some alky. I don't have a egt sensor but will add one someday since is can be logged with the Powerlogger.
As far as a/f relating to egt, there is a relation but if you keep your a/f in a safe zone the egt will be ok. I've been told to tune O2s for a/f and egt for timing. Since I have no egt sensor all I can do it tweak the timing and see what my results will be. The chip will correct for a/f so that part of the equation should be safe. My friends that have turned up the timing end up with lots of knock very quickly so Eric is pretty close with his choice of timing. Like anything on these cars, when you get to higher boost levels and more hp any little mess up and ruin your day. All you can do is try to control as many potential issues as possible. It's been said that running with high boost is like lighting off a bottle rocket with no tail.

 

[Pronto]

Most don't. I just don't like running controllers that aren't sophisticated enough to take care of mundane tasks like that on their own.

Eric from TT is ok with it. That's good enough for me.