FAQs

Question:

Can I fit a lambda sensor to my engine to enable it to pass emissions?

Answer:

Your engine will need to be mapped correctly first and your car needs to be equipped with the correct exhaust system. The engine should not be too highly tuned and capable of running Lambda 1.

Lambda control should only be used as either a tuning aid or for emissions, it cannot fix an engine that has been mapped incorrectly, it is only there to trim or monitor the engine’s emissions to ensure they remain within original programmed limits.

There are several reasons why you may or may not want to use lambda.

1. Using a narrow band lambda sensor which is used on most early emissions cars is only suitable for fine trimming the fuel whenever everything is set up correctly. It is not a device to try and fix poor idling or poor running. It must be running correctly before lambda is used.

2. If your car does not require lambda or run tight emissions control, then don’t use the sensor it only adds to the complexity. All our systems are designed to automatically disable lambda control if the lambda sensor is not seen.

3. If you wish to use lambda as a mapping aid, then you would need to use a wide band lambda sensor and the 9A4 and 9A8 ECUs would need the use of a lambda controller. Something like an Innovate LC2 system or similar. These produce an output of 0-5v, the ECU can then be calibrated based on the Innovate information to convert this voltage into lambda. You would then use this information when mapping to ensure the fuel mixture is correct at the speed and loads. It is even possible to set up the ECU to do closed loop mapping, but this is something for the more advanced user.

If you are going to have the engine programmed professionally on the rolling road, it is always best to take advice from the expert that you are confident to deal with. Every rolling road and dyno has their own way of doing things. If we were to do any programming for you some of this can be done remotely, but we would need to be able to read lambda in the ECU. So we would suggest something such as the Innovate LC2 system should be used. We can calibrate the ECU accordingly then do Team Viewer session to set up idling and low speed running before going to a rolling road and then if you wish us to do some mapping at the rolling road, we can also arrange a time to suit.

Question:

I have a question for you, can we buy a Lambda sensor and connect it to our MBE system. And does our system contain a auto-tune system?

Answer:

As far as lambda systems are concerned, all MBE ECUs of the current spec are able to run closed loop mapping. The MBE9A4 can either run a narrow band lambda sensor, which is only suitable for emissions (Lambda 1) or an external device such as an ETAS, Bosch (professional lambda equipment for calibration) or a system such as an Innovate, which is a club level lambda sensor and controller. Both use a wide band type lambda sensor, which will then transmit a voltage directly to the 9A4. The maps can then be calibrated in the ECU to allow the ECU to do closed loop adjustments (auto-tune).

This facility is available on the high end motorsport MBE ECUs, the MBE9A9/9A6, which you can directly connect a wide band lambda sensor to.

The only time we use closed loop fuel mapping (Auto-tune) is when we are initially mapping each car/engine. The system is normally disabled after that time and on our high spec ECUs only allow limited changes to occur. This is to prevent damage if the sensor reads incorrectly. Various things could go wrong in competition conditions and if full trust if placed in the sensor reading correctly, this could be disastrous, for example, if a fracture occurs in the exhaust system or part of the exhaust falls off, the sensor could read lean and the ECU could make adjustments based on incorrect information potentially causing engine failure. Also if the sensor reads rich due to the fact that it is beginning to fail or becomes contaminated, the mixture could be leaned off again causing engine failure. So although it is a useful tool, it is only safe when correctly controlled or under mapping conditions, not during a race.

Question:

If I want to check the engine on the track, can I fasten my laptop in the car, then start the logging in the software and drive the car for about 15 minutes, then save the log on the computer. Is it then possible to analyse the log and then verify the mapping without a Lambda?

Answer:

Without the reference of lambda, the information you would get would not tell you whether the engine mixture is rich or lean. The kind of information you are able to log is useful for fault finding e.g. if a misfire occurs and is related to an engine sensor. If you want to be sure the mixture is correct, then potentially the cheapest option is an Innovate system as these are easily available on the internet for a cost of around £250. You could either log it as a standalone using its own analysing software (depending on level of unit you buy) or with the correct calibration in the ECU, log it within the laptop.

All this is worthwhile, but involves a lot of time and effort on your part and cost involving buying the equipment and setting the ECU up with calibrations to suit. Then either you need to analyse the data or you would need to send the data to me, which again obviously involves more cost.

Our advice would be to take your car to one of our Approved Mapping Agents to be mapped professionally, they would have all the necessary equipment.

Question:

Can I fit a lambda sensor to my engine to enable it to pass emissions?

Answer:

Your engine will need to be mapped correctly first and your car needs to be equipped with the correct exhaust system. The engine should not be too highly tuned and capable of running Lambda 1.

Lambda control should only be used as either a tuning aid or for emissions, it cannot fix an engine that has been mapped incorrectly, it is only there to trim or monitor the engine’s emissions to ensure they remain within original programmed limits.