Innovate WideBand Cal Question

[79MGB-V8]

Innovate recommends open-air calibration. My question is, if the sensor is a Bosch (or equivalent), and that same sensor is used on current production cars, how does the ECU on those production cars do the calibration?

[Matt Cramer]

They generally take a short cut - Bosch does a calibration at the factory and puts a resistor in its wiring that reflects the sensor's own calibration curve. However, the sensor calibration can and does drift as the sensor ages. I don't believe the factory systems compensate for this, though I could be wrong.

[79MGB-V8]

Makes sense, I guess. So, if I buy an Innovate WB controller for use on my car, what is the recommended interval to remove the WBS from the exhaust system and do an open-air calibration?

[Matt Cramer]

It's in the manual, but here is a copy of Innovate's official recommendations.

Calibration Schedule

Normally aspirated daily driver:
- Calibrate before installation of new sensor
- Calibrate new sensor again after 3 month of use
- Thereafter calibrate once a year or every 20,000 miles, whichever comes first

Turbo car, daily driver (tuned rich):
- Calibrate before installation of new sensor
- Calibrate new sensor again after 3 month of use
- Thereafter calibrate twice a year or every 10,000 miles, whichever comes first

Race car
- Calibrate before first installation of new sensor
- Calibrate once per race weekend

Dyno use
- Calibrate a new sensor
- Calibrate every 2-3 days, depending on usage