Custom/Hybrid EGT, h20, 02 sensors -- Anyone every thought to install these?

[JGringo]

Hey X-members,

I was just wondering if anyone has ever looked into installing EGT, water temp, or 02 sensors to their ski before? I have been looking around for solutions to avoiding detonation with my ski's engine, as well as improving my ability to fine tune my carburetors...

I have been looking into snowmobile EGT sensory systems like Digatron, Innovate, and KOSO for adequate PWC applications. Does anyone else have experience with this? Would this be overkill or a knowledgeable investment/idea??

Some of these systems can read EGT, 02, and Water temp values all at once. This would clearly help the user prevent engine failure, however, installation of the sensors would be a hell of a task...


:scratchchin: ___Thoughts?

-Gringo

 

[Brian_216]

The oil in the 2 stroke exhaust would destroy an o2 sensor within a day. The EGT probes would work. I want the koso unit for my sled. I am just not 100% that it is waterproof.

 

[JGringo]

The oil in the 2 stroke exhaust would destroy an o2 sensor within a day. The EGT probes would work. I want the koso unit for my sled. I am just not 100% that it is waterproof.

Really? Why do Arctic Cat M1000's have 02 sensors then?

 

[xjetrider]

There is a EGT set- up out there that some watercraft racers use. It is the Racepak Hot Tach set-up. You wouldn't want to use a Koso or Digitron set-up because I don't think either set-up is going to be completely waterproof. I don't think either one was designed to be submerged.

As far as running a O2 sensor, the sensor will work for a while but it will burn out because of the oil. Dynojet uses a O2 set-up with their Autotune but it is designed to be removed once you are done tuning so you don't burn up $100 sensors. And a lot of watercraft exhausts have water injected before the stinger that will probably causes problems with the sensor depending on the placement of the O2 sensor.

And the Arctic Cat M1000 doesn't come from the factory with a O2 sensor. The sensor in the expansion chamber monitors pipe temperature.

 

[motobehrens]

I think you would have to run a dry pipe to use an O2 sensor, since the water from a wet pipe would corrupt the data or destroy the sensor. The Oil is still an issue. You can use an O2 sensor for a certain number of hours in a dry two stroke exhaust, like a motorcycle, sled, or quad, but from what I've read, guys only use them for tuning, and then remove them. This is probably why you don't see any closed loop efi systems on two strokes.

EGT is a good idea, but who has data for watercraft engines? Placement of the EGT sensor is critical, otherwise it's just an arbitrary temperature reading, unless you plan to melt a piston just to see what temp is safe vs. unsafe. Also, for EGT, doesn't detonation equal a lower temperature? Would the EGT be affected by water injection, like the top screw of a B-pipe?

 

[OCD Solutions]

I ran a Hottach III in a sitdown I built up but could never tune. After 5 topends in a season I invested in the hottach and was able to map out my powerband with the 2 egt's and and rpm sensor. Ended up being a bad port job that didn't match the pipe I was running and a total waste of time and money. It was an interesting experiment to say the least but totally unnecessary in 99.9% of scenarios.

It basically just confirmed what I already suspected and any decent engine builder would have already known.

 

[JGringo]

I ran a Hottach III in a sitdown I built up but could never tune. After 5 topends in a season I invested in the hottach and was able to map out my powerband with the 2 egt's and and rpm sensor. Ended up being a bad port job that didn't match the pipe I was running and a total waste of time and money. It was an interesting experiment to say the least but totally unnecessary in 99.9% of scenarios.

It basically just confirmed what I already suspected and any decent engine builder would have already known.

Soo... essentially you are claiming that when the engine is properly ported/set-up -- all of these sensors are a waste? I am not a 'pro' engine builder/tuner but you feel these wouldn't be benefitial even so?

 

[OCD Solutions]

IMO, If you were looking to run on the ragged edge or tune in some radical new setup then it might be worthwhile, otherwise it's purely academic.

I will say that what I learned from that experience gave me a much better understanding about tuning that I would not have learned otherwise.

 

[Big Kahuna]

only worth it if you are a racer.