Proving Grounds
Description
As modern-day cars get more and more complicated, so do their ECUs. Engine tuning has become very involved and tuners now have to worry about more than just fuel and timing. Variable camshaft timing and drive-by-wire throttle bodies are just a few of the ever-growing list of parameters that one must pay attention to when trying to extract the most power out of your car's engine.
That's why it's more important than ever to be able to monitor your engine's vital signs, including air/fuel ratio and exhaust gas temperature. These two parameters can paint a pretty accurate picture of how well (or poorly) your car is running. But for some people, hard-mounting gauges inside the interior is something that they want to avoid at all costs, whether it be for the sleeper factor or for security reasons. Unfortunately, gauges have been the only way to monitor your engine - until now.
AEM's X-WiFi wideband UEGO and EGT controller accomplishes what no other ordinary gauge could: it provides accurate, real-time AFR and EGT data in a simple and easy-to-read layout via a standard web browser through any mobile smart phone device (such as the iPhone, Droid and Storm 2) or laptop.
Best of all, the controller can be installed out of sight and out of mind anywhere inside the car's interior. This also means that you monitor your engine's AFR and EGT only when you want to by enabling the browser; keep it off for the daily commute and on when you are at the track.
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AEM's tiny box acts as a UEGO and EGT controller and broadcasts a wireless network all at
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The Bosch O2 sensor installed in our Cobb Tuning EVO X downpipe.
The AEM X-WiFi wideband UEGO and EGT controller utilizes a Bosch sensor with an AFR accuracy of 0.1, making it one of the fastest and most accurate widebands around. Acting as a wireless network, its capability to send and display data on your phone's web browser makes it a great alternative to the standard hard-mounted gauge and is the first of its kind.
Results
When we first heard of this product, we were a bit skeptical of how well it would work. Sure, the idea sounded great; a wireless gauge setup that works on your phone without the installation of any software - just open your web browser, type in an IP address and you've got accurate AFR and EGT readings? It almost seemed too good to be true, and knowing how unreliable wireless networks can be made us even more skeptical.
There was only one way to find out: try it. Our EVO X project car was the guinea pig for the install and since the Cobb Tuning 3-inch downpipe had a second 02 bung already welded in, it meant the Bosch sensor was installed in a matter of 30 seconds. The wiring was also surprisingly easy because only a power and ground had to be connected. We hard-mounted the controller behind the glovebox after running the O2 sensor wiring through an existing hole in the firewall; the whole install took less than an hour and could be done by any backyard mechanic.