Is open loop safe to drive?
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Mayfield, KY
Is open loop safe to drive? Long story short, the passenger side o2 sensor is FUBAR on my mostly stock 1994 Z28 as apparently its never been replaced and I just want to enjoy this damn car thats sat the majority of the time I've owned it. Before I do an engine swap on it within the next year for my built LT1 in my other z28.
So ive read about a lot of guys getting open loop speed density tunes that don't use the o2 sensors anymore and they dont seem to have any issues. I've talked to a few tuners that can do it for me but my question is, for the time being, would it be safe to just keep the computer in open loop right now by unplugging the MAF and driving it? I'm not talking about daily driving or making long trips, just a 10 mile trip down the road to town and back maybe once or twice a week.
I ask because I've read that unplugging the MAF will keep it in open loop, but I'm not sure if the pass o2 already being unplugged like it is would have the same effect or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated guys. If it proves too risky to keep the engine safe, then I just won't drive it until I can get it tuned, but I just wanted to ask here to learn because I really miss driving the car and enjoying it.
I will not put aftermarket headers on this engine so that's out of the question as it's just not worth the money for a second set of headers when I already have some on my other engine or the pain in the *** to install them.
So ive read about a lot of guys getting open loop speed density tunes that don't use the o2 sensors anymore and they dont seem to have any issues. I've talked to a few tuners that can do it for me but my question is, for the time being, would it be safe to just keep the computer in open loop right now by unplugging the MAF and driving it? I'm not talking about daily driving or making long trips, just a 10 mile trip down the road to town and back maybe once or twice a week.
I ask because I've read that unplugging the MAF will keep it in open loop, but I'm not sure if the pass o2 already being unplugged like it is would have the same effect or not. Any advice would be greatly appreciated guys. If it proves too risky to keep the engine safe, then I just won't drive it until I can get it tuned, but I just wanted to ask here to learn because I really miss driving the car and enjoying it.
I will not put aftermarket headers on this engine so that's out of the question as it's just not worth the money for a second set of headers when I already have some on my other engine or the pain in the *** to install them.
Last edited by LT11996; Jun 9, 2017 at 10:12 PM.
10 Second Club
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 28
Don't unplug the MAF, unplug the o2's. When you start your engine it's running in open loop until the o2's get warmed up. It usually takes 2-3 minutes depending on how hot it is outside. If your car runs fine for the first few minutes then it runs fine running in open loop.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Mayfield, KY
I appreciate the advise guys. I finally got the starter and Y pipe reinstalled today and fired it up for the first time since March. Before, when the o2s were still hooked up and the car had full exhaust with a muffler, it didn't smoke much. But now that it's open Y pipe and the o2 sensors aren't plugged in, the car is smoking like crazy. So I only let it idle for a minute before shutting it off. But I'm really happy that I got the starter back on so I can at least crank the car to move it around in the driveway.
Could it be smoking just from the factory tune being out of wack without o2 readings? Doesn't seem like it's losing any coolant or oil to indicate a blown head gasket or oil burning
Could it be smoking just from the factory tune being out of wack without o2 readings? Doesn't seem like it's losing any coolant or oil to indicate a blown head gasket or oil burning
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