Anybody running O2 Plug Defoulers?

[HondaGoneRogue]

Just wondering if anyone is running plug defoulers on their catless DP's and if anyone thinks it would be prudent.

For those that don't know, they are made for spark plugs to sit the plug out of the cylinder a bit which helps them not foul in a richly running motor.


It's basically a spacer. I would hate to be damaging my O2 sensors since there are no cats there. Better explanation (grammar excluded) here:

-Spark Plug non-fouler (aka Spark Plug defouler)-By installing the spark plug non-fouler, you are in essence moving the rear 02 sensor out of the direct flow of the exhaust stream/flow. By doing so, you are tricking the 02 sensor will an inaccurate reading. Since the 02 sensors is not directly in the path of the exhaust fumes, it can not accurate measure the exhaust fumes.

Thoughts?

[XCC Motorsports]

I ran one on my n55 Catless DP setup. It worked great.

[XCC Motorsports]

Btw, I wouldn't be worried about damaging your o2 sensor.

[JB135MDCT]

He's worried about his O2 sensors and the tree huggers are worried about DPs.

[HondaGoneRogue]

LOL, you ever price O2 sensors? It would suck to have to pony up extra dough if one day you want to go stock and find out they are shot.

[XCC Motorsports]

You would have to run EXTREMELY rich for that to happen. Plus if you're worried about a couple hundred dollars on O2 sensors, you shouldn't be going catless. If you want to make power it will always come at a price.

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

LOL, you ever price O2 sensors? It would suck to have to pony up extra dough if one day you want to go stock and find out they are shot.

[HondaGoneRogue]

Originally Posted by XCC Motorsports

You would have to run EXTREMELY rich for that to happen.

Uh, no. You can also damage them by running considerably rich over a long period of time. A lot of us run considerably conservative tunes.

Originally Posted by XCC Motorsports

Plus if you're worried about a couple hundred dollars on O2 sensors, you shouldn't be going catless.

Really? Did I not just post a possible way to save a "couple" hundred dollars? (And they are 215.00 a piece) 430 is not a couple.

Originally Posted by XCC Motorsports

If you want to make power it will always come at a price.

I bet your service guy loves you.

[JB135MDCT]

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

LOL, you ever price O2 sensors? It would suck to have to pony up extra dough if one day you want to go stock and find out they are shot.

You are not going to damage your O2 and I know how much they cost.

[marcus]

Some ppl just can't answer a question without blabbing about something Eric. lol

[XCC Motorsports]

Op, if I wasn't able to answer your question, just wait for somebody to come by and answer it a little better. No need to get upset, I'm a very friendly person. I have been in this position many times and I have ran several Subaru's and Honda/Acura's with off the shelf tuning solutions for 90k miles without any o2 sensor issues. All of these setups were catless without defoulers, so they were directly exposed to the exhaust flow.

As for the cost of the sensors. I was only quoting one sensor. So yes, I understand if you were to blow both sensors how it would be a cost that no one would like to incur.

Power comes at a cost. Whether you break something or not. Let me try and explain what I was saying before. Just like how a stiffer suspension setup can wear out control arm bushings quicker than the softer factory suspension, it's possible for o2 sensors to fail quicker with a catless and incorrectly tuned setup than if you ran a factory downpipe/factory tune. Although I cannot define how much quicker, I do know from experience it would not be quickly enough to cause the concern that I think you're worried about. I'm a DIY kind of person so I'm not looking to throw money away to any type of shop or service advisor. I hope that this helps you out a little better than my previous post. Hopefully someone else can chime in soon to help out as well.

[HondaGoneRogue]

LOL, gotcha. Not upset at all. I have always ran catless as well in Hondas. And usually for almost the whole time I own the cars. And O2's going out was definitely a common problem. But thank you for your explanation.

[J. Dub]

I had been wondering the same thing. Glad I came across this thread.

[RimasRS]

Just one problem will there be enough space for O2 to stick out?
Also I think that setup should work without engine light

[HondaGoneRogue]

I haven't checked clearance yet but I will this weekend.

[XCC Motorsports]

There was room for the defouler and o2 sensor on the n55.

Originally Posted by HondaGoneRogue

I haven't checked clearance yet but I will this weekend.

[Das Ein]

I have them on my AR catted DP's...fit just fine.

[thez99]

Originally Posted by Das Ein

I have them on my AR catted DP's...fit just fine.

Whats the reason for using them with a catted pipe thou?

Also, where can I get these defoulers and how many would I need for catless AR pipes (4?) and would using these without a DP fix alleviate the CEL problem with catless pipes?

LASTLY, does doing this affect emissions testing at all?

[VAlsbM3]

Originally Posted by thez99

Whats the reason for using them with a catted pipe thou?

Also, where can I get these defoulers and how many would I need for catless AR pipes (4?) and would using these without a DP fix alleviate the CEL problem with catless pipes?

LASTLY, does doing this affect emissions testing at all?

Your local auto parts store,

They are called spark plug defoulers. If the 02 sensors are 18mm, look for those.

[Das Ein]

Originally Posted by thez99

Whats the reason for using them with a catted pipe thou?

Also, where can I get these defoulers and how many would I need for catless AR pipes (4?) and would using these without a DP fix alleviate the CEL problem with catless pipes?

LASTLY, does doing this affect emissions testing at all?

Before I installed my catted AR pipes, I heard that even the catted DP's may throw a CEL...so I put them on just to make sure.

[thez99]

Oy, there sure is a helluva lot of different opinions running around about the need for these things and whether some pipes cause CEL's or not, etc.

Sure would be nice to get some definitive answers on these questions

[vwrefugee]

Oy, there sure is a helluva lot of different opinions running around about the need for these things and whether some pipes cause CEL's or not, etc.

Sure would be nice to get some definitive answers on these questions

I can confirm that the catted version of the iCarbon DP for the N55 does throw a CEL. My guess would be that pretty much all aftermarket DPs using high-flow cats will trigger a CEL due to the sensitivity of the OEM software.

[thez99]

So everyone that has a catless DP without any kind of a tune is pretty much guaranteed to run rich as hell?

Does a flash like the Cobb AP fix this richness