Innovate air/fuel ratio meter
 

Has anyone used the Innovate handheld air/fuel ratio meter (LM1 or the new LM2)? I was planning to put a gauge in the dash, but thought the handheld would be a good start, and could always upgrade to an in-dash gauge later.
Thanks.

I've been using them for about 5 years. Great product. Just use it for tuning though. The 02 sensor will not last in a marine environment.

So the handheld would be all I need - not worth putting a permanent gauge in. I looked back at some previous threads and it seems the Innovate system is well liked.

Very good system. Great customer service.

Not for permanent marine use as stated.

Agree with everything above. If you have not bought it yet, then you may want to look at the unit from FAST. I have a couple of Innovates, but I rarely use them since I bought the FAST. They make one that is a dual channel. It can read 2 sensors at once. You need to monitor both banks of the engine to see which is the leanest. You need to tune using the lean bank. The FAST unit makes it possible to monitor both and determine which is the leaner bank all through the rpm range. They run a little over $400, just a touch more than the Innovate. Hope this helps, Eddie.

The O2 sensor will last if you have long risers and you locate them in the elbo. The key is keep it dry. I used to have the O2 sensor in stock exhaust just a few inched away from the head. I went through a few on them with this method. After puchacing the new exhaust I am still using that original set. I have a Holley MPI kit and I monitor the O2 with my laptop. I think a gage that you could monitor would be a good idea. It is on my to do list also. Some of the guys say the sensor will not last. My boat is stored in a dry building this may be why mine has lasted so long.

I am running CMI Tube tops and the O2 bung is in the collector. It is dry out to the transom with Borla muffers after that. I ran it once without the mufflers and after a 2mile idle zone, it must have gotten wet and it died. But with the muffers on.. I run it all the time. One output goes to my ECU and the other goes to an Analog gauge which you can calibrate the output to drive the gauge. I use the ECU to log the results and monitor operation. A second O2 is a great idea and I may just step up and do that. My ECU can handle two inputs also..
I guess we all have a to do list..

Dick

I run the Innovate O2 system. I run full dry CMI's with GGB Extreme mufflers, ( which are basically open pipes ), water can get in if it wants to. I have no flappers at all. My sensor has lasted for 2 years so far.

I'm running CMI Sport Tubes with Corsa diverters (Quick and Quiet), so I'm pretty limited on where I can mount the 02 sensor. I put the bung in the the tailpipe as far back from where the water enters the exhaust as I could, but I doubt the sensor will last long if I leave it in (another reason I'm going with a handheld a/f meter for now).

I picked up a LM2 from our local auto parts dealer ("Lordco" - they're an authorized Innovate distributer up here). Now just waiting for the weather to warm up some so I can try it out.

Finally took the boat out with the 02 meter hooked up. Made a ten minute run for idle to wot - thought I recorded it but couldn't replay it when I got back to the dock - will have to reread the manual!
With the engine warm the a/f at idle was around 12 - 12.5. Through most rpm's the a/f ratio hovered in the 11.5 to 12.5 range. At wot it was around 12.
This all seems a little rich to me. I will do another run tomorrow (after I figure out how to record it properly).
Is there an easy way to record RPM's with the Innovate LM-2? I was going to just write them down at 250 rpm increments. It's too bad there wasn't some way to integrate the Innovate readings with the Diacom software. I recorded the run on my Diacom - everything looked good, water temps, pressures, etc. except I had a few sensor "spikes" - don't know if that's normal - didn't trigger any fault codes.