If you are going to be boosting and tuning your vehicle, a wideband gauge is a must-have. The Best Wideband Gauges will allow you to precisely see your air-to-fuel ratio. They will let you know if your engine starts to run lean or rich. That way, you won’t be wasting fuel and potentially putting unnecessary stress on your engine.
Your engine will run better for longer without losing horsepower. And when it comes time to tune your engine further, you will have the data you need right on your dash.
So, let’s take a look at the very best currently on the market and find the perfect one for you, starting with our…
Contents
- 1 Top 7 Best Wideband Gauges in 2022 for all Budgets Reviews
- 1.1 1 AEM 30-0300 X-Series Wideband UEGO AFR Sensor Controller Gauge – Most Versatile Wideband Gauge
- 1.2 2 Auto Meter 4379 Ultra-Lite Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit – Easiest to Install Wideband Gauge
- 1.3 3 AEM (30-4110) UEGO Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge – Best Value for the Money Wideband Gauge
- 1.4 4 Innovate Motorsports 3918 MTX Series MTX-L Plus Wideband Gauge – Best Budget Wideband Gauge
- 1.5 5 Innovate Motorsports 3873 DB Series Complete Wideband Gauge Kit – Best Multi Channel Interface Wideband Gauge
- 1.6 6 GlowShift 10 Color Digital Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio AFR Gauge – Best Multi Color Wideband Gauge
- 1.7 7 AEM 2 Gauge Display Set UEGO WideBand A/F Ratio Gauge (30-4110) – Best Wideband Gauge with Boost Gauge
- 2 Best Wideband Gauges Buying Guide
- 3 Looking for Something Else?
- 4 What are the Best Wideband Gauges?
Top 7 Best Wideband Gauges in 2022 for all Budgets Reviews
Products | Diameter | Type | AFR Sensor | Numerical Display Range | Power | Price | Rating |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 8 to 20 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.2 | Numerical Display Range 6 to 20 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 10 to 18 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 7.35 to 22.39 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 7.35 to 22.39 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 10 to 20 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$ | ![]() |
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Diameter 2 1/16" | Type Digital | AFR Sensor Bosch LSU4.9 | Numerical Display Range 10 to 18.1 Gasoline AFR | Power 12V and 16V | Price $$$$ | ![]() |
1
AEM 30-0300 X-Series Wideband UEGO AFR Sensor Controller Gauge – Most Versatile Wideband Gauge
The first wideband gauge we are going to look at comes from AEM. Their X-Series PN 30-0300 model gauge is 100% digital and has a seven-segment display.
Simple, lightweight design…
It is lightweight and measures 2-1/6 inches in diameter, allowing you to mount it into or in front of your dash easily. On the backside of the gauge, you will find ports to connect the included O2 and power wiring harnesses.
You can connect it up to vehicles with 16V power systems that are carbureted, or electronically fuel injected. It can also be used on dynamometers with gasoline, diesel, methanol, propane ethanol, and even CNG. Therefore, you have one of the most accurate wideband gauges on the market.
O2 Sensor…
The O2 sensor that comes with this X-Series gauge is from Bosch and is their lambda LSU 4.9 model. This is a UEGO sensor that contains a pump cell to determine the air-to-fuel ratio.
The included 0-5V O2 sensor wiring harness is exceptionally long and should be able to fit in pretty much any vehicle. Included with this AEM wideband gauge sensor kit is a bung plug as well.
Installation…
You will need to weld this bung plug somewhere in your exhaust system that is far enough away to allow it to sample from all the engine cylinders. Your typical modern car may already have an O2 sensor bung in place that you can connect to as well.
Once you have this wideband gauge installed and connected to your exhaust system, it will automatically heat the sensor and calibrate it. There are Mode and Select buttons that allow you to change the display to stoichiometric, lambda, or O2 percentage. It can display readings in either three or four digits as well.
Pros
- Bosch LSU 4.9 O2 sensor and bung plug are included.
- You can change the display to show O2%, lambda, or stoichiometric readings.
- A swift response time.
Cons
- The gauge doesn’t have an integrated ambient light sensor.
2
Auto Meter 4379 Ultra-Lite Wide Band Air Fuel Ratio Kit – Easiest to Install Wideband Gauge
Next up in this roundup is an air-to-fuel ratio kit from Auto Meter. Auto Meter’s 4379 model wideband gauge has a 0-4V data output feed to your ECU or laptop. This is another 2-1/16 inch gauge to feature a fully digital segmented display as well. It can display three digits while also providing ratio information on the LED radial bar graph incorporated along its circumference.
It comes with an eight-foot-long wiring harness with a Bosch LSU 4.2 O2 sensor. The main difference between this sensor and the LSU 4.9 sensor is that it uses the reference air rather than the pumping current for data.
Installation…
Included with this Auto Meter wideband gauge is an incredibly detailed set of instructions. You can use it in any vehicle that has a 12V or 16V power system. Thanks to the long wiring, harness installation is a breeze. When you start your vehicle after you install this wideband gauge, it calibrates itself automatically.
Furthermore, no free-air calibration is needed. Thus, the accuracy of the indicator is increased. It will provide air-to-fuel ratios from 10:1-17:1 when connected up to a gasoline-powered engine.
Pros
- Integrated LED radial bar graph is easy to read.
- Installation is effortless, thanks to an 8-foot long wiring harness.
- Can display a gasoline air-to-fuel ratio of 10:1 to 17:1.
Cons
- Only has a three-digit display.
3
AEM (30-4110) UEGO Air/Fuel Ratio Gauge – Best Value for the Money Wideband Gauge
Another great wideband gauge is the 30-4110 from AEM. This is another digital gauge that can display lambda, methanol, ethanol, and standard gasoline air-to-fuel ratios.
Sensitive sensor…
This is possible thanks to the Bosch LSU4.9 sensor that comes included. The LSU4.9 sensor also came with the first product we looked at and has the same fuel compatibility as the LSU4.2 sensor.
It is one of the most precise sensors in the market. When it works in combination with AEM’s 30-4110 gauge, you will notice even the slightest of changes in your air-to-fuel ratio. As a result, you have one of the best wideband afr gauges on the market.
Furthermore, the LSU4.9 also draws much less power than Bosch’s LSU4.2 sensor, allowing for a shorter light-off time. As with other AEM products, the 30-4110 also offers 0-5V analog output. This allows you to monitor your air-to-fuel ratio data from a computer.
Take note…
Included with the 30-4100 are both black and white faceplates. This allows you to change the appearance of the 2-1/16 inch gauge housing to somewhat match your vehicle’s interior. It will not change the background of the LED needle or numerical display, though. While the faceplates don’t increase the gauge’s functionality, they are handy to have, nonetheless.
As far as AFR ratios are considered, the center three-digit numerical display can show gasoline AFR ratios from 10 to 18:1. On the outer part of the housing, you will notice an LED needle that will display gasoline AFR ranges from 11 to 16.75:1 as well.
Pros
- Comes with black and white housing faceplates.
- The included LSU4.9 sensor draws less power.
- Can detect a 0.1 change in your air-to-fuel ratio.
Cons
- AEM after-sales service could be better.
4
Innovate Motorsports 3918 MTX Series MTX-L Plus Wideband Gauge – Best Budget Wideband Gauge
The next two wideband gauges come from Innovate Motorsports. Coming up first is their 3918 MTX-L Plus series gauge. This is another gauge to come with Bosch’s LSU4.9 oxygen sensor and a weld-in bung plug. It has an enhanced heater control that works incredibly well with forced induction vehicles.
Housing…
The 2-1/16 inch gauge housing has a three-digit digital display that can provide you Lambda or AFR readings on multiple types of fuel. It also has a programmable LED needle, but you won’t see any numerical markings to show air-to-fuel ratio levels.
It features wideband gauge housing that has not only interchangeable faceplates but also bezels as well. You can choose between black and white faceplates and black or gray bezels.
Simple calibration…
You will also find a programming cable in the box so you can log data through Innovative Motorsports LogWorks software. LogWorks is pretty straightforward to use and will allow you to calibrate the sensor or program the digital LED needle on display.
Pros
- Very well priced.
- Can show gasoline AFR ratios from 7.35 to 22.39.
- Comes with a data cable and software.
Cons
- Included installation manual isn’t detailed.
5
Innovate Motorsports 3873 DB Series Complete Wideband Gauge Kit – Best Multi Channel Interface Wideband Gauge
The second Innovate Motorsports product in this roundup is their 3873 DB green wideband gauge kit. This sensor is unique not only because it doesn’t come with an LED needle but also because the digital LED display is green.
An exact reading…
When your vehicle is on, you will notice the 3873 can display up to three numerical digits. Turn your vehicle off, and the sensor has a blackout type look to it.
You will find an ample amount of cable on hand to hook up the included Bosch LSU4.9 sensor to the wideband gauge. A bung plug is also provided, and when connected, it can be used with multiple fuel types.
Output…
You will find an extra output port to connect the gauge to your PC. This gauge is compatible with Innovative Motorsports LogWorks software as well.
With this gauge, you also have the ability to hook it up to a multi-channel interface to log more parameters simultaneously. You can even hook it up to a pocket logger and save the data to an SD card for use later. As a result, you have one of the best wideband controllers on the market.
Pros
- Completely digital display has green LEDs.
- It can be hooked up to multi-channel interfaces.
Cons
- Doesn’t have a programmable LED needle.
- Harness connector could be more robust.
6
GlowShift 10 Color Digital Wideband Air/Fuel Ratio AFR Gauge – Best Multi Color Wideband Gauge
If you liked the green look of the last wideband gauge, you are going to love the look of this next one. With GlowShift’s GS-TCD02W wideband gauge, you have your choice between ten different colors when it comes to the gauge’s appearance.
Choose your style…
On the bottom of this 2-1/16 inch gauge, you will find a small button. When you press the button, the display will cycle between pink, orange, amber, blue, yellow, green, red, white, purple, and teal.
Once you cycle through all the colors, you can also set the gauge to change colors automatically or have them fade from one to another. No matter the color you choose, you will have a four-digit numerical display to look at. Connect it up to the Bosch LSU4.9 sensor, and it can display gasoline air-to-fuel ratios from 10 to 20.
That’s not all…
It also comes with a digital wideband controller that can be connected to pretty much any engine management system or data logger. GlowShift has made installing this wideband gauge kit pretty easy. They have included exceedingly long wiring, allowing you to mount this in pretty much any vehicle you can think of.
Pros
- The display dims when you turn on your headlights.
- You can adjust the four-digit display in many ways.
- All the included cables are exceptionally long and durable.
Cons
- Rather large and difficult to mount.
7
AEM 2 Gauge Display Set UEGO WideBand A/F Ratio Gauge (30-4110) – Best Wideband Gauge with Boost Gauge
The final product in this Best Wideband Gauges review is another from AEM. If you are looking for both an AFR gauge and a boost gauge, this kit has you covered.
Auto-calibration…
You will find the same 30-4110 gauge and Bosch LSU4.9 sensor we looked at earlier included in this combo set. Gasoline air-to-fuel ratios from 10 to 18:1 will be displayed on the digital numerical display. In contrast, the LED needle will display air-to-fuel ratios from 11 to 16.75:1.
Once this gauge and sensor are installed, it auto-calibrates every time you start your vehicle. You will never need to calibrate it using free air. There’s no doubt that this one of the best wideband air fuel gauges available.
Boost Pressure Gauge…
Included in this kit is AEM’s 30-4406 boost gauge. This is probably the best wideband gauge for turbocharged engines. It also includes both an LED needle and numerical display, just like the included AFR gauge. These work in tandem and provide boost readings from -30 to 35psi that increase in single increments.
It comes with a brass sensor and plug-and-play harness, making it quite easy to install. You can use this boost gauge on carbureted or fuel-injected vehicles as well.
Extras…
Another nice feature AEM has also integrated into their 30-4406 boost gauge is an ambient light sensor. This should increase or decrease the display’s brightness automatically, but we found this to be a bit hit or miss. Additionally, there is another set of black and white faceplates to match the boost with the AFR gauge.
Pros
- Comes with a boost gauge and an air-to-fuel ratio gauge.
- Can show readings from -35 to 35psi.
- Both of the harnesses are plug-and-play, making them easy to set up.
Cons
- The boost gauge ambient light sensor isn’t very responsive.
Best Wideband Gauges Buying Guide
When it comes to wideband air-to-fuel ratios, gauge accuracy is vital to determine if your vehicle is running too rich or lean. If the air-to-fuel ratio is off by just a bit, you can damage your engine.
All of the wideband gauges we have looked at are 2-1/16 inches in diameter. This gauge size is relatively standard because it is small enough to mount it in various places yet still large enough to still be easily read.
Numerical displays…
In this roundup, you will notice a three or four-digit numerical display on all the wideband gauges. This display will show your air-to-fuel ratios changes as they happen. Some can show AFR changes in 0.1 increments. The smaller the change they can detect, the more accurate they are.
You may also come across wideband gauges that include an LED-type needle as well. This needle will also move in coordination with your air-to-fuel ratio.
Sensors…
Included with all the gauges in this review is a sensor from Bosch. Bosch is known to make some of the best wideband O2 sensors and is commonly used by vehicle manufacturers.
However, not all oxygen sensors are the same. Throughout this review, you will have noticed Bosch sensors with model numbers like LSU4.2 and LSU4.9. In general, LSU4.9 sensors are more robust than LSU4.2 sensors. The main difference is that LSU4.9 references pumping-current, while LSU4.2 uses reference air.
Fuel ratios…
Depending on the hardware that comes with your wideband gauge, it might be able to provide air-to-fuel ratios for gasoline and ethanol or even methanol fuels.
Fuel ratios displayed will vary from gauge to gauge. One wideband gauge might display air-to-fuel ratios from 8:1 to 20:1, while another might only show you ratios from 11 to 16.75:1. If your wideband gauge has an outer LED needle, then it might show you a wider range of air-to-fuel ratios as well.
Installation…
No matter which wideband gauge you go with, you will have to install the gauge housing and the sensor. Gauge manufacturers will include a harness and oftentimes a bung plug for the sensor in the box.
To mount the gauge, you will need to create your own mounting bracket or purchase one from your local auto supply store. Once you have the gauge in place, you can connect the harness and sensor.
The harness will need to be connected to a power source and be grounded. You will want to place the sensor about twenty-four inches away from your cylinder head exhaust ports for the best results.
Replacements…
If you are taking out an old sensor, you will find a bung plug already in place to attach your new sensor to. The stock bung plug may fit with your new sensor. But if it doesn’t, you will want to weld the bung plug that came with your new sensor in place.
Once you have everything installed, the gauge should automatically work once you turn your vehicle on. With air-to-fuel ratio sensors nowadays, you won’t need to free-air calibrate them. They should calibrate themselves every time you start the ignition.
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What are the Best Wideband Gauges?
We feel the wideband gauge that came out on top here is the…
The digital numerical display and LED needle are super accurate and can detect the smallest of changes in your AFR. The included Bosch LSU4.9 oxygen sensor draws very little power yet heats up extremely fast. It auto-calibrates once you start your vehicle, leaving you with precise readings each and every time.
You really can’t go wrong with the AEM 30-4110 monitoring your air-to-fuel ratios. It will make sure your engine runs at peak performance every time you turn your engine over.
Until next time, may the road treat you right.