550 Catted vs Catless O2 sensors | FerrariChat

550 Catted vs Catless O2 sensors

Discussion in '456/550/575' started by niftyfivefifty, May 30, 2020.

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  1. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
    366
    PacNW
    I recently experimented with going catless, and last night I noticed that Ferrari lists O2 sensor part # 169953 for catted cars, and 168928 for catless cars. Some parts suppliers say that 165170 supersedes 168928. Has anyone tried catless an/ord happens to know the difference between these? Thanks!
     
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  2. F456M

    F456M F1 Rookie

    Jan 8, 2010
    3,665
    Oslo
    Full Name:
    Erik
    Very interesting question for sure. My experience from other cars is that when you take off the catalyzer, the pressure is much lower where the lambda / O2 sensor sit. This reduced the heat. The sensors are made to work in a specific temperature band and this might be the reason why the parts diagram states other sensors of running without the cats. The part list also shows de-cat pipes as original equipment. But ai don’t know which model that had those. I may have read here that the Russian delivered 550s came without cats. Can someone confirm this? I am about to take off the cats myself and put on the de cat pipes instead. Would be great to know. About the red check engine warning, I want to just let the thermocouple sensor proved be tucked away and replace the probe in the hole with a blind plug with those same threads. That should make the red warning be off. As far as I know, the thermo couple does notging for the air fuel ratio or something like that. Please correct me If i am wrong.
     
  3. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
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    PacNW
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  4. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
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    PacNW
    Quick update, I found that the Bosch part number for the catless O2 sensor 165170 is 13820. Compared to $125-$392 for 165170 from the usual sites, I found Bosch p/n 13820 from Rockauto for $67 each. I just ordered 2 via FedEx air, so I will report back when I have a chance to compare them with the catted 168928 sensors.
     
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  5. F456M

    F456M F1 Rookie

    Jan 8, 2010
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    Erik
    Fantastic! Will you change all four or just the two front which normally reads before the cats?
     
  6. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
    366
    PacNW
    I am going to try the front 2 first (my rear 2 are using simulators, so I don't think they'll need to be changed).
     
  7. Dm993tt

    Dm993tt Rookie

    Aug 19, 2019
    38
    Full Name:
    David
    6-1 headers + 200cell cats

     
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  8. hwyman

    hwyman Formula Junior

    Jun 25, 2015
    329
    Canada / Los Angeles
    Sounds great Dave
     
  9. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
    366
    PacNW
    That sounds great. Did you keep the secondary air system?

    I swapped in the 13820 sensors today, and the car runs much better now.
     
  10. bruzzifumi

    bruzzifumi Karting

    Mar 27, 2015
    62
    Interesting...my European 550 is on standard manifolds, de-cat, x pipe and BMC filters, it never throws a CEL and runs faultlessly. Which improvements do you found exactly with the "no-cat" sensors?
     
  11. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
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    PacNW
    It was dumping fuel like crazy and running very rich. Did your car come from the factory with cats?
     
  12. bruzzifumi

    bruzzifumi Karting

    Mar 27, 2015
    62
    Yes, it came with cats, but removing them didn't turn on any light. The car run faultlessly with its own sensors...
     
  13. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
    366
    PacNW
    Very interesting. What model year is your 550?
     
  14. bruzzifumi

    bruzzifumi Karting

    Mar 27, 2015
    62
  15. niftyfivefifty

    niftyfivefifty Formula Junior
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    Mar 5, 2007
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    PacNW
    Thanks, mine is a 2001 and I know Ferrari changed ECUs somewhere around 2000. I am working on confirming what changes exactly were made, potentially including emissions tuning.
     
  16. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

    Aug 8, 2002
    4,134
    Bay Area Calif.
    Full Name:
    Dave
    Just a note, if anyone needs a couple of the front (pre cat) Bosch O2 sensors #13819 I have two new in box that I bought but do not need. Too late to return

    $204.66 total from Amazon, I'll sell for $175
     

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