AFR at Idle and Cruise

[Digitac]

Hi all.
I finally got my AFR gauge from Innovate installed recently, so I've got something new to look at when stuck in traffic. Since I've never had one in any car before I'm not sure what normal operation is supposed to look like. Here's the two things that seem odd to me:
1) At idle and cruise (just keeping a steady speed on the highway), the gauge is always moving, by a whole number. For example at cruise it will constantly sweep between about 14.5 and 15.5 or variations thereof.

2) If I'm idling for several minutes, besides constantly sweeping like above, it will gradually read more and more lean until the needle is pegged at 18:1.

Are either of these things normal? When I hit boost it drops quickly to 12:1 and is almost rock solid (not that I stare at it very long). If it's not normal, I was thinking it could either be a faulty O2 sensor or a grounding issue, but I was very careful in following the instructions about not installing it without being powered, and doing a free-air calibration, as well as grounding everything to the same, good ground.

Any input would be appreciated. What does your AFR gauge read when idle? Thanks,

Jonathan

[Lee_The_CI]

My AEM does the same thing. 14.5-15.5 at idle and under cruise conditions, it is normal.

[socal pat]

Hey Jonathan, Well the cruise thing is OK, but the drifting up to 18 at idle is not normal. You should be stoich at idle as Lee says (14.7 +-). I have an AEM which self adjusts at every startup, do you have some calibration procedure with the LC1?

[tann3r]

IIRC the Innovate LC1 does need to be periodically calibrated.

[ThomS]

IIRC the Innovate LC1 does need to be periodically calibrated.

Re-calibrate your gauge and then drive the car for awhile, it should go away. I have AEM so I do not need to calibrate at all, but this happened to me but after driving for a time it stopped.
14.7 to 1 is perfect for idle or cruise. Boost should go to 11 or 12 to 1,
and taking foot of gas or coasting should go high till it pegs, but at idle come back to 14 or 15 to 1.

But your gauge will jump around alot. I forget why but it will.

[Digitac]

Great, thanks for all the input. I'll redo the calibration process and see how it goes.

Jonathan