Schedule for replacing O2 sensors?
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Schedule for replacing O2 sensors?
Is there any concensus here?
I have ~80k on the original sensors in my '02. Lately I've noticed a slight dip in fuel economy. While I'm guessing it's just a case of winter car blues (yes, it's actually getting cold in central FL
), it got me thinking about possibly swapping them out.
And any thoughts on brand of sensor? Advance shows NGK "universal fit" (no idea what exactly that means) sensors for ~25 and Bosch exact fit sensors for ~50.
TIA
I have ~80k on the original sensors in my '02. Lately I've noticed a slight dip in fuel economy. While I'm guessing it's just a case of winter car blues (yes, it's actually getting cold in central FL
), it got me thinking about possibly swapping them out. And any thoughts on brand of sensor? Advance shows NGK "universal fit" (no idea what exactly that means) sensors for ~25 and Bosch exact fit sensors for ~50.
TIA
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Is there any concensus here?
I have ~80k on the original sensors in my '02. Lately I've noticed a slight dip in fuel economy. While I'm guessing it's just a case of winter car blues (yes, it's actually getting cold in central FL), it got me thinking about possibly swapping them out.
And any thoughts on brand of sensor? Advance shows NGK "universal fit" (no idea what exactly that means) sensors for ~25 and Bosch exact fit sensors for ~50.
TIA
I have ~80k on the original sensors in my '02. Lately I've noticed a slight dip in fuel economy. While I'm guessing it's just a case of winter car blues (yes, it's actually getting cold in central FL
), it got me thinking about possibly swapping them out. And any thoughts on brand of sensor? Advance shows NGK "universal fit" (no idea what exactly that means) sensors for ~25 and Bosch exact fit sensors for ~50.
TIA
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,044
Likes: 9,808
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bill
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
I've seen quite a few threads like these.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...sensor-do.html
Originally Posted by Chuckster
And I'd like to point out that bad sensors dont always set Check Engine Light..
A lazy sensor causing the motor to run rich can easily be hidden by the Cats working overtime and cleaning it up by the time the 2nd O2 sees anything is wrong..
How do I know? my gas mileage plummeted.. but no CEL was lit.. I cleaned the MAF and the air filter... to no avail.. Added a bit more air to the tires.. No help..
I noticed while walking behind the car when it was running in the garage that it stunk.. Strong hydrocarbon smell.
I decided to replace the O2's. Immediately after I replaced them I went to "smell" the exhaust.. It smelled like warm humid air.. thats it.. no eye burning smell..
A lazy sensor causing the motor to run rich can easily be hidden by the Cats working overtime and cleaning it up by the time the 2nd O2 sees anything is wrong..
How do I know? my gas mileage plummeted.. but no CEL was lit.. I cleaned the MAF and the air filter... to no avail.. Added a bit more air to the tires.. No help..
I noticed while walking behind the car when it was running in the garage that it stunk.. Strong hydrocarbon smell.
I decided to replace the O2's. Immediately after I replaced them I went to "smell" the exhaust.. It smelled like warm humid air.. thats it.. no eye burning smell..
Originally Posted by Matt@Texas-speed
Like many have stated, check the filters (air and fuel particularly), PCV valve, clean your TB, plugs and wires, etc. I will be the first to throw out that O2 sensors are NOT good for the life of a vehicle, and in fact are meant to be replaced in the neighborhood of every 50-70K miles (GM, Ford, Dodge, etc all agree)! I have many calls every week where tunes are out of whack, mileage is lacking, power is down, etc due to O2 sensors that have never been changed. They build up gunk just like the spark plugs and over time lose their ability to do their job!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
100% AGREE! Data log the engine and see if you have NORMAL O2 sensor operation. Once its warmed up, It should have O2 sensor voltage output from 1 millivolt to 90 millivolts. The PCM will read the sensor voltage and alter fuel injector pulse width to cause the senor to read HIGH- LOW- HIGH- LOW,,,,,,,,,etc
If it hangs out at one voltage,,,its BAD!
BC
If it hangs out at one voltage,,,its BAD!
BC
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Learned this the hard way. Go to the EPA web site and make sure they have switched you to a "winter blend" of fuel. If they did there is more butane in the fuel and a corresponding decrease in fuel mileage.
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