cleaning oxygen sensor vs v6 ?

[muzza]

hi guys was just wondering if u can pull the oxy sensor out and give it a clean and is there 1 or 2 on a vs and they r down on the exhaust from inside the engine bay ? i would expect that after alot of km s they get a bit of build up on them cheers muz

 

[DannyboyDS]

Well you can clean them, not sure it will help much.

Generally a VS will ahve 2 yes, the passenger side one can be accessed from the engine bay quite easily, while the drivers side one is accessed from under the car, they are on the Y pipe before the Cat converter.

Oxy sensors generally will either be working, or not working, if your car has run rich for a while maybe cleaning them will help but I doubt it, one thing, is your car chucking out any error codes?

 

[dufus]

Cleaning the Oxygen Sensor will have little to no affect. If you are going to clean it, the workshop manuals say to not use any cleaning solvents on the Oxygen Sensor.

 

[DannyboyDS]

Wire Brush time?

 

[dufus]

Wire Brush time?

Ive heard that sandpaper is the go, never tried it though, so a wire brush would probably work to.

 

[commsirac]

Oxy sensors generally will either be working, or not working, if your car has run rich for a while maybe cleaning them will help but I doubt it, one thing, is your car chucking out any error codes?

They can also gradually deteriorate, become slow. Im not sure whether thats when they are cold or hot or doesnt matter. "slow" from what I can make out refers to its change in output not reacting quickly to changes in oxygen level.

 

[cruzn]

To clean/fix a oxygen sensor you must soak it in lemon juice for at least two days, then spray with water (prefably high pressure) . No seriously, i was told this by a mechanic and have done it myself. It really works.:thumbsup:

 

[AttaBoy]

Did that to mine early this year, did not notice any difference. Fuel economy remained the same as before the clean.

I think I wasted time cleaning it. You are better off getting new ones if its stuffed, otherwise don't bother.

 

[dufus]

I didnt think that it would do anything, I wont bother wasting my time cleaning mine then.

 

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

An O2 sensor either works or it doesn't. Cleaning has no effect. The bit you see isn't the actual sensor anyway, all it does is create an even exhaust flow around the ceramic sensor inside.