How often to change 02 sensors?

[Raymond Lowe]

I've asked a few times at a couple of dealers and this topic has come up a few times between friends.

 

Toyota, and some other manufacturers, specify a change interval for O2 sensors. From what I've heard from GM is that the OBD II system will throw a code and warn you if one goes out of it's normal parameters. My friend contends that even though they show a normal voltage fluctuation on his Snap-on reader, they still lose sensitivity due to build up on the sensor over time.

 

Since these sensors aren't cheap, I don't want to just throw money away. Who knows; are they designed to last 60,000mi or 300,000?

[asilverblazer]

If they are worn, the ony thing to suffer is mpg? Mine still work at 123k.

[dewfpo]

As O2 sensors get old, they get 'lazy'. They still work and won't throw a code but they don't react as quickly and hence your mixture is never quite 'perfect'.

 

DEWFPO

[OLERED04]

I was told you could take them out and clean them

with like carb cleaner. I used to clean them on my 92'ecsb

and my 95' burban. Did seem to hurt anything but I don't know

if it helped any.

[GMCTech]

On NBS trucks you only need to change them when they throw the codes.

 

The parameters are monitored much more quickly, and are more sensitive than ever. (Esp. after 2003 model year.)

 

Hope this helps.