cleaning your o2 sensor

[eugeman]

My new o2 sensor only has approx 4k and it is throwing a code 1222, and I get a check engine light when warm, at idle and when I am on the accelerator. I was really pushing the car hard, and the sensor was more than likely fouled by my oil burning engine.

I figure I have nothing to loose as the sensor is already dirty and I don't want to be replacing o2 sensors until my stroker rebuild goes in.

Has anyone tried to clean one before with carb/TB cleaner?

[kamotors]

i pretty sure that you can't clean them. but i could be wrong, mine also throws the 1222 code after i was running rich for a while. you could reset the ecu and see if it comes back, that way you would know if its dead or not.

[Aptyp]

get lectramotive, spray it, let it washout gunk. it will dry withing moments on its own. Plug it back in.


Don't promise it to work, but that's the best way to clean something like that.

[eugeman]

get lectramotive, spray it, let it washout gunk. it will dry withing moments on its own. Plug it back in.


Don't promise it to work, but that's the best way to clean something like that.

Looks like the perfect product, I will pick some up on the way home from work today. Thanks!

[Farbin Kaiber]

Did you install an aftermarket O2? Sometimes they run a bit off from an OE unit. CRC makes MAF/ electronics cleaner that works very well.

[SpecM]

I have cleaned on with a propane torch once, to burn out all the the carbony soot. It acctually worked, and was on an OBD II car as well!

But I cannot tell you for sure if it will work for you

[jlevie]

That code could be the result of a bad O2 sensor, but it could just as easily be from something that is upsetting the A/F ratio, like:

Intake leak
Bad engine temp sensor
Incorrect fuel pressure
Bad injectors (or on an early car a bad cold start valve)
Defective evaporative control system
Bad AFM
Valve problems (burnt, misadjusted, mistimed)
Spark issues (plugs, coil, wires, rotor, or cap)

While a new sensor could have failed, in that case I'd suspect one or more of the above first.

[eugeman]

Did you install an aftermarket O2? Sometimes they run a bit off from an OE unit. CRC makes MAF/ electronics cleaner that works very well.

o2 sensor is OEM, but I will try the torch and CRC, clear the codes, and see the results. Failing that I will start to go through the list on the previous post.

[e30bimmer]

Dirty 02 sensor

I bead blasted it once and then clean it with CRC that seems to work.

[der affe]

OVENCLEANER! it really works. let it dry then soak it and flush it with brake cleaner, reinstall, done deal!

[eugeman]

OVERCLEANER eh? Funny I was using some commercial grade stuff about 1hr ago. Makes sense as it is suppose to remove grease and grime, but it won't mess it up though?