"Abeness" <news@nada.x> wrote
> Elle wrote:
>> My Denso O2 sensor purchased from the site above is still
>> going strong (on my 91 Civic) after 2.3 years, 31k miles.
>
> Good to know--thanks!
>
>> Borrow an O2 sensor wrench from Autozone. No charge,
>> overall. I think mine is 22 mm or 7/8-inch.
>
> In NYC, I dunno about no charge... But ya know what? If
> the O2 sensor wrench saves me from having to remove the
> heat shield, it's worth the $10 automedicsupply sells it
> for even if I use it just once.

Absolutely. Buy the wrench from automedicsupply.

I forgot: This past summer I was going to buy an O2 sensor
wrench (for an exhaust manifold gasket replacement job,
among other uses, of course). Then I remembered I had
purchased a die grinder recently and also had a 7/8-inch
combo wrench kicking around. So I cut a notch in the closed
end of the wrench and, voila, I have a home-made O2 sensor
wrench.

Of course if the sensor is very tight, folks should use the
exact fit socket wrench. You should expect your 94 Civic's
sensor to be tight. IIRC mine was the first time, but not in
a god-awful way. I had the correct fitting Autozone loaner
wrench, and it worked fine, with maybe a little PB Blaster.


I don't torque my sensor to spec but go by feel (based in
experience at this point) instead.

> I'm still saving $100+ over getting the OEM from e.g.
> Majestic, *without* the wrench.
>
>> That the OEM one from Manchester Honda went bad at 4
>> years, 40k miles is surprising. You sure you are taking
>> all the appropriate precautions with these? Getting any
>> kind of gunk on the probe will foul them, for one.
>
> duckbill had the failed OEM sensor, not me.

Beg pardon.

> I'll definitely be sure to keep the anti-seize off the
> sensor, though. Anything I should be looking for on the
> inside when I have the sensor out? "Bad" residue or
> somesuch?

The sensor just juts right into the path of the exhaust
gases. Where it juts etc. should not look different from
the inside of the car's tailpipe, AFAIC.

I think you got your money's worth out of the original
sensor (14 years).

My 91 Civic's O2 sensor never actually failed. I just chose
to replace it pre-emptively based on something I think
Tegger wrote; the great prices at automedicsupply; the drama
of being stuck in the middle of nowhere (at the mercy of
god-knows-what charlatans) with a failed O2 sensor; and some
suggestions on the net that my fuel mileage might improve a
tad (can't say it has; but it's certainly not worse,
either).