Hey everyone. I have almost 114k on this truck and my gas mileage sucks (even with a light load, fresh tune up, good gas, Techron, Mobil1, intake, light on the pedal, etc). The conditions are near perfect for higher MPG). I have reason to believe that it may be the O2 sensors since they are original and may be providing bad data, but not an open, short or out of range. I just got a great deal on 2 of them on Amazon.com ($26.28 each) and I plan to replace the front 2 to start. Now I have a few questions:

1. What is the best way to get them out without damaging the pipe or the threads? I have PB Blaster. Good idea (when the pipes are cool of course)?

2. Do stores normally have O2 Sensor sockets to loan me?

3. What is the purpose of the last sensor? I found 3 on this truck (one on each header and one between the cat and the muffler). From what I understand only the front 2 control the fuel/air mixture, so I am replacing those first to see if things improve.

4. How do I get the connectors unplugged? They look very complex. Do I put anything on the contacts to prevent corrosion?

5. Do I do anything with the computer after the sensors are in? Do I erase the I/M data or unhook the battery?

Thanks

 

No.. spray on the PB carefully when the pipes are very warm, not too hot to touch at all but too hot to hang onto.

Let it soak a few minutes then run the truck a while.

Chqange the O2's while pipes are as warm as you can stand it.
Call autozone and O'reilly;s and ask about the tools.


Yeah.. you gotta helluve deal.. not! Rockauto:

DELPHI Part # ES20317
Wrench Size: 7/8 in.; Actual OE Part
$34.79

The third one has NOTHING to do with mixture

 

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Ok thanks. So warm pipes are better for changing out the sensors?

I will call Advance. Only shop that would have that tool in this town. Only other 2 shops are Carquest and Napa.

How is $34 each a better deal than I got? Isn't Bosch good? Only real other options were Delphi and the two Japanese brands which I won't use (Denso and NGK) because I don't use Asian parts on an American car. Plus throw in shipping and it gets expensive. I got free 2 day shipping with Amazon Student. RockAuto had the same Bosch sensors for about the same price, but I also had to order a fan for my computer and a belt for the truck so I did all of this in the same transaction and the 2 day shipping was free.

So I will leave the 3rd one alone unless it causes a problem. Thanks

 

Got them done earlier. Just the front 2. Did it in the college parking lot since my apartment's lot is just mud. Both were hard to free from the pipe. I borrowed the O2 sensor socket kit from Advance and that was the only way I got them out. Now time will tell if the mileage went up, but some results I am getting so far look promising.

EDIT: Should I use the scan tool and hit the erase code function even if there are no codes or disconnect the battery in case there is data stored in the computer for the old sensors that would be holding my MPGs back?

 

did you notice any improvement in mpg?

 

Depends on driving conditions, but best case I notice several MPGs higher depending on cargo weight.

 

since its a emissions related issue, resetting the check engine light wont change anything if you have to take it to get tested. the vehicle has to go through its drive cycles and it will reset itself periodicly

you can pull the battery for the heck of it. i hate doing that cause sometimes we do that at work and then the vehicle had to relearn a bunch of stuff and runs like crap for 10 minutes.