just how sensitive are o2 sensors...seem to have lots fail

just how sensitive are o2 sensors...seem to have lots fail

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Discussion

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Friday 18th June 2010
quotequote all
ive had what seems to be quiet a few o2 sensors die on my golf over the years.i always get bosch ones and handle them with care

just swapped the exhaust over which onvolved remove/refit the o2 sensor and it seems its gone again

are they really that fragile or is there another problem

stevieturbo

17,259 posts

247 months

Friday 18th June 2010
quotequote all
They are fragile, but also a consumable item.

That said, they should generally last quite a long time. I guess it also depends on how you are testing it as working or not working ?

Edited by stevieturbo on Friday 18th June 16:49

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Friday 18th June 2010
quotequote all
well the car is bucking badly at low speed around town , occaisional buck on cruise

unplugging the o2 fixes it

stevieturbo

17,259 posts

247 months

Friday 18th June 2010
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
well the car is bucking badly at low speed around town , occaisional buck on cruise

unplugging the o2 fixes it
And there was me thinking you tested it with an oscilliscope....

Unplugging the lambda sensor will throw the car into a limp mode, which can mask all sorts of other problems.

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Friday 18th June 2010
quotequote all
nah dont have any fancy gear im affraid

in the past new ones do seem to cure it , but i seem to be getting through alot of em

the car is a bit primative really..doesnt have any self dianostics or nowt

thong

414 posts

232 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
steveo3002 said:
ive had what seems to be quiet a few o2 sensors die on my golf over the years.i always get bosch ones and handle them with care

just swapped the exhaust over which onvolved remove/refit the o2 sensor and it seems its gone again

are they really that fragile or is there another problem
well?,is it petrol/diesel?,engine cc code?,year of when the thing was knocked up on a production line,
if u gents need help on pistonheads(year make model and fuel type ffs)madness ?

syncro.

186 posts

178 months

Sunday 20th June 2010
quotequote all
thong said:
steveo3002 said:
ive had what seems to be quiet a few o2 sensors die on my golf over the years.i always get bosch ones and handle them with care

just swapped the exhaust over which onvolved remove/refit the o2 sensor and it seems its gone again

are they really that fragile or is there another problem
well?,is it petrol/diesel?,engine cc code?,year of when the thing was knocked up on a production line,
if u gents need help on pistonheads(year make model and fuel type ffs)madness ?
Its quite clearly petrol, don't see how the engine size really matters either.

Anyway, my Corrado, which will use a very similar O2 sensor to your golf, went 90K on its first sensor, so yes they are consumables but I wouldn't expect a healthy car to go through more than 2 in its life time.

Silicone kills them very quickly, you haven't used this to seal any induction leaks or in place of any gaskets on the inlet have you?

HellDiver

5,708 posts

182 months

Monday 21st June 2010
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syncro. said:
Its quite clearly petrol
No, it isn't.

Pigeon

18,535 posts

246 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
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A lambda sensor is pointless on a diesel because they run about 50% lean of stoichiometric even at their "richest" (ie. full pelt) and even leaner at lower outputs, so there is always masses of free oxygen in the exhaust no matter what.

syncro.

186 posts

178 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
syncro. said:
Its quite clearly petrol
No, it isn't.
Pigeon said:
A lambda sensor is pointless on a diesel because they run about 50% lean of stoichiometric even at their "richest" (ie. full pelt) and even leaner at lower outputs, so there is always masses of free oxygen in the exhaust no matter what.
Is it not?... Thanks Pigeon.

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
quotequote all
syncro...its a g60 golf so same as your rado

havent used any silicone anywhere on the engine , no fuel additives either

HellDiver

5,708 posts

182 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
quotequote all
syncro. said:
HellDiver said:
syncro. said:
Its quite clearly petrol
No, it isn't.
Pigeon said:
A lambda sensor is pointless on a diesel because they run about 50% lean of stoichiometric even at their "richest" (ie. full pelt) and even leaner at lower outputs, so there is always masses of free oxygen in the exhaust no matter what.
Is it not?... Thanks Pigeon.
Odd that the last 2 diesels I had, clearly had two lambda sensors. One in the precat, one after the main cat.

That's a 1.9CDTI Astra, and the other was a VW 2.0TDI powered Lancer. The Astra even went in to limp home when the cable from the post-cat lambda got snagged on a twig flicked up from the road.

So, it's not clear that it's a petrol, you moron. rolleyes

ringram

14,700 posts

248 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
quotequote all
O2 sensors in diesel probably mainly measure cat efficiency. (ie) Difference between pre and post cat signal.

Sensors fail if exposed to overrich mixtures for any period of time, they also should be preheated, hence why newer ones run 12V and ground heater circuits. Older models just had the signal and signal grounds etc. Check your 12v and grounds if its a heated one to check if its preheating nicely. Maybe give it a min or so before you crank the starter with the ignition on to let it preheat etc.

Otherwise maybe your running too rich or something in open loop before it hits closed loop?

syncro.

186 posts

178 months

Tuesday 22nd June 2010
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ringram said:
Otherwise maybe your running too rich or something in open loop before it hits closed loop?
Could be, is your G60 chipped? Also silicates in some types of anti freeze can cause sensors to die, are you using any water at all?

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Wednesday 23rd June 2010
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it is chipped..no use of coolant

steveo3002

Original Poster:

10,515 posts

174 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
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6 years and its gone again lol

found this old thread googling about them ...i guess 6 years isnt too bad , had a bad misfire earlier in the year so i guess that killed it