Cleaning O2 Sensors

[CCMphysician]

In the interest of maintaining my car, I want to clean my O2 sensors. Currently there is nothing wrong with them, no CEL or anything else, I just want to make sure things stay that way and I want to increase fuel economy. As one of my O2 sensors is right on the exhaust manifold in the front, I can't imagine that it is particularly clean after 15 years and some carbon must have accumulated. How would you recommend that I clean the O2 sensors?

Thank you in advance,
CCM

[Blt2Lst]

Originally Posted by CCMphysician

In the interest of maintaining my car, I want to clean my O2 sensors. Currently there is nothing wrong with them, no CEL or anything else, I just want to make sure things stay that way and I want to increase fuel economy. As one of my O2 sensors is right on the exhaust manifold in the front, I can't imagine that it is particularly clean after 15 years and some carbon must have accumulated. How would you recommend that I clean the O2 sensors?

Thank you in advance,
CCM

If it ain't broke, I would leave it alone.

[RahX]

You can't clean it without damaging it. Just replace the thing if you are that worried about it, they're only good for about 50k according to a few different manufacturers. A 7/8 wrench should do the trick for easy to get ones.

[curtis73]

You're not even supposed to touch the sensor surface. Cleaning an O2 sensor is like scrubbing the mona lisa with steel wool.

They're $50. Wait till it fails and then get a new one.

[jdmccright]

Your diligence is admirable, but they're not made to be removed and cleaned. And because they are threaded into that hot exhaust pipe for all these years, they'll be very difficult to remove, you'll likely break one and have to buy a new one anyways. So just keep away and trust that they are good...or at least good enough.

If your car is 1996 or newer (earlier with some exceptions), your OBD-II diagnostic sytem will alert you when one has gone bad or when your engine is not running at optimum efficiency to minimize pollutants.

Other vehicles earlier than 1996 down to ~1987 have OBD-I to some degree which isn't as all-encompassing but still monitors the O2 sensor(s) for proper engine fuel economy. It will alert you to a fault as well by illuminating the "check engine" light. Check your owner's manual for it's operation.