Replaced o2 sensors
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Henderson, KY
Replaced o2 sensors
I ahve posted before about only getting 8-10 mpg. My truck is a 2005 5.4 FX4. I also replaced the fuel filter as well. The filter and drivers side o2 sensor were simple to replace. Id like to murder whoever thought the design for the passenger side o2 sensor was a good idea. It is in the tightest spot imagineable, and getting the basterd unplugged was probably the most difficult thing Ive one in a while. Anyways, I dont have any mileage to report yet, but as far as performance, it is like night and day difference. I dont know if it was the filter or the sensors, but my truck runs a lot smoother and when you hit the gas it is SOOOO much better on acceleration. Anyway, if ur truck feels sluggish and idles kinda choppy, but have no check engine light, For about 100 bucks you can improve the feel of ur truck. I will update on my mileage later.
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Marysville, Washington
Mine was running rough so I just changed the plugs, cleaned the MAF and changed the fuel filter. My filter was fine, so I think it was the plugs, mostly. It is running much better, now.
I was thinking of changing the upstream 02 sensors, too. Can you list the part number and where you bought them?
Thanks
I was thinking of changing the upstream 02 sensors, too. Can you list the part number and where you bought them?
Thanks
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Joined: Feb 2004
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hi guys,
first, with efi engines you *cannot* determines what the a/f ratios are by any way other than testing them on a wideband a/f ratio gauge/recorder - period.
You cannot do this based on smell, you cannot do this based on the appearance of "soot" in the tailpipes, etc - that only works on older carbureted engines, not on modern efi engines running unleaded fuel.
Now on a vehicle with 90k miles, the spark plugs and the upstream o2 sensors should have been changed long ago - there is no spark plug in the world that has any business being in an engine for more than about 30k miles no matter who says what, and the upstream o2 sensors are actually a 30k mile maintenance item - though you can push them to 50k miles in some cases.
to get the best results, have fresh plugs, o2 sensors, a clean egr tract, a fresh fuel filter, etc - all the things that we used to have to maintain on carbureted engines still need to be done on efi motors, only now we have more things in some areas (like o2 sensors) that need to be changed - luckily, we no longer have points & a condenser to change every 10k miles, but we still have to do maintenance at a far higher level and to more things than the factory manuals tel you if you want the vehicle to run it's best.
And one last reminder - again - please do not attempt to judge whether your engine is running rich or lean without actually monitoring the fuel trims in closed loop *and* having the a/f ratios @ wot tested on a dyno or with one of the low cost wideband a/f ratio recorders, like the lm-1 we carry, for example - it just doesn't work by the old methods of smell & exhaust appearance. We see vehicles all the time that the owners swear are running rich but are in fact dead on, or even a bit lean, for example - just fyi.
i hope that helps a bit!
first, with efi engines you *cannot* determines what the a/f ratios are by any way other than testing them on a wideband a/f ratio gauge/recorder - period.
You cannot do this based on smell, you cannot do this based on the appearance of "soot" in the tailpipes, etc - that only works on older carbureted engines, not on modern efi engines running unleaded fuel.
Now on a vehicle with 90k miles, the spark plugs and the upstream o2 sensors should have been changed long ago - there is no spark plug in the world that has any business being in an engine for more than about 30k miles no matter who says what, and the upstream o2 sensors are actually a 30k mile maintenance item - though you can push them to 50k miles in some cases.
to get the best results, have fresh plugs, o2 sensors, a clean egr tract, a fresh fuel filter, etc - all the things that we used to have to maintain on carbureted engines still need to be done on efi motors, only now we have more things in some areas (like o2 sensors) that need to be changed - luckily, we no longer have points & a condenser to change every 10k miles, but we still have to do maintenance at a far higher level and to more things than the factory manuals tel you if you want the vehicle to run it's best.
And one last reminder - again - please do not attempt to judge whether your engine is running rich or lean without actually monitoring the fuel trims in closed loop *and* having the a/f ratios @ wot tested on a dyno or with one of the low cost wideband a/f ratio recorders, like the lm-1 we carry, for example - it just doesn't work by the old methods of smell & exhaust appearance. We see vehicles all the time that the owners swear are running rich but are in fact dead on, or even a bit lean, for example - just fyi.
i hope that helps a bit!
mgd
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From: South Bend IN
All Spark Plugs only last 30K miles?
"Now on a vehicle with 90k miles, the spark plugs and the upstream o2 sensors should have been changed long ago - there is no spark plug in the world that has any business being in an engine for more than about 30k miles no matter who says what."
Sorry, I strongly disagree with that statement. I have seen many platinum plugs go over 100K miles that still looked good when they came out, and still performed well. Sounds like a statement a spark plug salesman would make.
Sorry, I strongly disagree with that statement. I have seen many platinum plugs go over 100K miles that still looked good when they came out, and still performed well. Sounds like a statement a spark plug salesman would make.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Joplin MO
Gee - I got 84k out of my OEM platinum plugs, and my factory O2's are still in there at 136k. The gas mileage and performance hasn't changed one bit since I got the truck with 55k on it.
Betcha that Troyer posted that about 10 years ago.
Betcha that Troyer posted that about 10 years ago.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 328
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From: Marysville, Washington
How was that gap doing when you changed the plugs?
My plugs looked ok too, until I looked at the gap. What was supposed to be .054 was closer to .1. Gap is more important if you have a performance tune.
Can't hurt if you change the o2 sensors. If you think they are performing up to spec after being exposed to the exhaust stream for 136k mi., more power to you. I'll be changing mine. I agree that o2 sensors every 30k does seem excessive. I wonder if you can clean them with something?
My plugs looked ok too, until I looked at the gap. What was supposed to be .054 was closer to .1. Gap is more important if you have a performance tune.
Can't hurt if you change the o2 sensors. If you think they are performing up to spec after being exposed to the exhaust stream for 136k mi., more power to you. I'll be changing mine. I agree that o2 sensors every 30k does seem excessive. I wonder if you can clean them with something?
Last edited by alfack; Feb 21, 2011 at 03:09 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 328
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From: Marysville, Washington
Ok. My new sensors came in yesterday so I swapped them out today. The one on the right has 76k mi., compared to the new one. Granted the passenger side one was not as dirty, though tougher to change.
It does seem to run a bit smoother, too.
It does seem to run a bit smoother, too.
Last edited by alfack; Feb 26, 2011 at 11:25 PM.