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In Reply to: Oxygen sensor replacement......what 2 expect?? posted by Puff on August 27, 2000 at 22:16:28:
I have replaced the O2 sensors in a few cars already. What you'll feel is a little bit of a better fuel economy and maybe a better pick-up at low rpm. The old O2 sensors are getting dirty and they loose they capability to sense everything. What they do is they measure the free oxygen molecules volume before and after (post'96) the cat. In a post '96 car it should read less in the after then a first, otherwise the cat is bad.
The pre '95 cars O2sensor are only measuring before the cat and if they sense too much fuel, then the ECU will tend to leaning the mixture and the opposite. Th 14.7:1 ratio should remain stable at every condition. 1 gas with 14.7 air
The ECU is set for this and will try and keep it stable constantly.
I have tried aftermarket O2 sensors and they are just as good as the OEM, except you might have to do some wire clipping. Not always but sometimes ! For example : my '96 RAnge Rover lost one of it's O2 sensor. (??) the fuel eco was out the window, averaging 9-9.5mpg. I purchased an aftermarket unit for 125USD (NGK) instead of the OEM. But before the NGK came in (was back ordered for 2 days) I went to see the OEM's. Suprise, suprise, I open the box and see a Made in Japan sign on the sensor. I look the box says : original Land Rover parts. So I was happy that I went with the aftermarket parts since the OEm would have cost me 215USD and was the exact same parts !
Try them and you'll save money compare to the BMW's 125USD price. Each is 125 and after 96 you need 4pcs that means a 500USD price tag. Pre'96 owners are lucky they need only 2pcs=250USD.