4080wrx

iTrader: (38)

here is the situation.....

my O2 sensor for my AEM UEGO is quite possibly getting covered up with fresh oil due to an oil leak on my turbo (don't ask why I have the leak, its a long story and it is about to be fixed). so what i want to do is remove it and clean it. I have did some searches on I-club, other Subie sites, and sites outside the subie community and it seems the consensus is to use gas or carb cleaner. I would like to know what you have tried and your thoughts.

Thanks

caterpill

iTrader: (11)

Back in school, I was told that a good way to clean o2 sensors were to torch them. I would probably try to clean most of the oil residue off first but you'll have to take a propane torch, put the sensor on a vise, and heat it up to cook off the contaminants.

houdni

iTrader: (1)

Id use brake clean or carb cleaner....

Jrocko

iTrader: (10)

^^^ that would be my answer

juniorsti

iTrader: (19)

torch x2

GD916

iTrader: (2)

Make sure you don't get any carb or brake cleaner in the circuitry. We replace a lot of o2 sensors because people shower their cars in brake clean after oil changes.

Krang

iTrader: (14)

I'd say use mass airflow sensor cleaner, or electronics cleaner. It should get the oil off but not leave residue.

4080wrx

iTrader: (38)

Thanks! I saw the torch method too.

iNfEk

iTrader: (33)

torch + oil = fire. I'm not sure if that's a good idea. I agree with Ryan on the mass air flow cleaner.

shaggadelic

iTrader: (26)

or u could just not get oil on it in the first place No0B! nah nah..... i would order a new one at this point to be honest there cheap 100>

juniorsti

iTrader: (19)

yea doesnt sound safe, but we arent talking about a quart of oil, just residual surface oils.. its like when you accidentally drip some oil on your header or downpipe, you clean what you can and the rest smokes off when the pipes heat up.

Im sure we all know the goal is to clean the lambda probe inside, not the protective cage on the outside. The idea is the burn off the surface oil with a torch, but even that may not be enough to clean the probe(lol..) inside without friction(lol..) with a brush or something...A splash of chemicals may not be strong enough to clean off oil/sludge that has already been baked on by hundreds of heat cycles. Both methods have very little facts to back it up. Shaggy is right, its best to replace the sensor, besides, its a maintenance item that should be replaced or at least inspected every 30k-40k miles... Cheap Bastards like me have to hope that these gimmicks of cleaning methods for a $200+ part work lol...

iNfEk

iTrader: (33)

agreed with jimi... The best course would be to replace it since a new bosch sensor isn't that expensive.

Jrocko

iTrader: (10)

Saw some replacement 02 sensors for the AEM UEGO...they are about $70

shaggadelic

iTrader: (26)

yes they also fit the innovate wideband.... they both use the same sensor

4080wrx

iTrader: (38)

or I can just steal the one off the evo

where did you see this at? this may be an option but I will try and clean it up first.