Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
(OP)
Does anyone have knowledge as to the expected useful life of a Bosch wide-band O2 sensor used on a race engine running leaded fuel? I've heard everything from "a few minutes" to "several seasons of racing" and am thus totally confused.
Assuming that there really is a huge range of life, I'm wondering what variables are in play. Ones that come to mind might be:
Compression ratio
Lead content of fuel
Other chemicals in fuel
Sensor location
Exhaust Gas Temperature
Mixture
Sensor type (wide/narrow band, heated/unheated)
An allied question - once it is poisoned with lead and starting to go, does it give false readings? And, can they really be resurrected using a torch?
Thanks in advance!
Al Seim
Assuming that there really is a huge range of life, I'm wondering what variables are in play. Ones that come to mind might be:
Compression ratio
Lead content of fuel
Other chemicals in fuel
Sensor location
Exhaust Gas Temperature
Mixture
Sensor type (wide/narrow band, heated/unheated)
An allied question - once it is poisoned with lead and starting to go, does it give false readings? And, can they really be resurrected using a torch?
Thanks in advance!
Al Seim





RE: Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
O2 sensors have to be at a minimum temperature to work (600F?) so there obviously is a maximum distance from the exhaust port that will work. The heated sensors are to bring them up to temperature faster and keep them there at idle when the exhaust cools too much.
If they are coated with carbon, they can be cleaned with a torch, burning off the carbon deposits. An acetyline torch can be used (rich/lean mixture) to check the output.
Have you tried the Bosch web site?
RE: Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
RE: Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
RE: Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
I would state that there is no definitive measured reduction of life based on leaded fuel, just to say that the sensor will irrepairably degrade with the first exposure.
Magnograil is correct with his comments.
Franz
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RE: Life of wide-band O2 sensor with leaded fuel
ECM and Horiba are the only authorized distributors for the good sensors.