Oxygen sensors are found in the exhaust system of cars, where they're exposed to fuel and other toxic gases such as HC, CO and NO2These substances can pollute the sensor and hinder its capacity to work efficientlyOil, fuel and coolant contamination can cause damage as wellExcessive soot buildup in the sensor's ceramic parts can increase response time and consequently decrease its capacity to detect oxygen efficiently.

The presence of lead in poor quality gasoline also decreases the life span of oxygen sensorsExposure to silicates and silicones also hinders their ability to function correctlyBecause the sensor's function is to determine the best ratio of fuel and air mixture in the car's exhaust system, contamination can cause the gas combustion engine to run rich (with unburnt fuel) or lean (with excess oxygen)This can decrease the car's mileage.

Therefore it's essential to maintain proper health of the sensor to minimize gas usagePurchasing a new censor is the most obvious course of action to take when the old sensor is damagedBut purchasing new sensors, especially the wideband ones can be costlyNevertheless, we're exploring the possibility of "recycling" the sensors by cleaning them.

Disclaimer: Please note that cleaning oxygen sensors is NOT advised and we cannot promise that the cleaned sensor will work; but in this piece we've attempted to consider methods to reuse sensors instead of purchasing replacement sensors.

So, please attempt the procedure at your own riskWill the sensor function properly after being cleaned?

Because it's exposed to high heat in the exhaust system, the main contaminant will probably be a thick coating of baked carbon on the sensor tip, which won't dissolve readily in any solventsOne method to get rid of the carbon residue is by using a blow torch (such as propane) to heat the sensor tipHold the torch to the tip until it is about to turn redThen quickly immerse the tip into water.

Next, blow compressed air to clean the tipThis will cause the deposit to break upWe advise you to repeat this several times until the residue is goneYou can try the CRC brand QD electronic cleaner to get rid of oil and fuel contaminants.

This is a special cleanser that doesn't leave behind any residue after it driesMaintain a safe distance between the cleaner nozzle and oxygen sensor while you're sprayingRemember to use gloves and safety goggles to protect your eyes and hands.