Oxygen Sensor Cleaner: How To Clean It From Home In 11 Easy Steps

The use of sensors in our cars is increasing at a rapid pace. This is to ensure that troubleshooting and diagnostics in your car take place at a rapid pace.

The problem is that such sensors can develop a problem if they are not maintained properly. For example, when you look at the 02 sensor, it might need cleaning from time to time.

The question, however, is how to clean the 02 sensor?

We will today share with you a step-by-step guide for the same. Along with that, we will help you understand what an 02 sensor is and what it does.

how to clean o2 sensor

What is a 02 Sensor?

Oxygen plays a crucial role in the combustion process in the car. However, if it is not utilized properly, the amount of energy produced in your car is limited.

The question which then arises is, how to monitor if oxygen is being utilized properly or not?

The 02 sensor is the way in which the car monitors the oxygen.

The job of the oxygen sensor is to monitor how much oxygen is burnt and how much of it is exiting your car through the exhaust. If the amount of oxygen leaving the car through the exhaust is high, it will modify the combustion process to utilize this oxygen to the fullest. That way. your car can produce the maximum amount of energy by consuming as little fuel as possible.

Thus, when it comes to the efficiency of your car. the 02 sensor plays a vital role.

In case it gets dirty, its efficiency can reduce the mileage of your car. That is when you need to clean it

The question is. how to know when the 02 sensor requires cleaning?

We will answer that below.

How Can You Tell if an 02 Sensor Needs Cleaning?

There are essentially four symptoms that indicate that your 02 sensor needs cleaning.

How Can You Tell if an 02 Sensor Needs Cleaning

1. Reduced Mileage

If you notice a consistent reduction in mileage of your vehicle over few weeks or a few months, the 02 sensor can be a problem. When the 02 sensor does not detect the oxygen leaving the exhaust, it will not modify the combustion process as it will not send accurate data to the car’s management system.

The consistent reduction of mileage is one of the primary indicators that the 02 sensor might need cleaning.

2. Error Sign on the Dashboard

In many modern cars, there is a sign on the dashboard which lights up when the 02 sensor develops a problem.

In case such a light starts flashing, it is time to clean your 02 sensor.

Most times, once you clean the 02 sensor, you can make it functional again. You won’t need to replace it

3. Error in Diagnostic Check

Most modern cars have an inbuilt software system that allows you diagnostic check. The diagnostic check certainly helps you look at any problem in the car. This can include the erroneous functioning of the 02 sensor as well.

If you’re worried that something is wrong with your car. you can run a diagnostic check. Once you run this check, it will give you a quote that corresponds to a faulty 02 sensor. That is when; cleaning your 02 sensor makes sense.

4. Improper Engine Sound

A faulty sensor means that the car will not be able to regulate the combustion process efficiently. It means that the engine noise will also vary.

While this is not a common occurrence but if you run a faulty 02 sensor for an extended period, sooner than later, the engine sound will change as well. For that, however, you would need to closely observe the engine sound. Only then will you be able to notice the variation as well.

Once you notice this variation in engine sound, you can run a diagnostic or a troubleshooting check.

5. Failure of Emission Test

In most European countries, you need to undertake an emission test You can do so voluntarily as well. If your car fails the emission test, it might be an indicator that the 02 sensor is not functioning well.

Once you fail the emission test, it is better to get the 02 sensor cleaned as soon as possible. That will ensure that you abide by the emission laws.

6. Ageing of Vehicle

As you use your vehicle more and more, chances are the 02 sensor also suffers from more dust and contaminants. That is why the usual aging of the vehicle also requires you to clean the 02 sensor.

Ideally, you should clean the 02 sensor at least every year, if not more frequently.

These are the six indicators that let you know right away that you should clean the 02 sensor. Rather than ignoring the symptoms, it is a good idea to look out for them.

Once you notice these symptoms, you can follow the procedure below to clean the 02 sensor.

What Equipment is Needed?

Before you go through the procedure, it is time to understand what you need to clean the 02 sensor.

You ideally need two things to clean the 02 sensor. These are:

Once you get these two things ready, you have to follow the step-by-step procedure below.

How To Clean 02 sensor?

The procedure to clean the 02 sensor is relatively simple. We will highlight each of the small steps below to make it easier for you to clean the sensor.

1. Wear Protective Gear

Many people directly start by trying to look at the sensor. However, that is wrong. You have to foremost wear protective gear. That will include protective eyewear and protective clothing. You can easily get it from your nearest hardware store.

Only once you wear the protective gear can you proceed towards the next step.

2. Lift the Car Using a Car Jack

A car being lifted by a car jack
A car being lifted by a car jack.

To locate and extract the sensor, you will have to lift the car. First, you have to park the car on the leveled ground and ensure that the emergency brake is pulled up. After that, you have to use a carjack to lift the car.

In case your car has numerous electric sensors, it also makes sense to disconnect the battery before lifting the car.

3. Identify the O2 Sensor

Now comes the tricky part of locating the 02 sensor. Before you try to look at it. you have to understand that these days, cars can consist of multiple 02 sensors because of redundancy. The manual of your car will let you know about the number of 02 sensors.

You can expect at least two 02 sensors in your car. One is at the front of the car’s catalytic converter, and another is at the back of the exhaust.

Thus oxygen sensor looks similar to a spark plug. It is usually 2 inches in size and has a hexagon shape. However, before you remove it. make sure that your vehicle has cooled down completely.

4. Remove the Oxygen Sensor

First, you have to use a lubricant like WD-40 on and around the sensors to ensure that they loosen up. Only when they are well-lubricated can you try removing them.

5. Fill a Bucket With Gasoline

Till the time WD-40 is acting, you have to take a bucket and add gasoline to it. This is the solution which you will be using for cleaning the 02 sensor.

6. Remove the Oxygen Sensor

After 15 to 20 minutes of the application of WD-40. it is time to unscrew the auto sensors from the housing. When you unscrew them, you have to place them on a clean surface rather than on the ground. You can take a plastic bowl for storing them as well.

7. Put the Sensor in the Gasoline Bucket

Once you have removed the 02 sensor, you can put them into the gasoline bucket. While doing so, you have to ensure that the sensors are fully immersed in the gasoline bucket. Since it is a bucket of gasoline, it is necessary to keep any inflammable stuff away from it.

8. Cover the Bucket

To safely use the gasoline, it is also essential to cover the bucket. That way. nothing can fall into the gasoline bucket and light it up.

You have to store it in a completely cool and dry place.

This is where an industrial container can come in handy as well. If you have one you can replace the bucket with an industrial container. Most industrial containers come along with the entire lid. and therefore you can seal them shut tightly.

9. Let It Be Overnight

You must keep the sensors in the gasoline bucket for at least 8 hours or more. Ideally, you have the keep them soaked overnight.

During this duration, you have to move around the container so that the sensors inside move. That way. all the parts of the sensor are equally exposed to gasoline. That is why; the cleaning process will take place efficiently.

10. Extract the Sensor and Let It Dry

After letting the sensors soak overnight, you have to extract them from the bucket of gasoline. After that, you have to let them die.

Even when you look at the filling of the bucket, you will notice that most of the grime, dust, and contaminants will get eliminated.

Before you keep them for drying, you can use a cotton cloth to wipe out the gasoline from the sensors. That way. they will dry much more quickly.

You shouldn’t use any heat to dry them. You have to let them dry naturally in a cool and dry place. Also, while pulling the sensors out. using protective gloves is compulsory so that gasoline does not directly contact your hands.

You can either use surgical gloves or gloves, which you usually use while washing the dishes.

11. Reinstall the O2 sensor

Oxygen sensor reinstall in the car
Oxygen sensor reinstall in the car.

Once the sensors are completely dry which can take up to 12 hours or more as well, depending on the weather, after that, you have to reinstall them.

You can use the same range to reinstall them as well.

Apart from this, you have to take usual safety precautions like the battery should be disconnected from the vehicle, the emergency brake should be pulled up, and the car should be lifted using the jack.

Expert Tip: When incorporating the 02 sensors once again, you have to set them tight. Only when that is the case will they function properly.

After you bring the car to the ground level, it is now time to check if there is any problem with the 02 sensors by running the troubleshooting module or the diagnostic module. You have to also observe the dashboard to ensure that none of the lights show anything concerning the sensor.

Only then, you have to turn on your car.

Once you clean the sensor and reinstall it, the mileage of the car will undoubtedly increase.

Using these steps, you can easily clean the sensor and reincorporate it back into your vehicle.

We will now answer a few questions related to the sensor to have all the information you need for its cleaning procedure.

How Often Should You Clean Your 02 Sensors?

The usual frequency at which you should clean the 02 sensors is generally a year. However, as your vehicle gets older, you should clean them more frequently than once a year.

A lot depends on the miles which you covered as well. The more miles you cover in a year, the more frequently you need to clean the 02 sensor.

Can you clean an 02 sensor to make it work again?

Many times, when the 02 sensor gets impacted by dust, grime, grease, and other contaminants overwhelmingly, it can stop functioning as well. In that case, the dashboard will show you an error. If that is the issue, cleaning the 02 sensor can undoubtedly make it work again.

However, if there is a problem with the hardware of the 02 sensor, you will have no alternative but to replace it

It is. however, a good practice to first clean the 02 sensor and put it back into the car and if still, it does not work, then only replace it Directly replacing it can make you shell extra money when there was no need to replace the sensor, but cleaning was needed.

Easiest way to clean O2 oxygen sensors

Conclusion

Cleaning the 02 sensor is not a difficult task. You need limited supplies like a wrench, protective gear, a bucket of gasoline, carjack to clean it. Using the step-by-step procedure above, you can easily clean the 02 sensor and put it back into the car as well.

Doing so can certainly help you improve the car’s performance, and therefore cleaning the 02 sensor periodically is undoubtedly well worth it.

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About Brock Rangel

Hi, I am Brock, and I am the lead editor/photographer for TheCarColony. I have been a mechanic for over 14 years now, and I am here to spread my car knowledge across the web!