o2 sensor: universal or O.E. type?

[ayoung101]

through reading through these forums someone suggested to me (since i've only had my truck a few weeks) that i should replace the o2 sensor to help with speed/gas mileage and whatnot. so that's fine, i figured i was going to give it a full tune-up anyways. i went to autozone, and he showed me the 2 that were normally used. both were made by bosch. 1 was $60, and the other was $150. the $60 was a "universal" type one. the $150 was the O.E. type one. obviously i like saving money, just like everyone else. my question is do you guys think the universal one will cut it? or should i stick with the O.E.? does the O.E. really make about +$90 worth in difference?


oh, another thing, like i said, i'm doing a tune-up on it. (haven't bought the o2 sensor yet). yesterday, i changed the plugs, gave it an oil change (which the previous owner said it was done about 2000 ago, but just to be sure, i'm changing it), and checked the air filter (which was suprisingly clean). still gonna do the distributor cap, wires, adjust the TPS, check the fuel filter, etc. as i have time. anyways, AS OF YET, the only thing i've done is the plugs. bosch platinum 1's, gapped them to .031 per owner's manual specs, and changed out the old ones. the old ones (just happened to also be bosch platinum 1's) were in pretty bad shape. it's been a LONG time since they've been changed. out of curiosity, i checked the gap. they were all gapped about .010 too big. after i finished what i was doing on the truck, i took it out for a spin. i was absolutely AMAZED at the increase in performance of my truck with JUST new plugs. i've changed some pretty bad plugs out before on other vehicles, but it never made anywhere NEAR this much of a difference. i'm definitely gonna be all over that rotor to see how it looks when i get a chance in hopes i'll get more performance. my 4cyl actually CAN spin the 31x10.5 BFG's!

 

[4playin]

H8 to say it dude, but the Factory O2 sensor is the difference of speed/milage. I bought an aftermarket one for my 85 4runner because my old one was shot, (like melted leads shot). It ran a bit better, but then one day, I was checking all of my switches and sensors with a voltmeter, and it wasn't changing values near as much as spec reads. But I spent I think 36 bucks on the cheapie, and Toyota wants 150 for theirs... Eventually I'll buy it when I can afford it, but talking to other people - it makes a difference.

 

[aj884runner]

O2 sensor

Just get the Dealer sensor. After market ones for imports of any kind just, well...SUCK!

 

[AF1]

I bought a DENSO universal for 49.00 at sparkplugs.com....the only diff between OE and universal is the OE has plug and universal you have to splice wires...universal works just fine....the Bosch at auto zone is shorter than the Denso....Save some money...and correct me if I am wrong, but I think Denso is original equipment?

 

[Sidney]

o2 sensor is replaced for free

About half of the ECU codes stored on the first & second generation EFI Toyotas don't show a constant blinking check engine light therefore you must pull the ECU codes to see if a fault is registered but when an oxygen sensor is bad it usually does not trip an ECU code but they can be tested as they get lazy.
To pull the ECU codes:

All 1980-1995 and including 1995 EFI equipped vehicle allow you to find engine and related faults by pulling the ECU (computer) codes without the need for a handheld OBDII diagnosis scanner,the sites listed below have the fault codes needed to pull the codes and the instructions on how to do it:

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/codes/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Pit/9975/dataBySubject/Engine.html
http://www.mad-mechanic.com/toyota/toyotaobd.shtml#obtaincode
http://www.freewebs.com/th3duke/22RE-ECU.mht
http://www.troublecodes.net/Toyota/
http://members.igateway.net/~pscott/enginecodes.html
http://www.troublecodes.net/Toyota/
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/manuals/1KZ-TE/Page0096.htm
http://www.efisakh.narod.ru/at_toyota.htm
http://www.usatransdoctor.com/foreigntoyota.htm
http://www.autobook.co.kr/data_links/toyota_trouble_codes.htm
http://www.ecutecparts.com/ccodes/toyota.html
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h27.pdf
http://autorepair.about.com/library/ts/obd-i/bl-dtcs-36.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library/ts/obd-i/bl-dtcs-53.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library/ts/obd-i/bl-dtcs-71.htm
http://autorepair.about.com/library/ts/obd-i/bl-dtcs-90.htm

The oxygen sensor is replaced for free in the USA only when the vehicle reaches it's first 80 000 miles regardless of the age & number of owners as stated in the factory owner's manual in the maintenance section,some Toyota dealerships are reluctant to replace it for free if that happens contact the Toyota regional head office for your region where they will give your local dealership 48 hours to comply.
On average the oxygen sensors should be replaced every 6 years or 100 000 miles or so which ever comes first.
Symptons of a bad o2 sensor are poor gas mileage,hesistation in acceleration and worse emmissions,the 02 sensor is designed to function once the vehicle has warmed up which is about after 10 minutes where the thermostat begins to open then the vehicles ECU system enters what they call a "closed loop system" then the exhaust manifold's temperature reaches 400 degree Ferenheit (I think)that's where the sensor starts to do it's job,many folks think that the o2 sensor is bad but an exhaust leak can cause excess oxygen to enter the exhaust system thereby fooling the sensor into thinking there is too much oxygen,there are other problems that could cause it to give false reading such as a vaccuum leak.

If you discover that the o2 sensor is bad and it is not under warranty then from my/others experience/research purchase an o2 sensor in the following order:

1)Toyota (NipponDenso now called Denso)
2)Denso aftermarket (Same as original but sold aftermarket)
3)NTK (oxygen sensor division of NGK)

Available at:
http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/part_number.html
(they have the lowest prices in the USA & probably the whole world)
http://www.densoaftermarket.com
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com

Note:Toyota has an organized numbering system which dictates that the first 6 digits of their 10 digit (5 digits-5 digits)part numbers represents the part # and the remaining 4 digits dictate country of origin,color code,trim package and so on not in that order as shown in the free Toyota EPC (electronic parts catalog) download at:

http://www.yankeetoys.org/docs.htm
http://www.supracentral.com/oldschool/htm/epc.htm
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/download_links.htm
http://www.speedtoys.com/~arnout/

NGK has a powerfull oxygen cross reference software which cross references their different part #'s into either a single,double,triple or a quad wire o2 sensors so you may find 10 or so different part #'s for your 87 4-Runner and all you have to do is plug those part #'s into:

http://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/part_number.html

and see which one is cheaper I think you will find one for as low as $60.The NGK cross reference software is:

http://home.att.net/~ngksparkplugs/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html
before you replace the oxygen sensor soak the 14 mm brass nuts with any of these deep penetrating oils:

1)PB Blaster
2)Liquid Wrench
3)Kroil Oil
4)Aero Kroil & Sili Kroil
5)Toyota Rust Penetrant or High Performance Penetrating lube
6)Rust Check

the first ones being the best,also if you decide you need new ones here is the Toyota part for the exhaust manifold (brass)nuts # 90179-10175 (14 mm socket)

Oh yeah,I bought a NTK (NGK) oxygen sensor for my 85 4-Runner and it came with a gasket and a genuine made in Japan black plastic tie wrap I don't know if the Toyota or Denso aftermarket ones come with a gasket but ask them before you buy them.

To clean the throttle body remove the air intake hose and examine the intake and throttle body for excessive carbon build if found then buy a can of throttle body cleaner labeled "safe on oxygen sensor and catalytic converters" and make sure your engine is fully warmed up prior to using as when the throttle body is hot it dissolves the carbon easily and quickly.The labels usually specify to park the vehicle at groung level (0 degrees,no inclination) and have the engine running but I disagree I instead park the vehicle on a hill facing down and shut the engine off and hold a rag below the lip of the throttle body and poor the stuff and use a tooth brush.
The service manual links below have a standard procedure for testing the oxygen sensor:

Any public library in the USA & Canada would have the Factory service manual,Haynes,Chiltons,Mitchells and Toyota repair books but since you are in Japan you might want to try:

There is also free AutoZone service manuals at:

http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/repair_info/repair_guide/repair_guide.jsp

Finally there is a free aftermarket 1995 4-Runner (22R-E and 3VZE) service manual at:

http://www.net-impress.com/4runner/cd

For scanned pages of factory service manuals for other engines:

http://www.brian894x4.com/Scannedmanual.html
http://www.showmesome.info/hilux/info/manuals/1KZ-TE
http://toyoefi.freeyellow.com/manual.html
http://www.grubinski.com/grubinski/manuals.html
http://www.hotrodder.com/kwkride/tech.html
http://www.autoshop101.com
http://www.mtv411.com/sitemap.htm

Sidney
E-mail:sidneybek(at)yahoo.com
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing factory chrome bumper with 239 000 KM