P0031 any replacement tips?

[Monty87ls]

Got P0031 shortly after having the Cat replaced and decided to leave it be until the weather got better. Well someone decided to pull out in front of me when I was driving my Prius so the 4runner is back to being a daily driver. Replaced the driver side o2 and moved onto the passenger side which is the issue. I was using a 22mm wrench but it seems even tighter on that side. Was starting to rain so I threw it back together for now.

Any advice on the best socket to use vs the 22mm? or best method to try get to it? I gotta go pick a new o2 socket as I gave mine away years ago. Might pickup the Pittsburgh indexable ratchet as it seems might be helpful in that tight spot or maybe the swivel head one. Maybe both haha

 

[Buckaroo]

Got P0031 shortly after having the Cat replaced and decided to leave it be until the weather got better. Well someone decided to pull out in front of me when I was driving my Prius so the 4runner is back to being a daily driver. Replaced the driver side o2 and moved onto the passenger side which is the issue. I was using a 22mm wrench but it seems even tighter on that side. Was starting to rain so I threw it back together for now.

Any advice on the best socket to use vs the 22mm? or best method to try get to it? I gotta go pick a new o2 socket as I gave mine away years ago. Might pickup the Pittsburgh indexable ratchet as it seems might be helpful in that tight spot or maybe the swivel head one. Maybe both haha

If you are replacing an O2 sensor, the best socket is a sensor socket - there are straight or offset designs. Also, apply PB Blaster and run the engine to heat up the exhaust before you crank on it.

 

[Monty87ls]

If you are replacing an O2 sensor, the best socket is a sensor socket - there are straight or offset designs. Also, apply PB Blaster and run the engine to heat up the exhaust before you crank on it.

I did i did finally get it off. I picked up o2 sensor socket but still was a pain to get off. The shop I had put the new cats on for me did not use any Anti seize on the threads of the o2. Would have been nice if he did that!

Ended up braking a brake line during the process. No fixed but discovered some bad rust so gotta decide what im gonna do here.

 

[Hungryhawk]

I have not yet had to change O2 sensors. But a couple years ago I got my first set of Flex Head wrenches. The ratcheting is very fine ( 80 or something). If you get the wrench end over the bolt head or nut, the fine ratchet will let you slowly turn your part-sometimes only a couple clicks per stroke.
Wish I had a set decades ago when I was cutting wrenches in half to get a little twist room.
A great invention for us mechanics.
They will do some jobs a deep socket is usually needed.

 

[RobStoration]

If the sensor is going to be replaced, you can cut the wire or even use a cutoff wheel to make it as short as you want and then just use a regular 6-point socket with a 1/2 inch breaker bar. I have acetylene torches, so that's my go-to. Can't be stuck if it's red hot. It probably needs to be said that you heat the bung, not the sensor.