Hey guys,
I blew my head gasket a couple months back while on the race track, huge white clouds out the tailpipe, coolant pouring out the exhaust, etc. I'm currently rebuilding the motor, but need some opinions on the oxygen sensor.

I just replaced the oxygen sensor a few weeks before blowing the head gasket. I've removed it from the turbo downpipe, it still physically looks good. I've heard that coolant can contaminate the sensor...is it pretty much a "for sure" situation where I need to replace it again...or is it typically only after a slow coolant loss and lenghthy exposure to coolant that an oxygen sensor will go bad?

Thanks!

 

A few weeks before, no need to replace it, I blew mine in August and they said it wasn't necessary...

 

i would- coolant ruins sensors.

 

Thanks guys. Not much of a concensus though. Anyone out there with real-world experience on this issue?

Thanks

 

i worked as a mechanic for some time. I did alot of head gaskets on various different auto makers cars. When the car was running again, i would hook the obd1 or 2 scan tool up and check for codes. The tool has the ability to read the o2 as a zeitronix unit would do and almost every single blown headgasket car i scanned had a slow or bad oxygen sensor. This gets particularly expensive on cars w/ four sensors.

 

Okay, thanks Dan. I'll go ahead and replace it.

From what you've said, the really bad news here isn't me having to replace my OEM oxygen sensor, it's that my expensive AEM wideband oxygen sensor may be screwed as well.

 

Agreed our O2 sensor is really cheap.

 

instead of replacing it, why dont you wait till your engine is running first. get it up to operating temp, use a muiltimeter, the o2 sensor creates its own voltage 0-1v put the earth to the engine and the positive to the odd wire out on the 02 harness, there will be 3 wires, usually black and white. the 02 sensor should cycle quite quicky if working properly, usually 0.2-0.8v

 

When i blow my head gasket at the track i had to drive home with 02 sensor and i saw a difference. Even the narrow band wasnt acting normal. Once i replaced the 02 sensor everything was back to normal. SO yeah replace it. coolant ruins o2 sensor. Dan also told me this as well.