Not sure how many miles I have on mine, it could even be original with 185,000 miles.

 

I heard that the O2 sensor goes bad after about 80K miles. It either doesn't work or gets lazy. I still get decent mileage in this 92 loyale (auto) - 29 mpg on highway only, but I wonder if I can improve that by getting a new sensor installed.

 

Secondly, where do you get a new O2 sensor? An online source?

 

Any O2 sensor stories?

You can get an o2 sensor at any auto parts dealer. Advance, Autozone, Napa, etc. watch out though I got one a Napa for and 88 spfi ea82 and it was like 87.00$ Crazy Expensive. I decided shortly afterthat that it was not worth it. Then I got my aftermarket "off-raod" exhaust with no cats, and no place for o2 sensor.

Generic O2 sensor from autozone=$30 seems to work ok.. Haven't stuck an AF meter on there, but haven't had any operational trouble.

is the o2 sensor necessary for normal operation. the reason i ask is i am going to be installing a custom exhaust and don't really want to tap any holes.

you can test your o2 sensor if you have a halfway decent volt meter. or better yet look at the o2 light on the ecm. if it blinks it is cycling as it should( engine hot of course).

 

the o2 sensor does the fine adjustments to your mixture. running without it is not going to harm the car right away but over time it will. subarus are not to reliant on the o2 sensor and willrun halfway decent on a bad or missing o2. some other makes of cars will run horrible with a bad o2.

 

the mileage recomendation for changing the o2 is primarily for prevenitive measures. bad o2s often kill the cats and thats usually a lot more money than the o2 sensor.

 

if you want to build your own exhaust. then just buy a o2 bung and weld it into your system.

Generic O2 sensor from autozone=$30 seems to work ok.

 

I don't particularly trust generic stuff, to be honest.

The one I got at Autozone was a Bosch (3 months ago, about $32 I think). That probably classifies as "generic", since they're carried at most parts stores. But -- correct me if I'm wrong -- I'd put Bosch at pretty reliable quality for most things.

 

Hey, I've got a Blaupunkt stereo (Bosch division), and I'm happy enough :-)

 

-- Mark

I have been running my sedan with custom exhaust and no o2 sensor for about a year now. never gave me any trouble. The ecm light stays on now but other thatn that no problems at all

Between some of us Legacy people, some have bought a generic 4-wire O2 sensor from http://www.oxygensensors.com . The part number I will get for the Legacy is #25-2400 or something like that, need to go research it again...

 

Our stock ones are 3-wire, one for sensor input, one for the heater, and the 3rd for the heater to ground back to the ECU. The sensor input grounds through the exhaust.

 

Well if your car is old and the exhaust is starting to rust, it's probably not a very good ground. So by splicing the 4th wire (sensor ground) with the heater ground, you can ground the sensor input to the ECU also, which should render you a more accurate sensor...

 

I have yet to try this, but if I do, I will report back with results...

Be careful taking the old sensor out. If it's really old it can break off and then you'll have alot more work to do.

Hey all,

 

I'm new here - just wanted to say how much I like this board. Have learned a lot of valuable info from cruising the archives.

 

On the subject of O2 sensors:

 

The Bosch one referred to earlier is "generic" in that it has no connector on the end. You have to splice your old connector on, and make sure you keep the wire length the same as the old one (something about resistance in the wire, I think).

 

Bosch also makes a "OE type" version you can just plug right in. As far as I am aware, they both will do the job - one just takes more work and has a splice which has the potential to cause trouble if it develops rust, causing extra resistance.

 

BTW, NAPA (at least the one I work at) sells the sensors for less than Autozone, and you will be keeping your money in your own community, since most NAPAs are locally owned whereas AZ is a megacorp! (sorry for the shameless plug )

 

Partsman

88 GL 4wd Wagon SPFI 5spd

Question, would a Subaru O2 sensor with part number 22791AA0A work in my 92 Loyale?

If you have Fuel injection, an O2 sensor is vital, if you don't have one your car will run rich and give you bad fuel economy and ruin your catalitic converter. there is no horse power increase without the O2.

viceversa - not sure what you have by that part # but all subaru and most other O2 sensors work the same ( with a few odd exceptions).

 

if it is a regular one wire O2 that hooks up the same as your old one you should be ok. where are you getting this one from?

Bosch 12053 - $43.99 red sheet (over the counter) at NAPA - this is the one with the correct connector

 

Bosch 11027 - $21.99 red sheet NAPA - this is the one with no connector (comes with splice and instructions)

 

NAPA used to sell Echlin oxygen sensors which cost $69 or so - changed to Bosch, no quality difference I'm aware of, just less expensive.

 

BTW, ask your parts guy for a discount - most of us have some latitude in pricing. I can give a "good customer" discount, a AAA member discount, and a wholesale discount. For example, the two Bosch sensors I would sell to USMB'ers at $40.91/$20.45.

Other parts have better discounting available. Sorry, I don't ship parts - you have to come and see me in Eugene.

those part numbers ARE correct. I use them all the time!

 

I work at NAPA, and in my opinion, those ECH sensors were crap compared to BSH. We also sell the BSH starters and alts, and regulars prefer the BSH to the RAYloc stuff.

 

How about I made those AE pads smoke on my wagon? lol

they reccomend that you replace them every 50,000 mile's as part of the tune up

I Have 190,000 miles on mine, I imagine it's going to be interested trying to get it out - but don't worry, I have all the tools - pb blaster, huge breaker bar, etc.

 

I would like to get OEM sensor by Subaru, but if more expensive, a regular Bosch would work just fine.

I was doing a tune up on Chebby and someone told me to use AC Delco o2 sensors as superior to Bosch which supposeldy don't last as long as OEM, but if cheaper, might be a better deal.

4 wire sensor

 

this is the sensor I was thinking about with the above part number but it is a 4-wire sensor and I need 1-wire sensor. Maybe it will work in a newer Legacy.