How much force can an O2 sensor take?

[x047x]

I have a 2009 Mazda 6 with a stuck O2 sensor. I can budge it a bit with a normal ratchet, but it got stuck. How much force can they take before something goes terribly wrong? I have a 2 foot breaker bar but I'm nervous to use it.

Also, I've repeatedly soaked it in PB blaster over the past month and it is currently soaking again... Any tips other than brute strength?

[ShavedFace]

Heat... Get the bung cherry red and crack it.

[.LSinLV.]

Heat... Get the bung cherry red and crack it.

this

[Aseras]

A LOT. I just replaced one on my RX8, which is probably the hottest damn OEM exhaust ever. I had to beat the crap out of it and use a breaker to get it off. If finally popped and unscrewed perfectly. I only had to make 2 trips to sears to replace a ratchet and a wrench.

[Aonarch]

Heat... Get the bung cherry red and crack it.

[x047x]

Heat... Get the bung cherry red and crack it.

I'm assuming exhaust temp isn't hot enough? Its a few inches off the engine. I only ask because I don't currently have a torch ...

Thanks for the replies so far

[ironmule]

i just went through this headache last weekend on the e46 except my lack or room and lack of patience got the best of me. After i wrestling/failing with both o2 wrench and socket i grabbed the torchset to find both tanks empty. So i drilled and welded in a new o2 bung in- a real fun: welding under a car on jackstands. someday i'll get the old sensor out. So OP good for you for doing it and doing it right- i wish i did.

[08-Jetta]

My ridiculous method:

Sensor was in an odd place that made getting leverage on the wrench nearly impossible (without having the car on a hoist) So I tied a tow strap to one end of the wrench. Looped the strap around the front sway bar then out to the back of the car. Two hands on the strap and two feet on the back bumper and pull like crazy.
It was the most farfetched idea I have ever used to remove an o2 sensor. But it actually broke the o2 loose.

[91gti_wolfsburg]

I'm assuming exhaust temp isn't hot enough? Its a few inches off the engine. I only ask because I don't currently have a torch ...

Thanks for the replies so far

Do you have access to a mapgas torch? (hardware store)

Those burn hot enough.

You need to get the bung itself hot at a faster rate than the O2's threads.

Using exhaust heat might work, but it is heating everything up, not just the bung itself.

[x047x]

Do you have access to a mapgas torch? (hardware store)

Those burn hot enough.

You need to get the bung itself hot at a faster rate than the O2's threads.

Using exhaust heat might work, but it is heating everything up, not just the bung itself.

I used to have MAPP but of course it was stolen out of my garage . I was going to borrow some propane. Unfortuantely I didn't think about the fact that there is a heat shield over the manifold (this sensor is right in the manifold). So I don't even know if I could heat the manifold faster than the sensor. I suspect the reverse would happen and I would be worse off... It's actually in a very convenient area so I think I can get a good amount of leverage on it but I don't know how to best heat it... This sucks...

[Denniswhat]

Propane isn't hot enough and neither is mapp gas. It can take quite a lot of force. Tightin it little then loosen again and it will spin out.

[91gti_wolfsburg]

Ive had good luck with mapp gas before. It takes longer than acetylene to heat the same piece of steel, but it does burn a hell of a lot hotter than propane.

The thing you are trying to avoid is messing up the threads in the bung.

I have seen o2 sensors come out with a 4' cheater bar, and take all of the threads with it- leaving a smooth hole.

Isht sucks.

[rabbitnothopper]

next time put some fffffffkn anti-seize compound on it prior to installation

noob

[McBanagon]

Propane isn't hot enough and neither is mapp gas.

They are if you mix them with O2. Your local home improvement store will have one of these.

[x047x]

Propane isn't hot enough and neither is mapp gas. It can take quite a lot of force. Tightin it little then loosen again and it will spin out.

I think this is what I'm going to try... I can't seem to get a good vantage point for heat due to the heat shield unfortunately and I don't want to get too involved since it's not even my car heh...

next time put some fffffffkn anti-seize compound on it prior to installation

noob

I'll make sure to tell the Mazda noob's in a kindly written letter. It's still the original, the car is only an '09.

[x047x]

Well I went at it with a breaker bar and it popped right out! Unfortunately so did all the threads

I was able to tap out the manifold and fortunately the sensors threads suffered 90% of the damage. It's in tight.

for all the advice givers though. Thanks.

[Fe2O3]

Well I went at it with a breaker bar and it popped right out! Unfortunately so did all the threads

I was able to tap out the manifold and fortunately the sensors threads suffered 90% of the damage. It's in tight.

for all the advice givers though. Thanks.

Arrived to post that I had this same experience. Stripped the threads right out.