[I can't seem to remove my 02 sensor off of my exhaust manifold. I can't tell if i'm loosening or tightening it and i've heard its cross threaded? anyone have advice on removing it before i damaged it? I already almost stripped a corner of the bolt and i wanna make sure i'm doing this right before i go further.

BTW yes it is the one on the exhaust manifoldd..putting on my weapon r header[/u]

 

Rule of thumb to always remember... " lefty loosey -righty tighty" In other words, clockwise rotation is tightning and counterclockwise is loosning (unless you ahve reverse thread). I suggest you go to your local tool store and buy yourself an oxygen sensor socket. It is a special socket the has an opening running all along the side so the harness of the sensor could stick out when you are installing or removing the sensor. If the store clerk is good at their job then you should be able to find the right tool. GL with the install.

 

Heating it up with a torch will help too.

 

wd-40 would help. just hit spray it down pretty good. then continue removing everithing(S pipe, fans, etc..) after some time it should just slip off. Also make sure you spray the one on th s pipe. Good Luck

 

I wouldn't use a torch at this point, your car is too new to have badly-rusted threads, better to work it cooled down. Yes, spray with WD40 or PB Blaster, may take several applications. After spraying, tap the sensor with a wrench to help it penetrate.

O2 sensor wrench is usually good but since you've already started to round it off I would use a 22mm wrench instead, better fit, less play. If using a closed-end wrench just disconnect the sensor plug and it will fit through the wrench.

 

^^^It doesn't matter how new a car is, 2 different metals will bond after sitting out in the elements for a long time. A torch will help "break" that bond, wd-40 won't! Now if it was cross-threaded at the factory, then you are SOL...

 

pb is what i used, that stuff is the best

 

Well I wasn't able to get it off so I just put the car back together. I was getting to afraid of seriously damaging my o2 sensor..so after all that work i'm back to the stock mani =(...i'm just gonna cough up the money to have it installed by a proffesional..also in the process my grandfather managed to somehow scratch the living hell out of my front bumper...

 

sorry to hear it man

 

you need to let the car cool down completely, and spray WD40 on the sensor, let it sit and keep spraying every 5 minutes for about half and hour, and let it sit more. tap it with a wrench for the WD40 to penetrate better, then use a 22m wrench. give it a good kick counterclockwise and it should loosen up no problem. this is how i tackled both of my 02 sensors.

 

Get a good spray on PB on it then come back in a day. I couldn't get my O2 sensor off my 3 year old exhaust so I did this, and the following day it came off like butter.

 

pb spray for 20 min... the slowly work it back and fourth

 

I had this exact same problem, almost stripped the hex part of the sensor. Actually I was also installing the WR headers haha.
I used an acetylene torch... liquids dont penetrate enough in my opinion. If you get wd-40 on the sensor then you can ruin it. I also used an adjustable wrench, and put the manifold in a vice. That is assuming that you unplugged the sensor wire (just follow the wire to the connector)... if you try to do it with the manifold in position its almost impossible.


Now that I think about it, there is a more unconventional, but probably better way:
Flip the whole process around. That is, put the sensor in the vice and push/pull on the manifold. This will increase the amount of torque you can apply because the manifold is longer than most wrenches. [torque= Force x Distance]