Hey everyone,
as I'm planning to get my headers installed shortly I read about a weird problem that seems to occur quite often when installing headers.
Why is that such a lot of people seem to get bad O2-Sensors after installing headers ? Most cases I read about so far occurred with LT's, do Mids and Shortys have the same problem ??
Does that problem have anything to do with having coated or non-coated headers ?
I think I read somewhere on this board that you can avoid getting bad O2s by starting up the Engine without the O2's in place as soon as the headers are in, let it sit idle until it reaches operating Temperature. After all the white smoke of the headers has come off you can screw the O2's back on. That should avoid getting bad O2's. Is that true ? What’s your input on this problem ?

Thanks,Alex

 

It has been suggested that the fumes from curing the headers can foul the O2 sensors. Safer to install new O2s afterwards.

 

But will I be able to get away with my old ones if I just let the headers "burn in" without the O2's installed... and put them back on afterwards ?
I don't feel like paying $50 a piece when I won't really need new ones.

 

First off order O2 sensors from Jason or Dal (do a search for there phone numbers) and it will only cost about $35 each. Second, do not put new O2 sensors in for a week or two after the headers have been installed or they will be fouled. It doesn't matter what coating is on there or even if its not coated. All headers have some type of paint/coating outside and inside, not to mention the dirst an oil from your hands have gotten all over them during install. I burnt out my O2 sensors by putting them in with the new headers and not waiting, so I wasted $70.

 

i got away with using my old ones for a while but they were getting to a point where i dont think i was getting the cars full potential and I was only getting about 200 miles per tank , as soon as i put new ones in I started getting 240-260 a tank ( depending on how i drive )

 

So you guys are saying that this O2 sensor problem is most likely to happen when installing headers ?