17mm O2 sensor? WTF, Land Rover?

Tugela

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,766
566
Seattle
Tangentially technical rant:

Was getting code for rear O2 sensors, bought a couple replacements, removed passenger side no problem with box wrench, can't remove driver's side. Used penetrating fluid and a flare wrench, made no progress.

Took used sensor to auto parts store to get the special socket that will fit into the recess of the pipe to make full contact with the nut. The guys at the shop were dumbfounded. "Hey Bill, check this out. You ever seen a sensor this size?" Apparently the rest of the automotive industry uses 22mm O2 sensors.

Sure enough, Atlantic British sells a 17mm O2 socket for $26 or so. Single purpose tool that I will use once, maybe twice. Really? I'm probably going to buy one because I need to replace the sensor but it ticks me off.

What do you do for replacing stubborn sensors?
 
R

robertf

Well-known member
Jan 22, 2006
4,801
366
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titania o2 sensors are 17mm, zirconia are 22mm. They are not interchangable.

titania have no external o2 reference and are "waterproof" compared to your average zirconia o2. Better for rover applications.
 
helievacpilot

helievacpilot

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2007
960
0
Denver CO
Tugela said:
Tangentially technical rant:

Was getting code for rear O2 sensors, bought a couple replacements, removed passenger side no problem with box wrench, can't remove driver's side. Used penetrating fluid and a flare wrench, made no progress.

Took used sensor to auto parts store to get the special socket that will fit into the recess of the pipe to make full contact with the nut. The guys at the shop were dumbfounded. "Hey Bill, check this out. You ever seen a sensor this size?" Apparently the rest of the automotive industry uses 22mm O2 sensors.

Sure enough, Atlantic British sells a 17mm O2 socket for $26 or so. Single purpose tool that I will use once, maybe twice. Really? I'm probably going to buy one because I need to replace the sensor but it ticks me off.

What do you do for replacing stubborn sensors?
Click to expand...


I guess I'm confused. What recess are you talking about? Doesn't a box end wrench contact 100%? I've always just cut the connector off or sacrificed the body of the old O2 sensor to get a big-ass 12pt box end on the nut. Does a D1 have a different design?

Oh yea, hit that bitch with a torch too.
 
Beagle Bones

Beagle Bones

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Oct 5, 2010
325
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Nashville
Heat is your friend. I just pulled 3-4 of my O2's in my buggy (97 D1 vintage). A seventeen mm open wrench on 3-4. Luckily I have easy access to the connectors so I unplugged the final one and dropped it w/the Y-pipe. Not sure if you'll have the same access. FWIW the troublesome O2 was passenger rear. Lots of your favorite lube/rust buster and stacked wrenches helped in my case.

On my '04, full body driver it took hours. The O2 socket is different, I bought one, and used a handheld propane torch to heat the surrounding metal.

For $26 I'd just pay the price. Who knows you may use it again. Your comment sounds like a Snap-on dealer we all know. Cheap! :)
 
Beagle Bones

Beagle Bones

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2010
325
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Nashville
As soon as photobucket will load on my silly garage computer I'll upload a pic of the "recessed O2 sensor." They are recessed, or a better term may be that the Y-pipe has a bit of a shoulder at the sensors.
 
Beagle Bones

Beagle Bones

Well-known member
Oct 5, 2010
325
0
Nashville
Here it is, sadly I have a Y-pipe on the bench. Or sawhorses if you will. Tough to tell, but some of the O2 nut is recessed. Maybe a 1/3????

O2.jpg
 
G

gl4x4

Well-known member
Dec 17, 2010
141
0
Layton, UT
I've never had an issue getting them out. 17mm wrench has always worked for me. maybe someone over tightened it?
 
fishEH

fishEH

Well-known member
Jan 26, 2009
6,930
203
Lake Villa, IL
gl4x4 said:
I've never had an issue getting them out. 17mm wrench has always worked for me. maybe someone over tightened it?
Click to expand...
Corrosion is a bitch.
For removal just cut the wire and use a deep 6pt socket. Install the new one with an open end wrench.
 
Jagfixer

Jagfixer

Well-known member
Feb 25, 2008
367
3
Millstadt, IL
Never had problem. Had to change every few years as fuel changed from winter to summer and vice versa. Make sure you use anti-sieze on threads and it will be easier next time.
 
Tugela

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,766
566
Seattle
17mm O2 sensor socket arrived. Turns out it doesn't even slot down into the recess of the exhaust pipe. Just sits on top of the rim and effectively acts the same as a flare wrench. Repeated soaks of penetrating fluid and heat and using the O2 sensor socket with a cheater bar on my ratchet have left me with a rounded nut. I was exerting enough torque that what I thought was the nut finally turning was in fact the corners rounding off.

Now what? To attach a bolt extractor will require cutting off the sensor to get the socket onto the nut. This will be an all-or-nothing proposition. If I can't remove the nut at that point I'll have no O2 sensor. I can't think of any other lines of attack. Suggestions?

For those considering buying the special 17mm O2 socket, think twice: I find it does not confer any advantage over more general tools you might have like deep well sockets or a flare wrench.
 
helievacpilot

helievacpilot

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2007
960
0
Denver CO
Something I just saw today at Advance Auto was a cryogenic spray for breaking rusted shit loose. Heat it up and flash freeze it. Might work.
 
TOM R

TOM R

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2013
237
0
va/n.j.
Used that freeze spray on the nuts to change the y pipe to manifold gasket, it worked where the torch failed

I second heat and small pipe wrench, you need real heat like a plumbers tank or oxy acetaline , if/when it comes out expect to buy a tap from the parts store to chase the threads as they will probly come off the sensor and be in the bung
 
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