Is Cleaning an Oxygen Sensor Useful?
1 Answers
Here are two scenarios regarding oxygen sensor cleaning: 1. If the tip of the oxygen sensor turns black due to carbon deposits, cleaning is effective. 2. A white or brown tip indicates oxygen sensor poisoning—the former due to silicon poisoning and the latter due to lead poisoning. In these cases, cleaning is ineffective, and the sensor must be replaced promptly. Observing the color of the oxygen sensor tip can help diagnose the issue: 1. Light gray tip: Normal color for an oxygen sensor. 2. White tip: Caused by silicon contamination; the oxygen sensor must be replaced. 3. Brown tip: Caused by lead contamination; the oxygen sensor must be replaced. 4. Black tip: Caused by carbon deposits; after addressing the engine carbon deposit issue, the deposits can be cleared automatically.