Where to add cleaner using vacuum line?

I recently saw a video where someone cleaned their O2 sensors by using carb cleaner through a vacuum line. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to try and I have reason to think the O2 sensors aren’t totally clean.

I’ve read to use the brake booster line but I don’t know which one that is. I also considered just loosening the throttle body hose clamp and sticking the straw through there.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Don't.

 

What the snake oil shit is this?! The carb cleaner would be burnt before hitting the exhaust. The sensors get dirty no kidding it's in the exhaust. You can actually risk damaging them and some cleaners do that, oxygen sensors are meant to be replaced if faulty.

Now excessively rich fuel mixture condition or oil blow-by in an engine and coolant in combustion chamber all can foul your sensors but you need to fix those issues as part of replacing your sensor....

 

jsilva, what is leading you to believe your O2 sensors are not "clean"? I mean as Awa mentioned you won't be able to eat off them but are you experiencing some drivability issues?

 

Amusing that a polite question gets a thumbs down…

I accidentally came across this video:



I simultaneously don’t believe everything I see but also don’t automatically dismiss things I don’t like either. Whether this works or not I’m pretty sure it’s not going to hurt.

My reason for thinking the sensors may not be clean is that a while ago I was troubleshooting a mass amount of black/dark grey smoke from the tailpipes. Turned out to be the throttle body connector and it’s been fine since I fixed it. Just that when I saw the video I wondered if my sensors might have been fouled up some from that issue.

 

Oxygen sensors are never clean. They are always dirty. There is no point to cleaning them.

 

I’m not meaning to say you’re wrong, but it’s not difficult to find conflicting information. As one example, Napa is strongly in favor of replacing and they don’t advise cleaning, but they also seem to deliberately avoid commenting on whether cleaning can actually help or not. I’ve seen countless examples of ‘experts’ insisting this or that only to made fools of later on (surely the last few years has made that clear to the world!).

So I don’t assume things are one way or another or simply take others’ word for it until I can investigate. I do appreciate others sharing their opinions here.

 

Yeah basically when you run seafoam, via vacuum line, historically it kills Mazdaspeed oxygen sensors. And cleaning em wont make em work better. Just replace with oem and done.

 

Who said anything about automatically dismissing things? I looked into it before I replied, very bold of you to assume we (I) just jumped to a conclusion and dismissed things I didn't like without looking at them because that doesn't help anyone.

 

In my experience O2 sensors don't need cleaning. I have never once had to clean one.

Exhaust gasses are hot. They'll burn anything on the sensor off. The purpose of the heater circuit in the 02 sensor is just to warm it up faster so it can read air to fuel ratios quickly for emissions.

I'm just letting you know not to waste your time on a procedure that isn't needed.

My suggestion would be to just get rid of your factory oxygen sensor and wire a wideband 02 sensor in its place. For example my AEM gauge has an output function that allows me to simulate a factory signal. Wether is 0-1V or 0-5V it can send that out. So on my cars when I have a wideband I just get rid of the stock one and send signals that way. It ensures that what I'm seeing on the gauge is what the ECU is seeing as well.

I am not sure if the factory Mazdaspeed O2 sensor is a wideband or narrowband sensor. Someone else could clarify that.

 

factory sensor is wideband

 

On the contrary, I was trying to say that I ask questions because I don’t automatically dismiss things. I was talking about myself, like my sentence was phrased. You assumed I was talking about you or others.

I’m not an indirect person and am more than confident enough to address people if necessary. But this is just a faceless forum. I have no idea who you are, and sorry to inform you but disliking my posts doesn’t open my eyes and make me think you know what you’re talking about. Giving intelligent and kind responses will. People who have something to prove usually don’t know nearly as much as they think they do.

Helpful response, thanks!