# O2 sensor cleaning solvents **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [January 18, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732 "2015-01-18T17:28:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Small-steps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Small-steps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Small-steps)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 5:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/1 "2015-01-18T17:28:10Z")
Hi Everyone, What solvents can I use to clean my oxygen sensor? Is mentholated spirits or mineral turpentine ok to do the job? What would you guys recommend? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![SteveCBT](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevecbt/32/3192_2.png) [@SteveCBT](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveCBT)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/2 "2015-01-18T18:29:45Z")
There is nothing you can do to clean or re vitalize an oxygen sensor. If the signal from the sensor is low replace the sensor. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 6:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/3 "2015-01-18T18:37:30Z")
+1 to Steve’s post. ---
**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/4 "2015-01-18T19:03:18Z")
+3 here. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/5 "2015-01-18T23:12:26Z")
Step 2: Remove oxygen sensor. Step 3: Install new oxygen sensor. But let’s go back to step 1: Verify oxygen sensor has failed and needs replacement. ---
**Author:** ![Small-steps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Small-steps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Small-steps)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/6 "2015-01-19T08:47:26Z")
It’s not faulty or anything, but because I’ve got it out (installing extractors) I thought I may as well give it a clean. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 9:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/7 "2015-01-19T09:07:56Z")
How old is the sensor (years and miles)? ---
**Author:** ![Small-steps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Small-steps](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Small-steps)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 10:10am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/8 "2015-01-19T10:10:21Z")
The car has done 240,000 km, but I think the sensor has been replaced before (looks ok). I bought the car second hand and it didn’t come with a service history. Should I bother with cleaning the sensor or just leave it and use it as is? ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 10:35am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/9 "2015-01-19T10:35:20Z")
Normally I’d say “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. But since you already have it out anyway, you might as well put a new one in. Keep the old one for a few weeks in case you have a problem. It’ll good to have a “known good” sensor to swap out if you get codes, to determine if it’s the new pipes causing them. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/10 "2015-01-19T18:31:47Z")
Replace it. They’re not that expensive. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/o2-sensor-cleaning-solvents/88732/11 "2015-01-19T23:41:11Z")
the simple act of “cleaning” it may actually damage it, or make it inaccurate Oxygen sensors are not meant to be cleaned. If there’s any doubt, replace it By the way, many oxygen sensors have a date code on them