mazdaspeedjay
Member
OK i've been working at mazda for three years now but been a mechanic for 9 years in my whole time i've never seen anything like the problem with the O2 sensors on the MZR 2.3 L3-T motors. for those that didn't understand that it's the motor in your Mazdaspeed3 speed6 and CX-7. the primary O2 sensor mainly siezes up but i've seen the second one sieze up too. so here's the best way i've found to remove them. now be careful take your time and don't force anything or you'll screw up the threads and the first O2 sensor will cost you $400 to replace and the second one was just as bad. Luckly i don't have to pay that much because i get it for more then half that much with my mazda discount yay me. LOL but seriously you won't get it for my cost they'll make you pay full price which is alomst $400 so take your time.
Tools Needed :
- 2 cans of PB Blast or super duty penatrating oil. if you're using WD-40 you should be smacked and you might as well use water. ( I use this special stuff that a cemical guy that comes to my shop sells use thats 10,000 times better then PB blast. BUT i have used PB Blast on my own car and others and it works good enough. So if you can't get it go buy PB Blast )
-Misc. O2 sensor removal sockets or tools. i'll post two pics of the ones i use for both sensors.
-Anti Sieze thread protector for O2 sensors and spark plug threads. ( this is used after you get the sensor out to prevent it from happening again )
-Plastic tube and straw from a can of brake clean ( i used some left over plastic tube from my boost gauge install and a sprayer head and straw from a can of brake clean )
-Patients... i Mean it take your time. find something to do while the oil soaks into the metal.
O.k. for starters i said get 2 cans of PB blast because you'll probally end up using a can and a half. Be careful not to get the penatrating oil into the sensor itself or you'll screw it up keep it on the threads only. i used a sprayer head from a can of brake clean put the straw into the sprayer head and put some left over plastic tube from my boost gauge install to get the oil right down into the threads and keep it from making a mess see the pic below for what it looks like.
basicly you want to spray the threads down and try to loosen the O2 up. use back and forth motions and spray alot of oil into the threads. take you time if it starts to feel stuck don't force it and spray some more oil don't force it or you'll **** up the threads take your time it will eventually come out. once removed coat the threads with the anti-sieze on the threads and re-install it and have fun not having to worry if you have to remove it again. my car only has 5,000 miles on it i did this today so you might want to do this ASAP just to keep from future problems happening.
Tools Needed :
- 2 cans of PB Blast or super duty penatrating oil. if you're using WD-40 you should be smacked and you might as well use water. ( I use this special stuff that a cemical guy that comes to my shop sells use thats 10,000 times better then PB blast. BUT i have used PB Blast on my own car and others and it works good enough. So if you can't get it go buy PB Blast )
-Misc. O2 sensor removal sockets or tools. i'll post two pics of the ones i use for both sensors.
-Anti Sieze thread protector for O2 sensors and spark plug threads. ( this is used after you get the sensor out to prevent it from happening again )
-Plastic tube and straw from a can of brake clean ( i used some left over plastic tube from my boost gauge install and a sprayer head and straw from a can of brake clean )
-Patients... i Mean it take your time. find something to do while the oil soaks into the metal.
O.k. for starters i said get 2 cans of PB blast because you'll probally end up using a can and a half. Be careful not to get the penatrating oil into the sensor itself or you'll screw it up keep it on the threads only. i used a sprayer head from a can of brake clean put the straw into the sprayer head and put some left over plastic tube from my boost gauge install to get the oil right down into the threads and keep it from making a mess see the pic below for what it looks like.
basicly you want to spray the threads down and try to loosen the O2 up. use back and forth motions and spray alot of oil into the threads. take you time if it starts to feel stuck don't force it and spray some more oil don't force it or you'll **** up the threads take your time it will eventually come out. once removed coat the threads with the anti-sieze on the threads and re-install it and have fun not having to worry if you have to remove it again. my car only has 5,000 miles on it i did this today so you might want to do this ASAP just to keep from future problems happening.