O2 sensor brands .. which one?

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I need a new O2 sensor for my neices 90 Plymouth Acclaim with the 2.5l n/a engine. Its giving a code 51 and chugging black smoke upon accel.

She cannot afford a $85 O2 sensor from the dealer, nor does she want to go overboard with buying "the best of the best" for the car. "just ok" quality will do just fine.

So with that being said, Autozone has the Bosch with a 1 year warranty for $44. Rock Auto has several different brands, as does Ebay. Delphi, ATK, Bosch, Borg Warner, Standard motor products, Denso... so on and so forth

What O2 sensor "brand" would get the job done and last for at least a year or 2? Any brands I should absolutely steer clear from?
 
Bosch is one of the cheaper ones. The pro is that Autozone will not give you a problem with an exchange if it fails on you within the warranty period.
 
OEM bosch sensors are fine. Cant comment on the commodity items sold at AZ. Some you even need to splice into the harness...
 
I don't care for bosch aftermarket O2 sensors, they are different then their OEM products.
I prefer NTK but standard, denso, and beck/arnley usually market good stuff also.
 
Denso are reputed to be good. I've only had negative experiences with a Bosch sensor bought at AutoZone so I'm staying clear of them.
 
They make direct-fit ones for most apps.... I have bought them through Canadian Tire, NAPA and Benson. I've never had a problem with them.

The idea of splicing in an O2 sensor does not appeal to me; a Universal fit for this application is just asking for trouble.

The NTK ones seem to love to break where the socket part meets the shaft. The Bosch ones do not have this problem because the body is much thicker.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Bosch makes the OEM sensors for Ford. There is nothing wrong with them.


Some of them, but none of the OEM ones I've ever removed from a Ford vehicle (88 Mustang, 93 Escort, 95 and 96 Contour). All of those were made by NTK.

Quote:
The Bosch ones do not have this problem because the body is much thicker.


This also makes them more difficult to replace in tight spaces.
 
all I know is bosch 02 sensors hate LT1 cars. They really only like Delco/Delphi units. That being said I've used Denso in some cars with no problem. Also recently have been recommended to try the walker 02 sensors from oxygensensors.com
 
Originally Posted By: brianl703
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Bosch makes the OEM sensors for Ford. There is nothing wrong with them.


Some of them, but none of the OEM ones I've ever removed from a Ford vehicle (88 Mustang, 93 Escort, 95 and 96 Contour). All of those were made by NTK.

Quote:
The Bosch ones do not have this problem because the body is much thicker.


This also makes them more difficult to replace in tight spaces.


Ford has a deal with Bosch. It is HIGHLY unlikely that the sensors you removed from that Mustang were original if they were NTK's.

I have a PILE of old Ford/BOSCH O2 sensors kicking around. Two are from my townie, two are from my '87 GT T-Top. I have pulled them out of a PILE of Mustangs as well...... My '97 Explorer had Ford/BOSCH O2 sensors. My '88 F-250 had Ford/BOSCH O2 sensors. The H-pipe of the '93 Mustang with a couple thousand Km on it that we only used for E-test.... you guessed it, had Ford/BOSCH 02 sensors on it. They are easy to identify. They say FORD on them in the logo, have a Ford part # on them, AND they also say BOSCH. If I go and get replacement sensors from the dealer......... They are also Ford/BOSCH. NTK ones come from a jobber.

Ford had (I don't know if they still do) a long-term deal with Bosch. This is why most of the sensors on the EEC-IV equipped vehicles are BOSCH. This is why the fuel pumps on the panther chassis cars are made by BOSCH, as were all the fuel injectors.

The EEC-IV system was a joint development between Ford Motor Company, BOSCH and Intel. Intel designed the ECM's with Ford's input in conjunction with BOSCH, who designed the control and sensor systems. This is why the system works so well; unlike many other manufacturers trying to design/implement successful fuel injection setups, Ford went out and found a company that had already demonstrated the ability to do it; BOSCH.

To my knowledge, Ford has NO such deal with NTK, who is just NGK, and primarily deals with Japanese cars. Now...... Mazda, who is 40% owned by Ford, on the other hand, might have a deal with NTK... This is quite possible. I have seen some factory DSM parts on an older Mazda.....

Having much "intimate" experience with a number of Mustangs as well as my Lincoln... It would seriously shock you to see the number of parts with the BOSCH name on them in the Ford EEC-IV era cars......

In regards to the thick body on the BOSCH O2's, yes, it can make them a royal PITA to change, even with the correct socket.
 
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I think most complaints about Bosch revolve around their spark plugs. Their Platinum plugs in particular. I don't know anyone who actually likes them.

People then say that anything Bosch sucks, when in reality most of what they make or sell is top quality.
 
Agreed. Though I've used their plugs without issue, I find the NGK ones to be better, as are the OE Motorcraft ones.

I have a number of Bosch power tools that have been nothing short of fantastic.
 
I used the Bosch direct fit replacement sensor on my Saturn. No problems to report after 4000 miles, in fact, fuel economy has improved. However, it was rather pricey at $64.99.
 
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

Ford has a deal with Bosch. It is HIGHLY unlikely that the sensors you removed from that Mustang were original if they were NTK's.


It's possible that they had been changed. But unlikely. In any case, they said Ford on them, they had Ford part numbers on them, and the car only had 110k miles at the time. Since it has no check engine light and wasn't subject to emissions testing, I don't see why the sensors would have been replaced.

Also...the Escort and the Contour NTK sensors were definitely OE.

Quote:
My '97 Explorer had Ford/BOSCH O2 sensors. My '88 F-250 had Ford/BOSCH O2 sensors.


I think the trucks may have Bosch O2 sensors.

Quote:
If I go and get replacement sensors from the dealer......... They are also Ford/BOSCH. NTK ones come from a jobber.


The Motorcraft replacements for the 1988 Mustang are NTK. Go to rockauto.com, look for DY605, look at the image and you'll see that it's not a Bosch sensor.

Look up DY604 -- the sensor for a 1988 F-250--and you'll see that it IS a Bosch sensor.

Quote:
To my knowledge, Ford has NO such deal with NTK, who is just NGK, and primarily deals with Japanese cars. Now...... Mazda, who is 40% owned by Ford, on the other hand, might have a deal with NTK


Both my 1995 and my 1996 Ford Contour, which have nothing to do with Mazda, came OE with NTK sensors.

EDIT: Incidentally, most parts chains sell Bosch sensors. The only time I've ever gotten an NTK as a replacement is when I bought a Motorcraft sensor.

EDIT: NGK claims to be a Ford supplier here: http://www.ngk.de/History.580.0.html

Quote:
NGK, through its NTK brand, is the world's leading company in sensor production. Important car manufacturers such as Aston Martin, BMW, Citroen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Lancia, Opel, Peugeot, Renault, Rover, Volkswagen and Volvo are using NTK Lambda sensors as Original Equipment.
 
Interesting, I wonder if it's a primarily US thing then? If I go to Ford here, I get a BOSCH sensor for my Mustang........

I have NEVER seen an OEM NTK sensor from Ford up here. Not that they don't exist, but I've never seen them. My Dad's '03 Townie and my Mom's 2000 Expedition also have the BOSCH sensors.....
 
The reason I fear using Bosch O2 sensors is because most VW Jettas, Golfs, Cabrios, and new Beetles have them, and they tend to fail in under 90,000 miles. I have seen many other cars with NTK, Denso, and Delphi sensors that last much longer.

That, and I have never seen standard replacement Bosch windshield wipers last more than 2 months without skipping. It seems that only their most expensive ones last.

Not that NTK is perfect either. I have replaced plenty of NTK sensors on GM 2.2 OHV engines.
 
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