I remember reading on here that several people have recommended AC Delco oxygen sensors over the typical replacements by Bosch, due to Bosch's recent poor quality control. Unfortunately, I can't seem to locate the posts.

I was talking to my friend who works at the auto parts store and he said that AC Delco's oxygen sensors are made by Wells, and Wells is the cheaper (i.e. "lesser") model that he sells, as Bosch is the "premium" choice. He said that AC Delco really doesn't make any of their own stuff anymore.

I was curious if the Delco sensor recommendations were recent or not, and if it is the Wells unit that several people have been suggesting. Can anybody confirm this?

 

Dont run anything but AC Delco parts.

 

I've used Bosch oxygen sensors on any car that needed a new one and never had a problem. This includes my camaro.

I don't know if wells makes ac delcos sensors now, though.

 

In this thread, I found the following statement from Vader:

I sorta suspected this, but I question why my parts guy said that Wells makes the current Delco oxygen sensors.

I installed a Bosch sensor in my Camaro about two years ago, and I've clocked less than 6,000 miles on it since then. I believe the less-than-stellar performance is due (in part) to a bad oxygen sensor. Through my datalogger, I'll typically see the sensor feedback voltage just "drop out," or hang on the same number no matter what I'm doing with the accelerator. The BLM counts show an usual tendency towards leanness, as well. I think a new sensor is going to fix this intermittency, and I didn't want to go with another inferior unit.

 

Before you blame the sensor, have you done any intake work? Something that required using some sealant? If not specifically marked as being "O2 Safe", that could have messed yours up. Also, if you're running pretty rich they can get carboned up. If that's the case, holding the motor to 3K rpm for 15-20 seconds in neutral will sometimes clean them off. Otherwise, it's replacement time.....

 

Thanks for the tips, vernw. This engine has been freshly rebuilt (I've put maybe 20 miles on it), but the oxygen sensor problems have been there even before the rebuild... my drag racing logs show this. At that time, I never used any sealant around the intake, nor do I feel the engine was running all that rich (according to the logs, anyway). I'll have to pull the sensor and see what it looks like, just out of curiosity.