How safe is to use petrol additives for the O2 sensor.

Makis · 05-10-2002, 11:57 PM

I have removed the CAT on my S2 but decided to retain the O2 sensor because the car seems to run better with the O2 connected. The problem I have is that I want to use petrol additives like lead replacement and octane booster to enhance performance. I have heard that such additives destroy O2 sensors but not convinced yet why? Can anybody here explain?

adrian jaye · 05-12-2002, 03:09 PM

Hey Maky,

I was thinking only today about adding "redex"

I had'nt thought about the o2 sensor (not done it yet),
cant see how it would damage anything

holla back if you hear differently

AFJuvat · 05-13-2002, 04:24 PM

Disconnecting the O2 sensor will have a negative impact on engine performance - The O2 sensor detects the fuel/air mixture (before it gets to the CAT) and sends that information to the DME for fuel/air adjustment as engine load etc changes.

You will not see any performance gain and may damage the O2 sensor by adding a lead substitute. The car was designed to run on 91 RON (87 Octane in the US) unleaded fuel. That said, the cars do run more efficiently on 97 RON (93 Octane) you get a little more "oomph" and better gas mileage - you may or may not see any further gains by adding octane boosters. However, adding an octane booster should not harm the car provided it does not contain lead or excessive amounts of methanol or ethanol. I would however, recommend adding a bottle of TECHRON every 3000 miles to keep your injectors and valves clean.

If you want additional information there is an article here: http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/mult_gas_and_oil/mult_gas_faq1.htm That will tell you everything you ever wanted to know about gasoline and then some.

Hope this helps

AFJuvat

Makis · 05-13-2002, 11:15 PM

I want to use Lead additives not for performance but for protecting the engine to run for longer and smoother. Also high octane lead replacement petrol here in England is cheaper then high octane unleaded so it make sense to use the staff. I have got reed of the CAT so this no problem. However, I want to retain the O2 sensor because it makes the engine more efficient. Also I can increase the fueling so I get a bit more performance when I pressing full acceleration while when I driving normally the O2 sensor will control the fueling to be optimal for the engine. I can disconect the O2 sensor but then I will not have the above benefits, hence I would like to know if the O2 sensor can take additives like lead additives and injector cleaner. So far by browsing the WEB have not seen any firm suggestion that O2 can take lead additives or not. I have seen that O2 will not take leaded fuels.

AFJuvat · 05-14-2002, 02:29 PM

Injector cleaners ok, octane boosters ok, lead is bad bad bad stuff....

AFJuvat

Makis · 05-14-2002, 02:45 PM

Chears, AFJuvat, perhaps I was not clear enough, I want to use Lead replacement additives not Lead additives. Are they also really bad bad bad stuff for the O2?