I read in a post that there is a break in on headers and they get hotter on the first warm up cycle and this could damage the O2 sensors. Has anyone heard this before? I have not but I am new to playing with computer controlled cars. I am installing a used 3.8 in my 96 and I have a set of OBX stainless steel headers that are going in. I am also replacing the O2 sensors. Should I install the old ones then change over? They look like a pain to get to but I will manage, I really do not want to buy a second set of O2 sensors.

If it is true does anyone know why? I know a good bit about heating steel. It should not be coming from there. Maybe the oils used in production burning off? Seem like that would be such a small amount it could not generate very many BTU’s. Am I missing something?

 

I can't say I have heard of that, well except in the thread you are talking about. I too am clueless as to why it would be that way the first time (if in fact it is the case).

 

first off...yes use your old sensors first. after you do a couple heat cycles, you can install the new ones. i forget the exact reason that you need to do this but i tried it with the new sensors first just to see if it was true and i blew it, lol

 

I never bought new O2 sensors and it worked fine for me. It doens't make sense that the headers are going to get significantly hotter on the first startup, if at all. The only reason I could think is that you may heat cycle the O2 bung and it could bend or warp the sensor, but it doesn't seem to plausible to me honestly...

 

its something about the coating melting off that drives the o2 sensors crazy...and i don't mean melting off literally...i'm using that for lack of a better term, lol

 

As in the ceramic coating or the oils that come on them from the factory? I know ceramic coating needs to be heat cycled a few times before it's actually set, but I wouldn't think this would release any fumes. As far as the oils, I can say that when I first started my car there was visible smoke coming off the primaries from the oils burning off, but I can't see that being too significant internally since the amount of exhaust is going to be more than a little burning oil. Hm, this is interesting, I'll have to look into it more...

http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=us

That's a link to a technical mag that I've seen before and they appear to do good work. From what I could find in my short search there wasn't any warnings or anything deterring people from installing O2 sensors right off the bat. *shrugs* I dunno, I guess if you have extra O2 sensors sticking around may as well start it with the old ones. If you don't want to buy new O2's try it with the old ones, worse comes to worse you have to buy new ones and you're no worse off...

 

I came across that same article while trying to research this. I couldn't find any info about this elsewhere. This just leads me to believe a few people have had bad luck.

 

i had bad luck i guess, lol. wasn't a big deal. i get o2 sensors for pretty cheap so wasn't a problem with me.