Free replacement of O2 sensor?
 

hey guys, first off i wanted to say thanks. I bought my 1992 3l manual pickup without even knowing how to drive stick and had never even changed my own oil. Thanks to you guys (ive mostly been a lurker, bought the truck about 8 months ago) i have now conquered: inner & outer tie rods & adjuster sleeves, upper & lower ball joints, coolant flush, changing transfer/trans/diff fluid, new lce exhaust, fuel/oil/air filters, cleaning engine bay, distributer cap & rotor etc.

Anyway, lately i have seen a slight decline in mpg in the 3 slow, and i think my truck has the original o2 sensor still. I was gonna do new sparks and wires (still original) soon, and was gonna order a new denso o2 sensor. however, i stumbled on a different forum and saw that at 80000 miles the o2 is supposed to be changed by the stealer for free. So what do you think my chances are of getting it replaced free???

truck is at 158,xxx

Never heard of it. (But this won't be the first time ...) It might be a warranty thing on some cars (and if it applied to us, I'm guessing you're a good 20 years out of warranty.) Or it might be a state/provincial requirement (so it depends on where you live.)

Just think how much more intelligent my answer might be if you had included a link to that other forum.

RockAuto has the Denso OEM O2 sensor for $45, and unless you have a LOT of rust replacement is pretty straightforward. I'd recommend staying away from a "universal" sensor. That connector is hanging down there in all the slush and mud, and having a factory-made connector is worth the money.

i saw it in the other thread, where it was stated it is a regulation (federal i think) and was in the owners manual. i found it in the owners manual so i thought that finding the link to that thread again was redundant.

and yeah, its pretty well rusted on there...

I suspect there's some garbling of facts here. This is what I believe is the root of this rumor.

The Federal emissions regulations for vehicles 1995 and newer require that the manufacturer replace failing major emissions components free of charge up to 80,000 miles or 8 years (whichever occurs first) if the vehicle fails a required emissions test and repair is required to legally drive the vehicle in the jurisdiction of interest.

Translation:
- At 158,000 miles and 20 years old the dealer has no liability to change the O2 sensor even if it is failing.
- Until you fail a required emissions test, there's no liability regardless of mileage or age

Ah, thanks RJR.

It appears that there was a "Performance" warranty on pre-1995 vehicles. But that warranty only worked for two years (8 for some components). Which means we were all completely on our own after 2003 at the latest. (2000 for Krimsonone).
http://www.epa.gov/obd/pubs/420f09048.pdf

Well looks like I won't be saving a buck or 2 :/ but thanks for the info guys. That section in the manual is worded wierd then, gave a bit of creedence to that rumor. But here in montana I don't have to smog anyway, just could use a bit more mpg. Might have to clean the wire off in the maf too....

. Change the pcv me