i searched and couldn't find anything. couldn't get the sensors out of the stock cats to put in the test pipes, so will it be ok to drive the z without them?

 

No.

 

air/fuel ratio?

 

can someone answer why i need them? other than the ses light, i don't know why. i thought the downstream o2 sensors were only to check for emissions...not air/fuel mixture

 

It is for emissions, but it does also adjust the A/F ratio.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/question257.htm

 

Here you go: http://blog.remartautoparts.com/2009...yting-you.html

 

Thanks, I benefited from that, too, davidv! My Z has 22,300k on her, so I'm good for now.

 

Good. American cars doing a cat-delete substitute a oxygen simulator to send a signal to the ECU. I know of no similar component for the 350Z.

BTW this is why I frown on stuffing a non-fouler with steel wool.

 

thanks for the replies. i plan on getting new ones or trying to get the old ones out of my stock cats, but if i run without them for a week or so, am i only hurting my gas mileage or am i damaging the z?

 

I've been running without O2 sensors using a custom Osiris Uprev tune for the past 2 months without any issues. Yes, I'll need to replace them before my next emissions inspection in MD - but running without them hasn't caused any issues with the car ('04 Z). The key here is proper ECU management - if you don't have a UTEC, Uprev or something similar, you're going to have problems. Good luck!

- Matt

 

Go to napa and get an O2 sensor socket. it removes O2 sensors using a ratchet. Its cheaper than getting new O2 sensors. Do not spray the sensors with wd40 or oil to make them easiwer to remove
http://matcotools.com/Catalog/toolca...ype=T&cat=2387

 

i've been running test pipes for 2 weeks now without the cat o2 sensors. not really important from what i understand. just an annoying "service engine soon" light. only problem is that i wont know when there really is a problem with my car.

i plan on putting the CEL fix on by tuesday thou.

 

Yep, davo'; for my bone stock baby, it's only OEM parts---'xept for the oil filter. Some engineer did his homework scientifically, and went ahead and purchased a sample of EVERY oil filter on the market, did "surgery" on each one, and arrived at the conclusion that PUROLATOR'S PUREONE is the one to go with. Sweet, 'cause they're NOT as expensive as OEM ones, and they're BETTER!

 

Lean and rich is subjective. The potential problem is lean near redline. This is not good. If you must drive keep the RPM below 5,000.

 

congratulations on your aftermarket oil filter and your OEM parts on your stock 350Z!!


anyway, thanks for the info people. i'm going to try to get my o2 sensors out of my stock cats without damaging them. are there any penetrating sprays i can use to help loosen them without damaging them?

 

Try a torch to heat it up, thats what i had to do to get the sensors out