Oxygen Sensors: which brands/models best for drop-in replacement ?

[newbietrucker]

I've a '97 3.0 xlt longbox. It pretty well needs all new sensors, but for now I'm going to replace all the O2's, which OBDII is bitching about. I understand there's 3 of them, 2 pre, 1 post.

There seems to be quite a range of prices and manufacturers, and some say "drop in", some "modding required". Anybody care to untangle that a bit ? Are they all the same except connector wire length ?

(I have a line on a private sale of a Bosch 15717 and 15718 sensors, new in box for a reasonable price (ie: pretty much the same as I could pay south of the 49th, without the crossborder markup))

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rearanger]

It pretty well needs all new sensors, but for now I'm going to replace all the O2's, which OBDII is bitching about.

Are you getting codes?

 

[adsm08]

Motorcraft and then Bosch would be my choices.

The ones that say "modding required" just means you have to graft a plug onto the new sensor because it's universal fit, it isn't that much work.

 

[newbietrucker]

I got the truck over 5 years ago and told my (former) mechanic to change everything out... which instruction he proceeded to ignore. I think I've finally got the brakes working the way they're supposed to.

It's been blowing codes since day one. I did get the cam-positioning sensor fixed (which reduced my gas mileage about 8%, but it stopped being so rough during warm-up). I'll check and post a bit later, but there are a couple of O2 related codes. Gas mileage dropped like a stone after the last oil change (done in a shop): went from 550km/tank city to 450. I thought the bastids put a heavyweight oil in instead of the 5w20 I insisted on, then somebody mentioned that they had the same thing happen, turned out to be an O2 sensor got knocked around during the change.

I figure I'll change out the O2 sensors, to settle their readings down, to make it easier to see what other sensors are shot or going. It's a great truck, but it's still almost 20 years old with 360k km on it.

 

[Rearanger]

I figure I'll change out the O2 sensors, to settle their readings down,

Did you scan the O2 sensor readings? If so what were they?

 

[01b3000ds]

I replaced the ones that came from the factory 250k Miles ago with Denso. 25 MPG combined now.
No codes prior to replacement, it was just time. Manual says every 60k Miles. Turns out they were right, from a mileage perspective...and with gas prices creeping back up, you'll save more money over their lifespan than you'll spend on the parts. To me that makes replacing them a no-brainer.