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Hello,

Sorry, I'm a bit new to fixing cars and things like that, but I've been doing some work on my 2004 Civic LX Coupe lately, and had a question about O2 Sensor brands.

It is my understanding that NTK is the OEM brand for the O2 sensors on the 04 Civic. My question is, does the brand matter for the Civics? Am I going to get a lower gas mileage if I went with Denso, Bosch, or Prime Choice?

My main question is: Is there a better brand than the OEM?

Also: Is "Prime Choice" a terrible brand? Their O2 sensors are only $25. Which would be awesome if they were good.

Thanks all!

 
Rep Power: 244

NTK or Denso is your best bet. A $25 o2 sensor is never good. For your year civic you need a narrow band sensor not a wide band. The NTK or Denso will be specific to your year (not universal). OEM is always usually better for parts.

01-02 Wide band sensor (cheaper)
03-05 Narrow band sensor (more expensive)

They are not interchangeable.

 
Rep Power: 518

Might be DENSO, but both DENSO and NTK are factory suppliers. Parts catalog doesn't tell the brand.

Yours primary sensor is not an O2 sensor.
It is an A/F Ratio sensor.
Looks the same, does a similar job, but operates totally different.

The secondary sensor is a standard O2 sensor.

If keeping the car fixed is your goal, then OEM is best.
Anything else is just begging for problems.
If you want to keep working on the car, then get WTFever you want.

See what I did there?


I bet they are worth every penny of that.
Nothing more.
You get what you pay for.
Sometimes you don't even get that.


Here's a quote: "The cheapest people often spend the most."






That said......

Look on your sensor. The brand name should be stamped into the side of it. (If it is original.) Maybe even a part number if you are lucky.

Go to any dealer website that has a parts catalog available. Here's a couple USA sites
http://estore.honda.com/
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/
Enter your VIN to look up your specific car.
Look up your part.
Obtain the Honda part number for the sensor.
Go to the DENSO website. (or NTK site if that is the brand of sensor you have.)
Enter the Honda part number
Cross reference to obtain a DENSO part number. (Or NTK.) (I have actually found this using Google too.)
Buy a correct sensor.

Some parts stores carry reboxed OEM sensors too, but it's sometimes hard to get the counter help to figure that out.
Some parts stores might actually carry or order correct OEM sensors for you.

HTH

 
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Thanks for your help guys, you just saved me money (in the long run) and time. Appreciate it!