Denso vs. OEM O2 Sensors.. Not the same?

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skyline223

skyline223

10 Year
Joined
Aug 31, 2015
Threads
11
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103
Location
Memphis, TN
Forgive my ignorance on this subject, but up until this point I was under the understanding that Denso/Aisin and OEM Toyota parts were the same thing.

My 80 was throwing the P0130 and P0133 codes so I figured it was time to replace the O2 sensors. With a part as sensitive as these I decided to go to the dealer to get the OEM replacements.

To my shock and horror, the sensors were about $190 a piece. I had one of those "well I guess I HAVE to do it" moments, bit the bullet and ordered them.

Of course I get home that night and look up on Amazon and find what many people claim to be the same part that the dealership sells for.. wait for it...... $48 each. At that point I was torn with what the difference must be for a sensor to be $48 vs. $190. The sensors on Amazon are Denso sensors which I believed to be the same as Toyota OEM. I've heard of dealership markup but well over 100% markup is pretty frightening. I decide to order the Denso sensors on Amazon so I can compare them side by side and make a decision.

So I now have both sensors (four total). They appear to be completely different in almost every way, certainly not the same part, and in no way do they share part numbers either. I'll leave my findings up to you guys, but what which would you return, and which would you keep? Are the "OEM" sensors worth the extra $300 (when purchasing bothupstream and downstream), and please school me on why Denso and Toyota OEM (which still say Denso) parts are not the same?

Here are the links to the Denso sensors on Amazon FYI
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C5WCRC?tag=ihco-20
Amazon.com: Denso 234-4157 Oxygen Sensor (Air and Fuel Ratio Sensor): Automotive

Amazon Denso on left, Toyota Denso on right
 
I have had the Denso for 2+ years w/no issues. Interesting comparison.
 
I ran the Denso sensors from Amazon and have no issues as well after 2 years. I passed my emissions test with flying colors after changing the stock ones (which were failing).

Whether or not the factory Denso's are worth it only you can decide. Some people love to keep things stock feel it's best to have factory parts. Some people feel it's best to put in what works well enough and put in generic/aftermarket etc.
 
skyline223 said:
Forgive my ignorance on this subject, but up until this point I was under the understanding that Denso/Aisin and OEM Toyota parts were the same thing.

My 80 was throwing the P0130 and P0133 codes so I figured it was time to replace the O2 sensors. With a part as sensitive as these I decided to go to the dealer to get the OEM replacements.

To my shock and horror, the sensors were about $190 a piece. I had one of those "well I guess I HAVE to do it" moments, bit the bullet and ordered them.

Of course I get home that night and look up on Amazon and find what many people claim to be the same part that the dealership sells for.. wait for it...... $48 each. At that point I was torn with what the difference must be for a sensor to be $48 vs. $190. The sensors on Amazon are Denso sensors which I believed to be the same as Toyota OEM. I've heard of dealership markup but well over 100% markup is pretty frightening. I decide to order the Denso sensors on Amazon so I can compare them side by side and make a decision.

So I now have both sensors (four total). They appear to be completely different in almost every way, certainly not the same part, and in no way do they share part numbers either. I'll leave my findings up to you guys, but what which would you return, and which would you keep? Are the "OEM" sensors worth the extra $300 (when purchasing bothupstream and downstream), and please school me on why Denso and Toyota OEM (which still say Denso) parts are not the same?

Here are the links to the Denso sensors on Amazon FYI
Amazon.com: Denso 234-4153 Oxygen Sensor: Automotive
Amazon.com: Denso 234-4157 Oxygen Sensor (Air and Fuel Ratio Sensor): Automotive

Amazon Denso on left, Toyota Denso on right
Click to expand...
Did HG on my 97 LX 450 at 160k. replaced bad OEM sensor with a Denso sensor at that time. 100,000 miles later still going strong.
 
Nice comparison. Makes sense now...
 
White Stripe said:
Oh sensors have been around for a while. They are pretty hard to screw up. The Toyota one has probably been sitting on a shelf for years waiting for some one to shell out the money for the big markup. The denso one is probably an updated design.
Click to expand...

While they seem hard to screw up, every other manufacture other than Denso does.
 
... except NGK/NTK apparently.
 
could it be a licensing thing for the contract?

That the denso one for toyota has to be those dimensions and look, and that if denso were to make one to compete with one, it cannot be an exact copy/replica?
 
Huh. Im pulling the p0136, down stream sensor. ill try the denso. The original one has had the youtube trick, where the wires get resistors and other electrical shenanigans to clear P0420 (bad cat). So, if I replace the downstream sensor I may clear P0136, but my good buddy P0420 may come back. If so, ill bite the bullet and replace the cat. No not oem, just a good universal.

John, is your cat the original? By the way I stopped by the tools shop today. Both white 80's were there but the door was locked.
 
Bella1992 said:
Huh. Im pulling the p0136, down stream sensor. ill try the denso. The original one has had the youtube trick, where the wires get resistors and other electrical shenanigans to clear P0420 (bad cat). So, if I replace the downstream sensor I may clear P0136, but my good buddy P0420 may come back. If so, ill bite the bullet and replace the cat. No not oem, just a good universal.

John, is your cat the original? By the way I stopped by the tools shop today. Both white 80's were there but the door was locked.
Click to expand...

Howdy! We have been having meetings with Forest Service all week. Should be around the shop Friday and Saturday. No, my cat is not stock. I have a single unit that is very small and makes it easy to run the exhaust over the frame like the 93-94 models. Much more clearance that way. Passes smog easy. Come on by when you have a chance. John
 
Just wanted to add that the problems others had always seemed to involve Bosch sensors. Brought to you by your friendly knowledgeable parts guys and gals at Autozone.
 
I bought both frt/rr denso's from partsgeek back in 2013 sometime, sat in a box, didn't install until 2014, when I did a bunch of exhaust work on the cruiser...now I see where partsgeek has a bad rep but I got thru unscathed and these cleared my p0125 code, and are still working fine [no more codes yet] fingers crossed lol
 
Did you make sure to get the proper part number for your application? Amazon lists things quite often that aren't actually for your application. I have a tendency to check parts-geek and rock auto to compare the denso part numbers, then I google the part number to see what it comes up as for application. Then when all lines up, I google search for that part for sale. Just got a pair of denso sensors off fleabay, they look just like the one pictures on the right. My old ones I got from rock auto about 40k miles ago quit working after about 10k miles, they were a direct match to your left picture as well as the sensors I took out. I paid less than $140 both times I bought the pair of sensors. This time I paid $138 with shipping, I can tell you that the one pictured on the right is for the 93-94 models for sure
 
Denso's here.
 
I also recently replaced mine with Denso's, they work great!

DO NOT GET the Bosch sensors, they throw codes like crazy. Luckily I was able to exchange mine for Densos.
 
@LandCruisinMy93 Do you have part numbers for the 93/94?
 
Just did mine on Monday...Denso.
 
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