1. Does lower octane cause these sensors to go?
2. can you get to it under the hood or do you need to have the car on a hoist to change it?
3. are the 3 wire universal ones on ebay ok?
4. any simple tips on changing this one?

 

1)I don't think that would really be a factor
2)no. you need to get under there
3)yes. i've been running those with no issues for almost 2 years. just make good connections and seal them up with heatshrink and elec. tape
4)if you have a stock y pipe the working space is limited. the o2 socket didn't work, I had to use an open ended wrench and hammer to break them loose.

 

2. Agreed, you hae to get under there, and there isn't a lot of room. I got lucky--I bought a sensor wrench and it worked fine. The sensor wasn't frozen at all.

3. I got an exact fit from oxygensensors.com for about $60. Less hassle.

4. The hardest part for me was getting the old one out. The wire snakes through a tight space. If I were doing it again I'd cut the wire and pull the connector from the top and the sensor from the bottom.