When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I installed the one from Banks on my 22. The website has all the information as to what the claimed benefits are. I would imagine that many will likely say it isn't necessary, like many other aftermarket add on's. The basic claim is that it will relocate the sensor out of the direct air flow, which minimizes the build up of soot and oil on the sensor, which then allows the sensor to send more accurate information. As to whether or not it is "worth it" is solely up to you though.
I installed the one from Banks on my 22. The website has all the information as to what the claimed benefits are. I would imagine that many will likely say it isn't necessary, like many other aftermarket add on's. The basic claim is that it will relocate the sensor out of the direct air flow, which minimizes the build up of soot and oil on the sensor, which then allows the sensor to send more accurate information. As to whether or not it is "worth it" is solely up to you though.
Have you look at the sensor since you installed the banks?
I have not. I may pull the intakes off this summer to clean them all out. If I do so I would look at it then.
But, I have no doubt that it is doing what it claims. The sensor hangs way down, right into the flow stream of all the soot and the oil. It has been completely moved and even reoriented out of the air flow now with the spacer.
No spacer on mine, 272K miles.
Pretty easy to clean the sensor if you think it is causing an issue.
I cleaned mine at 20k and then again at about 50k when I installed the spacer. If you clean the sensor make sure that you use a cleaner that is made for cleaning sensors, such as CRC Electronic Cleaner Spray. Also, be sure not to shove anything down into the hole or you will disrupt the membrane and that will require you to purchase a new sensor. Here are some photos of mine at 20k. It still looked and functioned fine, but it was clear that carbon was already building up on it pretty well. It was about the same at 50k.
I installed the one from Banks on my 22. The website has all the information as to what the claimed benefits are. I would imagine that many will likely say it isn't necessary, like many other aftermarket add on's. The basic claim is that it will relocate the sensor out of the direct air flow, which minimizes the build up of soot and oil on the sensor, which then allows the sensor to send more accurate information. As to whether or not it is "worth it" is solely up to you though.
I cleaned mine at 20k and then again at about 50k when I installed the spacer. If you clean the sensor make sure that you use a cleaner that is made for cleaning sensors, such as CRC Electronic Cleaner Spray. Also, be sure not to shove anything down into the hole or you will disrupt the membrane and that will require you to purchase a new sensor. Here are some photos of mine at 20k. It still looked and functioned fine, but it was clear that carbon was already building up on it pretty well. It was about the same at 50k.
Before After
Heck, all I had in the garage was PB blaster, so used that to clean mine!
I could potentially see this spacer as helping prolong the life of the sensor by moving it out of the direct line of airflow. And since it's a pressure sensor, not a flow sensor, it doesn't NEED to be in the direct line. However, it does need to be close enough that 'dead air' isn't messing up the reading. How close it needs to be depends on the shape of the airflow and the location of the port.
All of that to say, I'm not sure how much it extends the life of the sensor - but I doubt it's $70 worth of cleaner, which also can prolong the life of the sensor.
I could potentially see this spacer as helping prolong the life of the sensor by moving it out of the direct line of airflow. And since it's a pressure sensor, not a flow sensor, it doesn't NEED to be in the direct line. However, it does need to be close enough that 'dead air' isn't messing up the reading. How close it needs to be depends on the shape of the airflow and the location of the port.
All of that to say, I'm not sure how much it extends the life of the sensor - but I doubt it's $70 worth of cleaner, which also can prolong the life of the sensor.
I agree, if you're fine with removing it often and making sure it stays clean, then it won't matter, so long as you are careful when cleaning it. Damage it, and you will be out the cost of a new sensor, which may be more than the spacer. So, if you use the spacer, you could set it once and forget it. Then there is less likelihood of damaging it simply because you aren't cleaning it as often. So, it could be for those that would rather just never have to worry about messing with it or cleaning it at all. By design, it should allow the sensor to stay cleaner for much, much longer than when set up in it's stock configuration, so for those that just don't want to every worry about it, it could be worth it.
As to costs, another way to look at it today is that it costs about as much as a 1/4 - 1/2 tank of fuel costs... lol....
Last edited by chadstickpoindexter; Mar 10, 2026 at 11:10 AM.
I agree, if you're fine with removing it often and making sure it stays clean, then it won't matter, so long as you are careful when cleaning it. Damage it, and you will be out the cost of a new sensor, which may be more than the spacer. So, if you use the spacer, you could set it once and forget it. Then there is less likelihood of damaging it simply because you aren't cleaning it as often. So, it could be for those that would rather just never have to worry about messing with it or cleaning it at all. By design, it should allow the sensor to stay cleaner for much, much longer than when set up in it's stock configuration, so for those that just don't want to every worry about it, it could be worth it.
As to costs, another way to look at it today is that it costs about as much as a 1/4 - 1/2 tank of fuel costs... lol....
Oh I absolutely agree, everyone's got to weigh their options. For me, I can't say it would be worth it, mostly because I'm still under warranty and I tend to not change anything until I'm out of warranty.
But if there's no ill effects, and someone doesn't want to pull the sensor to clean it, then absolutely they should get it and install it.
It can get crazy with Chinese knock offs........but for $30. Maybe toss the sensor in the trash and assume this spacer will do the same thing as the big names.