OBD II Code PO153

[Gary in Montana]

CEL just went on. Code PO153 came up. According to the RennTech info. that describes an "aging oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6."

:( Help, what is the difference between code PO153 "aging" oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6 and code PO150, "oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6?" What is the aging process like for an oxygen sensor? Is this aging code telling me that soon there will be a code PO150 where the sensor fails?

How serious is this aging code, can I still drive the car for a while and how soon should the sensor be replaced?

Thanks ahead of time!

-Gary in Montana

[Loren]

CEL just went on.  Code PO153 came up.  According to the RennTech info. that describes an "aging oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6." 

:(  Help, what is the difference between code PO153 "aging" oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6 and code PO150, "oxygen sensor ahead of TWC cylinders 4-6?"  What is the aging process like for an oxygen sensor? Is this aging code telling me that soon there will be a code PO150 where the sensor fails?   

How serious is this aging code, can I still drive the car for a while and how soon should the sensor be replaced?   

Thanks ahead of time!

-Gary in Montana

Here is what the OBD II manual says about P0153:

The diagnosis of "oxygen sensor aging" helps to identify oxygen sensors that exceed emission limits because of aging.

During the diagnosis of oxygen sensor aging, the DME control module monitors the period of the sensor signal.

With an old sensor, the duration of the period is too long, i.e. it is more difficult for the sensor to diffuse oxygen into the exhaust gas. Reasons for this could be frequent driving in the lower load range (city driving, short distances, etc.) or a contaminated sensor.

They go on to suggest that you reset the code and if comes back replace the oxygen sensor.