Usually, when you do a tune-up, you change
your oil, you check your spark plugs or most likely you replace your
oil filter, right? Well, perhaps you are unaware that you are
overlooking an important step. Yes, you are missing an important step
and that is to check your oxygen sensors. Sorry to say but most people
don’t think about their oxygen sensors. But your oxygen sensor is very
important to your car’s performance and fortitude. Aside from that,
your oxygen sensor also helps a lot in acquiring fuel economy and
lowest emission. And because of that reasons, oxygen sensors have been
standard equipment on passenger cars and light truck engine since 1980.
But what is an oxygen sensor anyway and how does it works? Originally
called a “Lambda Sensor” when it was first used in fuel-injected
European cars, the oxygen sensor is the primary measurement device for
the fuel control computer in your vehicle. Oxygen sensors reads the
amount of oxygen in your exhaust and tells your fuel injector how much
fuel the engine needs to maintain the proper air-fuel ratio because all
spark combustion engines need the proper air-fuel ratio to operate
properly. This device is mounted in the exhaust manifold downpipe
facing the catalytic converter or between the exhaust manifold and the
catalytic converter.
The
Oxygen sensor is active anytime it is adequately hot; however the
computer only uses this information in the closed loop mode. Closed
loop is the term used to describe the operating mode where all engine
control sensors including oxygen sensors are used to get best fuel
economy, lowest emissions, and good power. Any time an engine is
operated in open loop, it runs somewhat rich and makes more exhaust
emissions. This translates into lost power, poor fuel economy and air
pollution.
So what do you think will happen if you have damaged oxygen sensor?
Actually, a damaged oxygen sensor is not only the problem. Oxygen
sensors can become ineffective as they get older. Old or worn out
oxygen sensors can give inaccurate readings, which can cause problems
with the engine, like surging and hesitating. Aged oxygen sensors are
the number one cause of too much harmful exhaust emissions and failed
emissions tests.
On the other hand, if your exhaust is black and sooty or if you have
black soot in your tailpipe, you likely have a bad oxygen sensor and
the only fix to that problem is oxygen sensor replacement. Replacing a
poorly operating or damaged oxygen sensor can save you $100 a year in
fuel costs, can maximize engine performance, can reduce air pollution,
can avert premature failure of your catalytic converter and above all,
can help you pass emissions tests.
