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Why replace your oxygen sensor?
A faulty oxygen sensor costs you money and performance. If your oxygen sensor is faulty, your engine's ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is guessing at how much fuel to send to the fuel injectors. It may be running rich (too much fuel), which means you are wasting gas and reducing your mileage, or it may be running lean (insufficient fuel) which produces excess nitrogen-oxide pollution (NOx), and may also cause engine damage. Independent mechanics suggest, even if your check engine light isn't on, if your oxygen sensor is 8 years old or is nearing 100,000 miles, it likely is not operating as it should and is reducing your gas mileage.
How do they work?
There are likely several oxygen sensors installed in your vehicle's exhaust system. They are measuring probes for determining the oxygen content of your engine's exhaust. The oxygen sensor operates by continuously comparing the oxygen content in the exhaust gas with the surrounding air; it uses that difference to generate a signal which is sent to the ECU which then adjusts the fuel flow at the fuel injectors. A properly operating oxygen sensor allows the ECU to maintain the correct air/fuel ratio (stoichiometric) so that you receive the maximum performance and mileage out of your vehicle while also reducing pollution.
What makes them go bad?
Besides the fact that they are required to operate in hellish conditions from 600 to 1200º Fahrenheit (325 to 650º Celsius), oxygen sensors are constantly bombarded by carbon, soot, antifreeze, oil, chemical fuel additives, etc. (If you spray silicone spray around your oxygen sensor that will kill it very quickly) It really is amazing that they last as long as they do. The oxygen sensors on your vehicle may seem to be running ok, but if they are old or have high miles on them, they will have a degraded cross count and you are not getting the mileage and performance your car is capable of. |
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