The oxygen sensor in your automobile will last, on average, about 95,000 kilometres. If you take excellent care of your vehicle, the oxygen sensor may last throughout its lifetime. Central Auto Care advises that a failing oxygen sensor will turn on your check engine warning light. It will also cause the following engine performance issues listed below.
Black Exhaust Smoke
Also called the O2 sensor, the oxygen sensor measures the oxygen levels in your vehicle’s exhaust. It is located at the beginning of your tailpipe for this specific purpose. If the oxygen sensor is going bad, it will send incorrect readings to the engine control unit. When this happens, the unit may mistakenly release too much fuel into the combustion chamber and you will end up with black exhaust smoke.
Engine Performance Trouble
Excess fuel in the combustion chamber can also cause engine performance issues. You may feel as if your automobile has turned into a bucking bronco. Another thing that can happen with incorrect oxygen sensor readings is the engine control unit will release too much air into the combustion chamber. When this happens, your acceleration and engine performance will lag.
High Vehicle Emission Levels
Any time your engine is burning away excess fuel, this increases the emissions released through the tailpipe. There will be excess carbon in your vehicle’s exhaust. The only way to reduce the carbon levels in the exhaust is to have the oxygen sensor replaced so that the readings to the engine control unit will be correct and it will stop releasing too much fuel into the combustion chamber.
Loss of Fuel Efficiency
Your vehicle will also suffer a loss of fuel efficiency if the engine is burning too much petrol. If you keep track of the kilometres per gallon that you get with each tank, you will notice this reduction in fuel efficiency. This reduction may be subtle at first, but it will increase as the oxygen sensor continues to malfunction. Replacing the faulty O2 sensor will boost your fuel economy once again.
Rotten Egg Exhaust Odor
Finally, any time the catalytic converter is inundated with carbons it will malfunction. The carbons clog the catalytic converter and they are a result of the excess burning petrol. When the catalytic converter is clogged or malfunctioning, it releases a rotten egg odor in the vehicle’s exhaust. You may also smell rotten eggs coming from the engine bay.
Call Central Auto Care in Okotoks, AB, if you suspect that your oxygen sensor is going bad. We’d be happy to test it and replace it if necessary.