Your car’s oxygen sensor is an electronic device that measures the proportional amount of oxygen in gas or liquid. It sends data to the management computer within the engine and ensures it is running at optimum performance. Moreover, the O2 sensor regulates emissions and alerts the driver when they are too excessive. Thus, it’s important that the oxygen sensor in your vehicle is performing properly. CarSwitch.com, an online marketplace where you can sell any car in Dubai, did some research to share the details with you.
Low Gas Mileage and Funky Smell
Since an O2 sensor affects the fuel combustion and delivery systems of a car, a malfunctioning one will allow excess fuel to be injected into the engine. As a result, the gas mileage will be reduced.
Moreover, the extra fuel in the engine will cause a sulfuric smell, and it’s indistinguishable from rotten eggs. Additionally, you might also see black smoke coming from the vehicle’s exhaust.
Engine Misfires
A bad sensor has the potential to disrupt various engine functions, including combustion intervals, the air to fuel ratio, and engine timing. Rough idle and engine misfires are major symptoms of a failing oxygen sensor. This means you might notice that your car is running irregularly or roughly during idle. Other performance issues you might come across if the O2 sensor fails include hesitation, stalling, and loss of power.
If you encounter these problems, see if the check engine light is illuminated. If that’s the case, it’s highly likely your oxygen sensor has a problem. The probability is even higher if your vehicle is older than ten years and has done over 150,000 kilometers. Never ignore the check engine light and get your car inspected from a licensed mechanic right away.
Poor Performance
As mentioned before, when the O2 sensor goes bad, your vehicle might experience stalling and hesitation. When this happens, a lot of cars switch to the factory air-to-fuel ratio. This can cause issues because of non-standard temperature, air composition, or moisture. When the O2 sensor is failing, its reading will be inaccurate and this will lead to suboptimal fuel-to-air composition.
A bad O2 sensor is also not good news for the environment. Thus, make sure you get it checked if you notice any of the signs mentioned above. The problem is usually easy to fix and involves replacing the sensor.
Maintenance is crucial to improve the resale value and longevity of your car.
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