The oxygen sensor of your vehicle, more commonly referred to as the o2 sensor, regulates the amount of oxygen in your vehicle’s exhaust. The sensor is located in the front of the tailpipe, and it sends the oxygen information to the EMC or engine control module. Depending on how much oxygen is present in the exhaust, your vehicle will automatically adjust the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. At Bedell Transmissions LLC, we know that if your vehicle shows any of the following signs, it might be time to replace your o2 sensor.
Acceleration Lag
Does your vehicle feel like it takes longer to get up to speed? This acceleration lag is caused by more air than fuel in the engine. Your engine requires the appropriate mixture of air and fuel to run correctly.
Black Exhaust
The inverse can cause issues as well, more fuel than air. If this happens, black exhaust smoke will blow out of your tailpipe. This black smoke is produced when the excess fuel is burnt away, which can lead to pollution in the air.
Check Engine Warning
Is your check engine light on? A malfunctioning or faulty o2 sensor could cause this. There is no warning light expressly for the o2 sensor. Therefore, the check engine light indicates other issues in the vehicle, such as a faulty o2 sensor.
Engine Performance Issues
When the o2 sensor is not functioning correctly, the engine is either fuel-starved or has too much fuel. A fuel-starved engine will sputter and struggle to run, and too much fuel will cause the vehicle to buck or lurch while driving.
Fuel Economy Loss
Are you not getting the same fuel economy as before? One common symptom of a bad o2 sensor is a loss in fuel economy. If the engine receives the wrong mixture of fuel to air, it will have to work harder to produce the same power. This will cause more fuel to be burnt and drain your gas tank faster than expected.
Rotten Egg Smell
A faulty oxygen sensor can cause “a rich fuel mixture.” This can clog your catalytic converter causing sulfur to be released. Sulfer smells exactly like a rotten egg, so if you smell rotten eggs coming from your engine and exhaust, it is time to bring your vehicle in.
Trust the experts at Bedell Transmission LLC in Wolcott, CT, to replace your faulty o2 sensor and get your vehicle up and running as it should in no time. Give us a call today or set an appointment online.