What Does An Oxygen Sensor Do In A Car

The oxygen sensor or o2 sensor is a key component of your vehicle s emissions system and dates back to the earliest days of electronic engine controls.

What does an oxygen sensor do in a car.

In your car a functioning o2 sensor ensures that your engine is running at top performance. If you notice any of the following signs you may have a bad o2 sensor or one that is about to go bad. Failing oxygen sensors were the most common repair performed by north american automotive mechanics for the 5th year in a row with cars older than 10 years constituting most repairs. An oxygen sensor does not have to fail completely to give you problems.

Let s take a closer look at just what an oxygen sensor does and the steps you can take to do the work yourself. Failing the emissions test. On the contrary even a failing o2 sensor sometimes called a lazy o2 sensor may cause your car to have a few issues. What is an oxygen sensor.

Check engine light comes on. Every new car and most cars produced after 1980 have an oxygen sensor the sensor is part of the emissions control system and feeds data to the engine management computer the goal of the sensor is to help the engine run as efficiently as possible and also to produce as few emissions as possible. What does an oxygen sensor do. On the tip of the oxygen sensor that plugs into the exhaust manifold is a zirconium ceramic bulb.

The o2 sensor tip is located inside of your exhaust pipe the oxygen sensor detects the percentage of oxygen in the exhaust. Most newer vehicles have a heated element to the o2 sensor to compensate for when the engine is cold and will be putting extra fuel into the cylinders until it reaches. A faulty oxygen sensor has a negative effect on the injection timing and combustion levels and can interfere with other engine functions as well. It is located within the emissions control system.

When functioning the o2 sensor sends data to the management computer located within the engine. The oxygen sensor transmits the data to the vehicle s pcm to maintain the optimal air to fuel ratio for your engine. Let s take a closer look. Still many people are unsure about what the oxygen sensor actually does.

Functioning like a monitor your oxygen sensor works like this. Oxygen sensors work by producing their own voltage when they get hot approximately 600 f. The inside and the outside of the bulb is coated with a porous layer of platinum which serve as the electrodes. If your car is slow to accelerate or if the engine stops running all of a sudden then the oxygen sensor may be the culprit in both scenarios.

All cars that were manufactured post 1980 feature an oxygen sensor. Your oxygen sensor s readings are transmitted to your engine in real time and helps your car determine its fuel to air ratio in order to maximize its performance.