If you drive an older work truck or automobile, it’s possible that your oxygen sensor will go bad. The average lifespan of the oxygen sensor is anywhere from seven to 10 years or 160,000 kilometres. Moose Jaw Truck Shop can replace your oxygen sensor when it needs it. We are going to list the common signs that the oxygen sensor is going bad below.
Check Engine Warning
Also called the O2 sensor, one of the most common signs that your oxygen sensor is malfunctioning is an illuminated check engine light. Generally, the faulty O2 sensor sends a malfunctioning code to your vehicle’s main computer chip. Once the chip is alerted of the error, it will turn on the check engine light because it cannot resolve the problem itself.
Excess Engine Exhaust
A malfunctioning O2 sensor can also cause excess engine exhaust, especially if the engine is burning too much fuel. The oxygen sensor tracks the oxygen being released through your vehicle’s exhaust. If it reports incorrect data, the main computer may think that the combustion chamber needs more fuel when it actually doesn’t. This can create excess exhaust.
Fuel Efficiency Loss
A can also cause a problem with your work truck’s fuel efficiency. You need to get as many kilometers per litre as you can out of a full tank of petrol. The more you have to fill your tank the more unnecessary expense. Unfortunately, if you have an O2 sensor that is going bad, you will lose much of your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Consequently, you’ll be heading to the service station more often.
High Emissions Levels
The O2 sensor can also skew your vehicle’s emissions. It can cause too many hydrocarbons to be released in the exhaust, which, as you know, is bad for the environment. Unfortunately, the increased hydrocarbons will remain in your exhaust until you replace the malfunctioning O2 sensor.
Performance Problems
Any time there are incorrect adjustments made in the combustion chamber, your engine performance suffers. You may end up with a sputtering engine that struggles to accelerate or an engine that accelerates by itself. Either of these things can be caused by a dying O2 sensor.
Rotten Egg Odours
Finally, excess hydrocarbons also wreak havoc in the catalytic converter. Unfortunately, these hydrocarbons will clog the converter and you will smell rotten eggs as a result.
Moose Jaw Truck Shop in Moose Jaw, SK, is here to help, so call us today if your work truck or automobile is suffering from any of the problems listed above.
