When Should the Oxygen Sensor Be Replaced?
Oxygen sensors are a important component of the fuel and emissions systems because they control the amount of oxygen in the exhaust and transmit that information to the ECU (elctronic Control Unit ) /engine computer, which adjusts the air-fuel mixture accordingly. If an oxygen sensor fails, the engine computer won't be able to correctly set the air-fuel mixture, which could result in lower fuel economy, higher emissions and damage to other components, such as an overheated catalytic converter.
No vehicle that we're aware of has a warning light that signals when an oxygen sensor has failed, so you have to rely on other vital signs to alert you when there is a problem, such as the check-engine light on the dashboard illuminating.
An illuminated check-engine light could be a sign of a more serious issue, such as with the catalytic converter, or something as minor as a loose gas cap, so further investigation is always required. Any repair shop should be able to read what triggered your check-engine light, and many auto parts stores perform this service for free.
Other symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor include a rough idle, misfiring spark plugs, lack of power, stalling or a significant increase in fuel consumption. Those symptoms could also be indications of other problems, but the EPA says that replacing a bad oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, so clearly that is one place to look if your vehicle develops a greater thirst for gas.
Oxygen sensors are a important component of the fuel and emissions systems because they control the amount of oxygen in the exhaust and transmit that information to the ECU (elctronic Control Unit ) /engine computer, which adjusts the air-fuel mixture accordingly. If an oxygen sensor fails, the engine computer won't be able to correctly set the air-fuel mixture, which could result in lower fuel economy, higher emissions and damage to other components, such as an overheated catalytic converter.
No vehicle that we're aware of has a warning light that signals when an oxygen sensor has failed, so you have to rely on other vital signs to alert you when there is a problem, such as the check-engine light on the dashboard illuminating.
An illuminated check-engine light could be a sign of a more serious issue, such as with the catalytic converter, or something as minor as a loose gas cap, so further investigation is always required. Any repair shop should be able to read what triggered your check-engine light, and many auto parts stores perform this service for free.
Other symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor include a rough idle, misfiring spark plugs, lack of power, stalling or a significant increase in fuel consumption. Those symptoms could also be indications of other problems, but the EPA says that replacing a bad oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, so clearly that is one place to look if your vehicle develops a greater thirst for gas.
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