Oxygen sensors monitor the oxygen level in exhaust gases. It assists the engine control module in regulating the air-fuel mixture for optimal combustion and efficient operation with minimal emissions. You’ll experience various warning signs if your car’s oxygen sensor is bad, and you need to understand these noticeable symptoms.
If this problem is ignored, fuel costs may grow, there may be engine damage, and pollution levels may rise. To restore your vehicle’s optimal operation and lessen its environmental impact, it is wise to have your oxygen sensor examined and replaced by a qualified mechanic if you suspect it is defective. Well, in this reading, we’ll be exploring the ten noticeable symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor.
Symptoms of a Bad Oxygen Sensor
The symptoms of an oxygen sensor include low fuel economy, check engine light turning on, smells of sulfur or gas from the exhaust, low engine performance, engine stall, exhaust emitting black smoke, etc.
Low Fuel Economy: Have your gas expenses increased or have you been filling up the tank more frequently than usual? Your O2 sensors may be to blame. The mixture may become “rich” (fuel-heavy) if they are unable to keep track of the air-to-fuel ratio in your combustion cylinders, which would indicate that your engine is utilizing more fuel than it should.
Check Engine Light Is On: Although a malfunctioning O2 sensor is one of the most frequent causes of a check engine light, it can also signify a variety of other issues. Make an appointment for an engine diagnostic service at your neighborhood Firestone Complete Auto Care as soon as the check engine light illuminates on your dashboard. If your car has a high mileage, the oxygen sensor is probably to blame.
Smells of Sulfur or Gas from The Exhaust: When you turn on your automobile or stand outside of it while it is idling, take note of any odors you detect, such as sulfur, a rotten egg smell, or just plain gasoline. This is the surplus fuel burning off in the engine, and it may be a sign that your oxygen sensors are not picking up on the shortage of air in the combustion cylinders.
Engine Performance Problems: Can rough idle and engine power loss be attributed to a malfunctioning O2 sensor? Of course. Additionally, you can experience stalling, sluggish acceleration, and engine misfires. The engine’s vital functions, such as, engine timing, combustion intervals, and air-fuel ratio, are disrupted by faulty oxygen sensors.
Engine Stall: Because it lacks the necessary gasoline and power to operate properly, the engine may misfire when the ignition is turned on or shut down entirely. This only occurs if you’ve been driving for a while with faulty oxygen sensors, and the engine has been harmed as a result.
Exhaust Emitting Black Smoke: Your engine burns fuel by using oxygen. When there is insufficient fuel, the combusting gasoline emits black smoke through the exhaust pipe. When the O2 sensor isn’t working properly, the engine control module isn’t informed to change the air-to-gasoline ratio, therefore, the engine keeps consuming too much fuel.
Failure of the Catalytic Converter: Your catalytic converter transforms harmful exhaust emissions produced by engine combustion into less harmful ones. If your oxygen sensors aren’t working, they might instantly malfunction and allow dangerous compounds to billow out of your exhaust pipes because they require a precise amount of air to function properly. Your car could fail an emissions test due to a defective catalytic converter.
Unusual Pinging or Knocking Noise: The air-fuel ratio may run lean when your O2 sensors are unable to monitor it (more air than fuel). As a result, the combustion chamber accumulates carbon, which can sound pinging, knocking, or rattling (especially when the ignition is turned on).
Car Idles Rough: An idle engine’s RPM rate is typically less than 1,000. However, if there is too much gasoline in the engine as a result of defective oxygen sensors, the RPM may increase to 2,000 or even 3,000. Though this isn’t a clear sign of a faulty O2 sensor, your engine may have a rough idling issue for a variety of reasons.
Emissions Levels are High: Your oxygen sensors are a crucial part of your emission control system; if you don’t have them, your exhaust will probably develop a significant imbalance of pollutants. If you fail an emissions test that is required, ask your technician to do a diagnostic test. There are a number of potential causes for your emissions to be off, but one of the first things to check is your O2 sensors.
Bottom Line
Oxygen sensors can fail due to age, contaminants, excessive fuel additives, and soot buildup. They do not need to be replaced all at once, and if one fails, the others should be considered due to age. When an oxygen sensor fails, it can cause decreased fuel efficiency, increased emissions, poor performance, and damage to the catalytic converter.
The lifespan of an oxygen sensor is around 50,000 to 100,000 miles, and they are generally not repairable once they fail. That is all for this article, where the symptoms of a bad oxygen sensor are discussed. I hope it was helpful, if so, kindly share with others. Thanks for reading, see you around!
