Depending on the age of your European automobile, your oxygen sensor might last only 30,000 miles. If you drive a newer vehicle, your oxygen sensor can last as long as 100,000 miles or more. If you plan on keeping your car, truck, or utility vehicle for a long time, you will need to have the oxygen sensor replaced eventually. Eurotech Auto Service & Repair can do this when the time comes. Here are signs that the O2 sensor is malfunctioning and needs to be replaced.
Black Exhaust Smoke
One thing that happens with a faulty oxygen sensor is the balance of air and fuel in the combustion chamber becomes skewed. In some cases, you may end up with too much fuel and not enough air. When this happens, your engine burns the excess fuel and releases black exhaust smoke out of the tailpipe.
Engine Problems
Excess fuel can also make your engine surge and buck while you drive it, especially at high speeds. If the opposite has happened and there is too much air in the combustion chamber, you will notice that your engine sputters at high speeds and struggles to stay running when you are idling. Your vehicle’s acceleration will also lag.
Fuel Economy Loss
Both of these conditions can cause a problem with your vehicle’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, because your engine is not running efficiently, you will end up having to hit the service station more often to fill your tank. This is a frustrating side effect of a faulty O2 sensor that is not resolved until you replace the sensor.
High Emissions Levels
This doesn’t affect automobiles in Florida, but if you live in a state that has emissions testing, the malfunctioning O2 sensor will cause your vehicle to fail the test. This happens for two reasons. First, the oxygen sensor sends an error code to the engine control module that the test picks up. Second, you might have excess hydrocarbons in your vehicle’s exhaust.
Rotten Egg Odors
This might seem like an odd problem caused by a dying O2 sensor, but you may end up with rotten egg odors coming from the engine and in your vehicle’s exhaust. This is a sign that the catalytic converter is malfunctioning due to the imbalance of fuel and air caused by the faulty oxygen sensor.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, you may end up with an illuminated check engine light on your European automobile’s dashboard if the oxygen sensor goes bad. This, too, can make your vehicle fail an emissions test.
Call Eurotech Auto Service & Repair in Fort Myers, FL, today if you suspect that the oxygen sensor is going out in your European automobile.