Oxygen Sensors – Maintaining The Health Of Your Car’s Engine

Virtually every car manufactured after the 1980s is equipped with the all important oxygen sensor to help maintain the health of its engine.

I am sure that most of you wouldn’t be aware of this fact. In fact, I am sure you might not even be aware of what an oxygen sensor is and what is actually does for your car! But this one device is responsible for ensuring that your car emits the least possible amount of noxious gases into the atmosphere and for ensuring that the engine remains in top shape for years to come. Allow me to explain how that works..

The oxygen sensor is actually placed inside the exhaust pipe of your car. It works by detecting the ratio of the air and gasoline that is fed to the engine of your car. Depending upon how rich or lean the mixture is, the sensor adjusts the fuel amount entering your car’s engine. It sends information to your vehicle's engine management system to help your car fun efficiently as well as to reduce noxious emissions.

You might ask what is the big deal here? What will happen if the oxygen sensor stops working properly?

You must understand that this device is actually responsible for getting oxygen and gasoline in the right amounts to your car’s engine. If the sensor is not working properly, the car will run less effectively and consume much more fuel than it ought to. Plus the wrong mix of gasoline and oxygen can increase pollutants that exit your vehicle - thereby harming the environment -- as well as potentially causing your catalytic converter to fail or even damage your engine. You MUST therefore, appreciate the importance of an oxygen sensor in your car’s working system.

Now that you have understood the vital role that oxygen sensors play in cars, the next step will be to understand how to identify if the one installed in your vehicle isn’t functioning properly. There are some clear signs that you need to watch out for.

•   Smell of rotten eggs coming from the exhaust of your car
•   Sudden spike in fuel consumption over the last few weeks.
•   Failure of your car’s catalytic converter
•   Undesirable levels of pollutants in your exhaust emission.
•   Surges and hesitation in the engine’s working

If you notice any of these issues with your car, take it to the mechanic right away. Chances are that the oxygen sensor will need replacing. However, if you plan on delaying this check-up of your vehicle, understand that you are risking permanent damage to its engine, something that you will regret in the later years of your car’s life. There are various places here you can buy these devices from and shopping online is the most easy and reliable option of them all. In fact, if you are looking to buy oxygen sensors or need more information about them, Econox.ch is one website that you can easily trust.

So take the corrective action in time and avoid any lasting damage to your car’s system.

About The Author

Nathan Statham is an expert in oxygen sensing equipment and related devices who also likes to spread awareness in the masses about them through the articles and blogs he writes. He recommends Econox.ch as the best name to trust for high quality oxygen sensors online.