Bob Howard Buick GMC can help you identify the indicators of a broken oxygen sensor.
With all the different sensors your vehicle utilizes daily, perhaps one of the most important ones is an oxygen sensor, which is needed for a vehicle to perform at its top-notch ability. Because of all of the exhaust fumes a car produces, it’s important to have to watch the oxygen levels in the exhaust gases. The oxygen sensor has a crucial part to play in tracking a vehicle’s O2 amount to make sure the engine is efficiently using its gas. A functional oxygen sensor will be an essential component of a consistent running car. Still, a bad oxygen sensor will probably lead to bad gasoline economy, a horrible odor from your car, and tamper with your engine’s performance capability. Here we’ll discuss things to look out for while driving your vehicle that can be telltale signs of a poorly-working oxygen sensor.
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If you’re ever riding on the road and smell something harsh from your vehicle, this can be a quick sign that your oxygen sensor is going bad. If you start to pick up on any differences from poor powertrain performance, loud noises, or misfires, this can be a clear result of the O2 sensor potentially having problems. A severe issue a failing oxygen sensor could happen is a sudden catalytic converter failure, which could cost you a lot of money to replace and might have your vehicle stuck in the shop for a bit.
Similar to many other components of a car, oxygen sensors could wear down over time and start to fail. But if you don’t pay close attention, a bad O2 sensor could begin to show major problems all over your vehicle. A build-up of contaminated oil ash or coolant can lead to an O2 sensor failing, so your selection of oil or fuel is superbly important. Because of its placement in a car, it’s better that you bring your vehicle to our professional mechanics to get it looked at or get an OEM oxygen sensor replacement.
We recommend against driving with a bad oxygen sensor as the engine is not running on the right fuel mixture. While it might seem fine in the beginning, if the engine is running rich and over-using its fuel it might end up clogging the catalytic converter. Looking at the possible price of getting new O2 sensors is a lot less than purchasing a catalytic converter, it’s worth making this decision now. Also, if your vehicle is more than 15 years old or has over 60,000 miles you might want to consider replacing your O2 sensors for better performance and lower pollution.
Bob Howard Buick GMC is an ideal place to get vehicle service in the Oklahoma City area. We happily service all vehicle makes and models. One of our factory-trained technicians will inspect your car or truck to determine if there are any needed repairs and will suggest the best resolution for you and your vehicle. Schedule your truck or SUV service online or in person today.
