Yes, a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor can raise your vehicle’s emissions levels to the point that your car, truck, or utility vehicle will fail the smog check. As you know, your automobile must pass a smog check every two years in order to stay registered in California. John Ellis & Son explains that high emissions levels are just one sign that the oxygen sensor is malfunctioning. We are going to list the other signs of a dying O2 sensor below so you know what to look for.
Performance Issues
If the O2 sensor is going bad, you will end up with engine performance issues such as stuttering or surging. This is an indication that the air and fuel in the combustion chamber are out of balance. This can be caused indirectly by the faulty O2 sensor if it gives incorrect oxygen readings to the engine control unit. These incorrect readings will cause the unit to make unnecessary changes in the combustion chamber that imbalances the air and fuel. Consequently, your engine performance will suffer.
Fuel Economy Loss
Your vehicle’s fuel economy will also suffer because the engine is not running efficiently. You may find yourself heading to the gas station more often than normal. This is an indication that the oxygen sensor is going bad and directly affecting how many miles you get per gallon. With gas prices what they are in California, it can be a financial hardship to have to fill your tank more often than normal.
Burning Sulfur Odors
High emissions can also clog the catalytic converter and cause burning sulfur odors. Consequently, these odors smell like rotten eggs. If you smell rotten eggs coming from your vehicle, this can be an indication that you have a malfunctioning O2 sensor or a clogged catalytic converter.
Black Exhaust Smoke
You may also end up with excess exhaust smoke flowing out of the tailpipe. In the case of the oxygen sensor, the exhaust is generally black. This is because the faulty oxygen sensor creates a rich fuel condition in the combustion chamber and, as a result, black exhaust.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, once the O2 sensor dies, it will send a diagnostic code to the engine control unit. When we run a diagnostic test on your automobile, we receive this code that points directly to the oxygen sensor. In the meantime, the engine control unit will turn on your check engine light.
John Ellis & Son in Sacramento, CA, is here to help, so call us today to set up an appointment if you believe your oxygen sensor is malfunctioning.
