The Role of the O2 Censor

Motorists who are curious about the level of their carbon footprints can simply look at one part of their car, their O2 censor. It’s important to know that your vehicle’s O2 sensor (oxygen sensor) plays a key role in sounding the alarm if excessive harmful exhaust emissions are coming out the tailpipe.

“A properly functioning O2 sensor plays the role of a watchdog when it comes to monitoring your car’s exhaust emissions, especially hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide,” said Warren Suter, Director, Engine Management Systems for Bosch, which developed the automotive oxygen sensor in 1976. Bosch is the world’s largest supplier of automotive parts and systems.

The O2 sensor measures the oxygen in the exhaust and signals the engine’s computer to adjust the air-fuel ratio to ensure that combustion is as complete as possible. This continuous process optimizes engine performance and fuel efficiency and reduces harmful emissions. A vehicle, depending on the make, model and year, can have between one and four O2 sensors at various locations in the exhaust stream.

If an O2 sensor is worn out and fails to assess the air-fuel ratio accurately, the engine’s computer tries to accommodate the perceived variation and, in the process, may adjust the mixture to be too lean or too rich. The result? Harmful tailpipe emissions and possible damage to the catalytic converter and other engine components.

(Source) Press

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