Causes of Car Exhaust Oxygen Sensor Damage
Cars with injection systems usually have an oxygen sensor that functions to measure the amount of air resulting from engine combustion. The good news is that a damaged car exhaust oxygen sensor is quite rare.
This is because the oxygen sensor is made of gold metal with very high durability, making it not easily damaged. Therefore, many people tend to neglect this component.
Causes and Signs of a Damaged Car Exhaust Oxygen Sensor
Unfortunately, like other parts or components, the oxygen sensor can also be damaged. Before this suddenly happens, it is important to know the causes and signs of a damaged car oxygen sensor.
In cars, the oxygen sensor is located in two places, namely upstream and downstream. The upstream sensor is directly exposed to unfiltered exhaust gases, as it is positioned before the catalytic converter.
In contrast, the downstream sensor is located after the catalytic converter. Both can experience damage due to the following reasons:
The age of use is indeed long, having traveled a distance of 100 to 150 thousand kilometers or more than 10 years. An old sensor will certainly experience a decline in function, so it is indeed time to replace it.
Frequent replacement of the exhaust can cause the system inside the sensor to malfunction or even break.
Debris that accompanies the engine combustion process can settle on the core part of the oxygen sensor. This will disrupt the reading system on the sensor.
The use of arbitrary or low-quality fuel. Because, the residue from burning low-quality fuel is much denser, causing deposits to accumulate quickly.
Impact of a Damaged Oxygen Sensor
There is no need to worry, because if the oxygen sensor is damaged, it will give a signal or indication. You just need to be more sensitive to recognize the following signs of sensor damage:
One of the easiest signs to recognize is a significant increase in exhaust gas emissions. This is because the oxygen sensor can no longer regulate the ratio between incoming air and fuel.
The check engine indicator light, which is usually found on the speedometer, suddenly lights up. However, this sign will only appear if the oxygen sensor is damaged due to age or it is indeed time for a replacement.
The most severe sign of a damaged sensor is that the car seems to lose performance. This condition is still related to the loss of the oxygen sensor's ability to regulate the air and fuel ratio.
The use of fuel tends to be more wasteful than usual and difficult to control.
Damage to the oxygen sensor can also cause damage to the engine, as the combustion chamber does not function properly.
How to Check the Oxygen Sensor
To avoid conditions like those mentioned above, it is advisable to perform regular checks. There is no need to do it too often, just a few months once by following these steps:
Visually or physically check the oxygen sensor. You can identify the cause of sensor damage from the color changes that occur.
Perform a manual check by unplugging the sensor, then look at the check engine signal.
Use a scanner tool to check the condition of the oxygen sensor.
If you find it difficult, you can ask the mechanic during the monthly service. To make it easier and avoid queues, you can make an appointment in advance through the following website.
In the hands of a reliable mechanic, a damaged car exhaust oxygen sensor and various other problems can be resolved well. Don't believe the news if you haven't proven it yourself.
