If the mechanic determines that the problem is with your oxygen sensor, the problem can be fixed relatively easily by replacing the sensor. When there is excess fuel in the engine due to a bad or failing oxygen sensor, the engine will produce a sulfuric smell, similar to that of rotten eggs.
When your check engine light is on and you have all these symptoms, you can readily conclude that you have a problem with your oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor of your car was not designed to work forever, and it needs to be replaced at some point during the life of your engine. If your car is less than 15 years old, you should have your oxygen sensors replaced by a professional every 60, to 90, miles to keep your engine running smoothly and reduce pollution.
If your vehicle is older, you should replace the sensors every 45, to 65, miles instead. We can also help you find a great deal on a new or certified pre-owned car. We offer leases and easy financing as well. Explore our website for more information and a quick appraisal for your trade-in, or visit us for a test drive. Write a comment Name required. Mail will not be published required. Odyssey Honda CR-V vs. RAV4 Honda Accord vs. Do oxygen sensors degrade over a period of time?
Simple answer: Yes. What causes an oxygen sensor to degrade? When silicon was an ingredient in RTV and coolant, the silicon could cause the sensor to rapidly degrade. It was referred to as silicon poisoning.
Gasoline and diesel fuel are refined products from crude oil. The refined product contains a mixture of different hydrocarbons including Olefins, Benzene and the chemical element Sulfur. Sulfur is a chemical element that occurs naturally in crude oil.
The refining process reduces the concentration of sulfur in the gasoline. Sulfur can cause the degradation of an Oxygen sensor and the concentration of the Sulfur in the gasoline will determine the rate at which the sensor will degrade. Gasoline with a content of 1, parts per million ppm have been shown to cause accelerated degradation resulting in the illumination of a service soon light.
To put a 1, ppm in perspective, if you have a thousand gallons of gasoline, it will have one gallon of Sulfur. Gasoline also contains other added ingredients. Advertisement The following are ingredient descriptions for gasoline additives: Octane enhancers, antioxidants, metal deactivators, ignition controllers, icing inhibitors, detergents and corrosion inhibitors. One of these ingredients is MBTE methyl tertiary-butyl ether.
It was originally introduced in the late s as an octane enhancer to replace Tetra Ethyl Lead for catalytic converter-equipped vehicles. It is also used as an oxygenate. MBTE has little or no affect the operation of the oxygen sensor introduced in the s. This has affected the life of some newer oxygen sensors.
Alcohol in the form of Methanol and Ethanol are oxygenates that are added to gasoline. E85 will burn cleaner and produce less degradation of the oxygen sensor. But, it is a compromise in fuel economy, because there is less energy in a gallon of E85 than a gallon of gasoline.
Methanol is a fuel associated with racing. It is a hazardous material and poisonous which limits its use as a commercial fuel. Advertisement Motor oil contains phosphorous which can also cause the degradation of the sensor when excessive oil vapor is introduced through crankcase ventilation. So one of the components that should be recommended after a oxygen sensor replacement is the PCV valve.
What can cause an oxygen sensor to fail? The most vulnerable part is the wiring and connector. Next is the heater. Its function is to bring the sensor to operating temperature during cold starts and engine warm up. It can be damaged by thermal shock. Excessive heat is usually the cause for damage to the wiring. If the connector and wiring is not properly routed and secured, there is good possibility that either or both can be damaged.
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