Your car’s engine could be picking up speed unexpectedly because you have a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor. Hightech Automotive explains that the O2 sensor keeps track of the oxygen found in the exhaust. This data is reported to the engine control module. If necessary, the module will adjust the air or fuel in the combustion chamber if there is too little or too much oxygen in the exhaust. This can cause engine performance issues including surging and sputtering. It can also cause the following.
Black Exhaust Smoke
If you are driving with a rich fuel mixture, your vehicle may release black exhaust out of the tailpipe. The black exhaust is a byproduct of an excess fuel burn in the engine. A malfunctioning O2 sensor can indirectly cause the rich fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. You will continue to see black exhaust until the O2 sensor is replaced and the fuel mixture is back to normal.
High Emission Levels
Black exhaust smoke isn’t the only problem caused by a rich fuel mixture. The more fuel your vehicle burns the more hydrocarbons are released in your exhaust. This increases your vehicle’s emissions levels should beyond what is acceptable. Consequently, your vehicle will not pass an emissions test when there is a rich fuel mixture in the combustion chamber caused by a faulty O2 sensor.
Poor Fuel Efficiency
You will also notice a significant reduction in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency when the O2 sensor is going bad. This is because of the incorrect air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. A skewed mixture will cause your engine to run inefficiently, and, consequently, you will notice that your vehicle is not getting the gas mileage it normally gets. This leaves you filling the tank more often.
Rotten Egg Smells
Excess hydrocarbons can also cause a problem with your vehicle’s catalytic converter. Specifically, they can clog it. When this happens, you may detect a rotten egg odor coming from your automobile. Specifically, this odor can be found in the exhaust and engine bay. It will also emit from underneath your vehicle because this is where the catalytic converter is located.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, a malfunctioning O2 sensor will turn on the check engine light. As it goes bad, it sends codes to the engine control module to let it know it’s in trouble. Because the oxygen sensor does not have a light of its own, the module turns on the check engine light to warn you of trouble.
Hightech Automotive in Forest City, NC, would be happy to help, so give us a call today.