If your engine has been surging or bucking lately, it’s possible that your oxygen (O2) sensor is going bad. This sensor is located in your tailpipe, at the front of it to be exact, and it is crucial in measuring your vehicle’s emissions. Part of your vehicle’s emissions is oxygen, and the oxygen sensor reports how much oxygen is released in the exhaust so your engine control module knows whether it needs to add more air in the combustion chamber. Aside from surging, Cergizan’s Auto & Truck Repair lists the other signs of a faulty O2 sensor below.
Abnormally High Emissions Levels
If the oxygen sensor is malfunctioning and sending incorrect data, the engine control module may put excess fuel in the combustion chamber. When this happens, your vehicle releases more hydrocarbons in its exhaust. Depending on where you live in Indiana, you may need to pass an emissions test in order to register your vehicle. These excess hydrocarbons will make you fail the test.
Black Exhaust Coming From the Tailpipe
If you see black exhaust flowing out of your tailpipe, it’s possible that the engine is burning too much fuel due, again, to a malfunctioning oxygen sensor. Generally, you shouldn’t see any exhaust coming out of your tailpipe. Excess black exhaust indicates a fuel burn.
Check Engine Light Warning
A malfunctioning O2 sensor will also turn on your vehicle’s check engine light. Unfortunately, your vehicle will also not pass an emissions test if the check engine light is on. Even worse, the check engine light will not turn off until such time as you replace the faulty oxygen sensor.
Noticeably Poor Fuel Economy
Another thing you will notice if your oxygen sensor is going bad is a noticeable difference in your vehicle’s fuel economy. Unfortunately, this difference is in a good thing. Rather, your vehicle will get poor gas mileage until you replace the oxygen sensor. This is because the engine is not running efficiently due to the imbalance of the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
Rotten Egg Odors in the Exhaust
Finally, excess hydrocarbons can clog the catalytic converter and cause it to fail. Your vehicle will not pass an emissions test with the failing catalytic converter. One sign that your catalytic converter is having problems is an odor of rotten eggs in your vehicle’s exhaust. You may also smell the rotten eggs coming from the engine.
Cergizan’s Auto & Truck Repair in Chesterton, IN, would be happy to test your oxygen sensor to see if it is causing your engine to surge. Call us today to schedule an appointment.