January 12, 2025
If someone asked you what gas made up the largest portion of the atmosphere, what would you guess? Well, it's not oxygen; it only makes up 20.9 percent. But since we're talking about oxygen, you should know that your vehicle uses oxygen sensors to make sure your engine is running the way it should.
The oxygen sensors measure how much oxygen is in your exhaust. If there's too much, it means there's a problem with the mixture of fuel and air. The sensor sends signals to computers in your engine and adjusts the mixture so it maximizes performance and efficiency. It does this constantly.
Many vehicles have multiple oxygen sensors. Some have one close to the engine, another close to the muffler. Two measurements are better than one since they allow readings to be more accurate. You may have a vehicle with a dual exhaust, so you'd have twice as many oxygen sensors.
Your oxygen sensors can fail. One thing that can damage them is contamination from bad fuel. The sensors can simply wear out, though they usually last a long time. It's not unusual for an oxygen sensor to last 100,000 miles/160,000 km. One more thing that can cause an oxygen sensor to fail is residue from an engine that's burning oil. Plus contaminants from the road like salt can also cause problems.
Here are some signs that your oxygen sensors might be failing.
Head to your service facility and tell your advisor what symptoms your vehicle is experiencing. They have the equipment and training to track down the issue. Note that simply replacing the oxygen sensor is often not enough since it doesn't get to the root of the problem; other repairs may be needed.
So make sure your oxygen sensors are working the way they should be. Oh, and back to the question of what gas makes up most of the Earth's air? It's nitrogen, which comprises 78 percent of the air we—and our engines—breathe.
Tuffy Fort Wayne - Coldwater
4501 Coldwater Rd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825
260.483.2236
April 27, 2025
For drivers, S stands for safety. And there are three other words that start with S that are all equally important: starting, stopping and steering. For your vehicle to be at its safest, all three functions must be in top shape. Steering is one of those things we take for granted. After all, y... More
April 20, 2025
While many components of your vehicle are complex and composed of lots of mechanical and electrical parts, there's one that isn't complicated but still important. It's your engine air filter. (And, we should point out, the engine air filter isn't to be confused with the cabin air filter. The ca... More
April 13, 2025
You may have had a friend whose vehicle was the victim of hungry rodents. After all, mice, rats and squirrelseven rabbitshave been known to gnaw on wires in engine compartments, causing vehicle electrical systems to go haywire. They can disable a vehicle completely and be very expensive to fix.... More