Oxygen Sensor, How Do They Work!

What is an Oxygen Sensor and how does it work?

Every new car, and most cars produced after 1980, have an oxygen sensor. The sensor is part of the emissions control system and feeds data to the­ engine management computer/

 The goal of the sensor is to help the engine run as efficiently as possible and also to produce as few emissions as possible.

A gasoline engine uses oxygen to burn gasoline. There is a particular ratio of air and gasoline that is "perfect," and the most common ratio is 14.7:1 (different fuels have different perfect ratios ) If there is less air than this perfect ratio, then there will be fuel left over after combustion. This left over fuel creates pollution.

 If there is more air than this perfect ratio, then there is excess oxygen. More nitrogen-oxide pollutants are created in this situation and can cause poor performance and even engine damage.

Th­e oxygen sensor is positioned in the exhaust pipe and can detect the mixtures. The reason why the engine needs the oxygen sensor is because the amount of oxygen that the engine can pull in depends on all sorts of things, such as the altitude, the temperature of the air, the temperature of the engine, the barometric pressure, the load on the engine, etc.

When the oxygen sensor fails, the computer can no longer sense the air/fuel ratio, so it ends up guessing. Your car performs poorly and uses more fuel than it needs to.

Want an expert to help make sure this device works? Click HERE for Autoadvantage.com.

How Often Should I Change My Spark Plugs?

There is no single correct answer to this question. As spark plugs age, they lose their sharp edges as material from the center and ground electrodes is slowly eroded away.

 As the gap between these two points grows, the voltage required to bridge the gap increases. Even the best ignition systems will be stressed to supply enough voltage to completely burn the fuel.

Replacing worn out spark plugs with new ones effectively restores the ignition system's efficiency. Misfires are reduced, power is restored, economy of operation is enhanced and emissions are reduced.

The best guide is the manufacturer's recommendation for your vehicle, as this particular service varies from brand to brand and model to model.

In the absence of this information or in conjunction with it, you can rely on the advice of a mechanic who is familiar with your type of vehicle.

Click HERE to call the technicians at Autovantage Service Center for expert advice to keep your vehicle running at its best.

Car Won't Start? What do you Look For?

Your Car won’t start – what do you look for?

There is nothing more frustrating than a car that won't start. There are many possible causes to a no-start problem, but if you take some time to do some troubleshooting, you will feel a bit more in control of the problem and able to explain the issue to your automotive technician.

Turn the key, if there is no sound and no lights, you may need a new battery or a jump start. If you don't have a dead battery, it might be the starter. Wiring or blown fuse can also cause a starting issue. Your fuel injection can be an issue if the problem occurs when trying to start a "cold" vehicle. If it is a "hot" start, the distributor or fuel pump could be the problem.... could be a lot of things, but let us help you sort out your car won't start problem.

Your vehicle is a complex machine but narrowing down the problem can help same time and money. For more information, Call your experts at Autovantage Service Centers.

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