What does replacing the oxygen sensor do?
Those symptoms could also be indications of other problems, but the EPA says that replacing a bad oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, so clearly that is one place to look if your vehicle develops a greater thirst for gas.
How often should an oxygen sensor be replaced?
60,000 to 90,000 miles
Newer oxygen sensors are supposed to work efficiently for 60,000 to 90,000 miles, depending on the model of your car. If your mechanic determines that your car’s problem is due to a bad or failing oxygen sensor, the replacement shouldn’t take long and you’ll be ready to tackle many more miles on the road.
How long can you drive with bad O2 sensor?
Can You Drive With A Bad Oxygen Sensor? Yes, you can drive with a bad oxygen sensor if you can still start your engine and feel little difficulty driving. But don’t leave it alone for over a couple of days, as it might cause safety problems and lead to the malfunction of other parts of your vehicle.
How many years do O2 sensors last?
And lastly, how long do oxygen sensors typically last? Older vehicles have O2 sensors that will typically last 30,000 to 50,000 miles, or 3 to 5 years. Newer vehicles employ sensors with an additional heated element and these new sensors are more likely to last to 100,000 or 7-10 years.
When to replace the oxygen sensor in your car?
Those symptoms could also be indications of other problems, but the EPA says that replacing a bad oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by as much as 40 percent, so clearly that is one place to look if your vehicle develops a greater thirst for gas. If your vehicle fails an emissions test, a faulty O2 sensor may be to blame for this as well.
How does the O2 sensor in a car work?
The O2 sensor in your vehicle monitors the exhaust gases coming out of the engine. It determines the amount of oxygen in the gases, which indicates how well the fuel is being burned. The O2 sensor then sends information to the electronic control unit, or ECU, the vehicle’s computer.
When to reset the ECU after changing an O2 sensor?
Sometimes an O2 sensor fails, and you need to replace it. Once you’ve replaced your vehicle’s O2 sensor, you’ll need to reset the ECU so it can properly gather information from the new O2 sensor.
Can a bad oxygen sensor cause engine damage?
If the reverse happens, the phenomenon is known as a lean mixture. Both can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s performance and gas mileage. Even worse, the wrong fuel mixture can result in serious engine damage. Car manufacturers place oxygen sensors in specific areas to ensure the fuel mixture is neither rich nor lean.