Santa Fe BMW can help you identify what the indicators of a bad oxygen sensor are.
There are many unique sensors your vehicle utilizes daily, perhaps one of the most important sensors is the O2 sensor, which is required for a car to drive at its top-notch capability. With all of the exhaust fumes any vehicle creates, it’s important to have something that recognizes the O2 levels in the exhaust gasses. The O2 sensor has an important role in keeping track of a car’s O2 amount to ensure the engine is correctly burning its fuel. A well-working oxygen sensor will be an essential cog for a consistent running car. Still, a bad oxygen sensor will most likely cause bad fuel economy, bad smells from your vehicle, and a below-level running engine. Here we’ll go deeper into symptoms to look out for while using your vehicle that could be easy-to-see signs of a failed O2 sensor.
Whenever you’re ever driving on the highway and smell something harsh from your car, that could be a quick sign that your O2 sensor is failing. If you start to keep track of any changes like poor powertrain performance, loud noises, or engine misfires, that can be a symptom of the O2 sensor potentially having problems. One of the most devastating things that may be a result of a bad oxygen sensor is a catalytic converter failing without warning, which may place a big hole in your wallet.
Similar to many other components of a vehicle, O2 sensors can wear down after lots of usage and begin to fail. But if you don’t pay attention, a bad O2 sensor can lead to huge issues all over your vehicle. A build-up of contaminated oil ash or coolant can lead to an oxygen sensor failing, so a selection of oil or gasoline is incredibly important. Because of its placement in a car, it’s important that you visit our trained mechanics to have it looked at or get an OEM oxygen sensor replacement.
It’s best that you don’t drive with a bad oxygen sensor as the engine is not running on the right fuel mixture. Though it might seem okay in the beginning, if your powertrain is over-using its fuel it might begin to clog the catalytic converter. Considering the cost to get new oxygen sensors is much less than purchasing a new catalytic converter, it’s worth making this decision earlier. Additionally, if your car has more than 60,000 miles on the road or is over 15 years old you should think about getting new O2 sensors for optimal performance and lower pollution.
Santa Fe BMW is a great place to get vehicle repair in the Santa Fe area. We gladly service all makes and models of vehicles. Visit our dealership online or in person to schedule service and repair for your luxury car or SUV. Our knowledgeable technicians are ready to serve you.
