Can You Drive with a Faulty Oxygen Sensor?
2 Answers
It is not advisable to drive with a faulty car oxygen sensor. Below is an introduction to the automotive oxygen sensor: 1. Sensor: It is a critical sensing component in the electronic fuel injection engine control system, playing a key role in controlling vehicle exhaust emissions, reducing environmental pollution, and improving fuel combustion quality in the engine. Oxygen sensors are typically installed on the engine's exhaust pipe. 2. Impact: As an essential part of the electronic fuel injection system, the oxygen sensor is crucial for the normal operation of the engine and effective control of exhaust emissions. A faulty sensor can lead to excessive emissions, deterioration of engine conditions, resulting in symptoms such as stalling at idle, inaccurate engine operation, and reduced power. 3. Symptoms: If the oxygen sensor fails, the engine performance may degrade, adjustments may become fixed, idle may become unstable, emission values may become abnormal, fuel consumption may increase, spark plugs may accumulate carbon deposits, leading to higher fuel consumption, decreased engine power, shaking, higher emissions, and in severe cases, engine knocking may occur.
Last time my oxygen sensor failed, the car could still run and start without issues. However, fuel consumption skyrocketed—previously, a full tank could easily cover 600 kilometers, but now it barely reaches 500 before needing a refill. The check engine light stayed on constantly, which was quite annoying. At first, I took the easy way out, thinking it didn’t affect driving. But after two weeks, the power noticeably dropped, and acceleration became sluggish. Later, I learned that ignoring it long-term could damage the catalytic converter, doubling repair costs. I quickly replaced the sensor, spending a few hundred bucks to fix it, and the car regained its vigor. My advice: don’t procrastinate like I did—address symptoms early for cost savings, and regularly maintain the exhaust system to prevent aging.
