What are the symptoms of a faulty front oxygen sensor?
2 Answers
The symptoms of a faulty front oxygen sensor are: The ECU cannot obtain specific information about the oxygen concentration in the exhaust pipe and cannot perform feedback control on the mixture concentration, leading to increased engine fuel consumption and exhaust pollution. Symptoms may include unstable idling, misfires, and surging. The front oxygen sensor is a critical feedback sensor in the fuel injection engine control system, playing a key role in controlling vehicle exhaust emissions, reducing environmental pollution, and improving the combustion quality of the engine. Front oxygen sensors are installed on the engine exhaust pipe and come in two types: zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide. The front oxygen sensor uses a ceramic sensitive element to measure the oxygen potential in various heating furnaces or exhaust pipes and calculates the corresponding oxygen concentration based on chemical equilibrium principles. It serves as a measuring component to monitor and control the air-fuel ratio during combustion, ensuring product quality and compliance with exhaust emission standards. It is widely used in the atmosphere control of various coal, oil, and gas combustion furnaces.
Having driven for over a decade, the most obvious symptom of a failed front oxygen sensor is a sudden surge in fuel consumption. My car used to run over 500 kilometers on a full tank, but now the warning light comes on before even reaching 400. While driving, the engine malfunction indicator suddenly lit up yellow, and the car felt particularly sluggish during acceleration—no matter how hard I pressed the gas pedal, it just wouldn't pick up speed. Once during a cold start, black smoke came out of the exhaust pipe, and the smell of gasoline was very strong. A check at the repair shop confirmed that the front oxygen sensor was indeed dead. The mechanic said this part controls the fuel injection; when it fails, the engine sprays fuel haphazardly, wasting gas and damaging the catalytic converter. My advice: don't ignore the warning light—getting it checked promptly can save you a lot on fuel costs.
