Why do taxis remove the oxygen sensor?
2 Answers
The reason taxis remove the oxygen sensor: If an electronically controlled fuel injection engine equipped with an oxygen sensor experiences issues such as unstable idle, poor acceleration, increased fuel consumption, or excessive exhaust emissions during operation, and there are no other faults in the fuel supply or ignition system, it is highly likely that the oxygen sensor or related wiring is the problem. Most engine electronic control systems have a self-diagnostic function. When a fault occurs in the oxygen sensor or related components, the computer automatically records the fault details. A specialized decoder can be used to read the fault code and identify the issue. If you suspect that problems like unstable idle or poor acceleration are caused by the oxygen sensor, during maintenance, simply disconnect the oxygen sensor connector. If the engine's fault disappears, it indicates that the oxygen sensor is damaged. If the engine fault persists, further investigation is needed to identify the cause elsewhere.
I've been driving a taxi for over ten years and often hear that fellow drivers unplug the oxygen sensor to save fuel and money. The sensor monitors exhaust emissions, but if it's damaged, replacing a new one can be costly. After unplugging, the engine defaults to running in a rich mixture state, which might save a bit on fuel costs in the short term. After all, we drive long distances every day, and fuel expenses are a major cost. Reducing the frequency of the check engine light also avoids fines. However, I must remind you that this habit increases pollution in the long run and may damage the engine, which is detrimental to the vehicle's lifespan. I've seen many old cars requiring more repairs because of this, ultimately wasting money. Nowadays, we encourage everyone to perform regular maintenance to maintain cost-effectiveness.
