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A vehicle’s exhaust system is important for many reasons. When a car’s being driven, it produces waste gases that need to be carried away from the engine. The exhaust system plays a key role in managing emissions and ensuring fumes are expelled properly.
Several parts make up this system, including the oxygen sensor, which is often called an O2 sensor. These components work together to communicate with the fuel injection system to help maintain the performance of the vehicle.
Keep reading to find out more about how the O2 sensor works within the exhaust system and why it’s so important.
The O2 sensor is responsible for measuring how much unburned oxygen is in the exhaust. It communicates with your vehicle’s electronic control unit (ECU) to help figure out what the right air-to-fuel ratio should be for the best engine performance.
Through monitoring these oxygen levels, the O2 sensor performs the important role of measuring this mixture so that the fuel injection system can adjust accordingly. O2 sensors can tell the ECU whether a fuel mixture is too lean (meaning there is too much oxygen) or too rich (not enough oxygen).
O2 sensors became mandatory on vehicles starting in 1981, and many vehicles made after 1996 were required to have multiple oxygen sensors. The additional O2 sensors are used to monitor how the catalytic converter is operating.
The O2 sensor can be found within the exhaust manifold, which is connected to the engine and helps collect emissions. The manifold receives the mixture of air and fuel from engine cylinders.
O2 sensors don’t require regular maintenance like air filters or oil filters, but over time they can start to wear out. A failing oxygen sensor could lead to the ECU being unable to regulate the proper air-to-fuel ratio, which can cause engine performance issues.
Here are some possible indicators of O2 sensor wear and tear:
If you notice these symptoms or that your check engine light has come on, it’s important to take your vehicle to get looked at by a trained technician, who can determine the source of the problem.
You can get hands-on training for the automotive industry when you enroll in UTI’s Automotive Technology program. Through our combination of interactive labs and lectures, you could learn the fundamentals to become an automotive technician.
Courses you take during the program can help teach you to repair and maintain a range of vehicle systems, including the exhaust system and the O2 sensor. These skills can help you when applying for entry-level jobs in the industry.1
Total auto technician employment is expected to be 743,800 by 2031.47 Take advantage of the opportunities and take the first step by requesting more information here.
Ball joints are an important part of a vehicle’s suspension system. Read more about how they work here!
Spark plugs are an important part of an internal combustion engine. Find out more about how they work here!
Turbochargers can improve the performance of a vehicle’s engine. Find out more about how they work here.
1) UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
2) For program outcome information and other disclosures, visit www.uti.edu/disclosures.
47) The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that total national employment for Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics will be 743,800 by 2031. See Table 1.2 Employment by detailed occupation, 2021 and projected 2031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, viewed October 13, 2022. UTI is an educational institution and cannot guarantee employment or salary.
Universal Technical Institute of Illinois, Inc. is approved by the Division of Private Business and Vocational Schools of the Illinois Board of Higher Education.
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