staff@slashgear.com (Danny Bojic)
2024-04-06 15:45:23
www.slashgear.com
Oxygen sensors will eventually go bad and need replacing, but they can last anywhere between 30,000 to 100,000 miles, according to Firestone. Thankfully, there are a few signs to tell when your oxygen sensors have gone bad.
Similar to when most things go wrong in your car, the check engine light will turn on when your oxygen sensors fail. It’s actually one of the most common reasons behind that signal. However, don’t immediately go and replace them yourself. If the light appears, you can use a code reader to diagnose your car. Like many cases, owning this car diagnostics tool could save you a lot of money. But if you don’t have the tool on hand, take your vehicle to the shop and have the experts do it, as sometimes other issues can lead to an air-fuel imbalance.
You can also look out for bad smells and black smoke coming out of your tailpipe. When your oxygen sensors go bad, your car can sometimes overcompensate and throw more fuel into the engine. While this can cause a noticeable change in your gas mileage, it can also be what’s causing the bad smells or black smoke pumping out of your exhaust. On top of that, bad oxygen sensors can cause your engine to perform poorly, including slow acceleration, misfires, and stalling. If you notice any of these signs, save yourself the headache and have your car inspected as soon as possible.