Oxygen Sensor and the Right Air-Fuel Ratio

Anthony Fontanelle
January 15, 2008

Automobiles generate a considerable amount of harmful gases that pollute the earth’s atmosphere. An inefficient engine and exhaust system are probable causes why vehicles give off that excessive exhaust emission. Eventually, the atmosphere and people’s lungs are not the only ones that suffer but also the engine. To reduce the production of these noxious gases and to help the engine perform better, vehicles can be equipped with the special auto part called oxygen sensor.

Introduced more than two decades ago, this auto part is already a staple in the exhaust system of many vehicles differing in sizes and makes. Strategically installed along the exhaust pipe, the oxygen sensor detects the engine’s air and fuel ratio through the exhaust fumes. With the fumes, this minute auto part is able to recognize if there is a proper mixture, which is needed for an efficient combustion inside the vehicle’s power plant. The reading that the sensor acquires is then passed on to the engine management computer. This computer is responsible for adjusting the air and fuel portions that goes into the engine. Once this is done, the engine adjusts in order to attain a better mixture that generates the needed horsepower and facilitates an improved fuel economy.

Aside from allowing a better mixture, which is neither to lean nor too rich, the oxygen sensor also promotes better emission. The right air and fuel proportion leads to a cleaner exhaust emission. When an engine has more air inside it, there is a possibility that more noxious gases such as Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide will be produced. The presence of these gases does not only pose a threat to the atmosphere but also hinders the engine from performing well. These gases may even lead to the premature wearing out of the engine.

The uses of the oxygen sensor only show how important this auto part is for any vehicle. A vehicle that is equipped with this component does not only keep the atmosphere intact but also allows the engine to have a longer life span.

Source:  Amazines.com