Are you want to buy Oxygen Sensors for Automobiles? Wait, before buying Oxygen Sensors for your automobiles you need to know some basic information, right. This article will take only 5 minutes but for sure you definitely will know all solutions to your queries.
We live in an IoT world, the world that gives us a new generation of technology and inspiration to develop different smart applications. Where automobiles are the ones that use IoT technology massively. These days Vehicles are integrated with various sensors and actuators such as speech recognization, location tracking, oxygen sensor, wheel speed sensor, etc. These sensors help to check the performance of the vehicles. One of the important sensors used in vehicles is the oxygen sensor.
What Are Oxygen Sensors And Their Working Principle?
The oxygen sensor is also named “O2 sensor”, as O2 is the chemical formula of oxygen. It monitors how much oxygen is in the exhaust and also helps in the supply of fuel to the engine. The oxygen density sensor after monitoring, the input values sends in the form of the electric signal to the engine control unit. Then, This electric energy is computerized by the system to detect whether the mixture is rich or not. In case, the mixture is too rich, then the control system decreases the quantity of fuel and increases when the mixture is found too lean.
That is why it helps in good ignition, improves the exhaustion process, and fuels transportation.
It is set in that way, by which they can communicate with the engine to sense the input energy. Now let see, what different types of O2 sensors are there in a vehicle.
Types of Oxygen Sensors
Direct-Fit Oxygen Sensor
The Direct Fit Sensors are meant to be for some specific vehicles. It works as a connector that fits directly into its location in your vehicle. Apart from this, there is no need for any other kind of modification to install it. This type of oxygen sensor is the demanded sensor in the USA.
Universal-Fit Oxygen Sensor
Universal sensors are meant to be fit for diesel and gas engines. This can be ideal for your vehicle but still, you need to confirm it before buying. Though it is only recommended to you when your vehicle has a universal-fit oxygen sensor or not. Also, in order to install it, you need more modifications than a direct-fit oxygen sensor. But they have rarely used sensors because they functioned and for their fit style.
The Upstream Oxygen Sensor
Upstream oxygen sensor or “Oxygen sensor 1” monitors the air-fuel ratio and sends the input energy to the system controller. When the system controller module reads the signal, it optimizes the fuel mixture by increasing or decreasing the quantity of fuel.
The operation by which the car computer uses the information from the sensor to monitor the air-fuel mixture is generally known as a closed feedback control loop operation. This is the only operation by which the system manages the fuel mixture in proper balance.
Also, note some important things. If an oxygen sensor fails to transmit the information, then the cold engine is started and the system starts open-loop operation. In this operation, the system of a vehicle does not receive any signal from the sensor and fails to fix the rich fuel mixture. This, resulting in increased unburn oxygen, fuel consumption, and emissions.
To rid of it, many latest oxygen sensors come in, which contain heating elements that help regulate the temperature. As they decrease the amount of time wasted in open-loop operation.
Location:
The locations of the oxygen sensors are decided by the vehicle’s making year, company, and model. So, they are subject to change.
Cylinder banks (bank 1 & bank 2) are the location of the sensors. Where Cylinder bank 1 is located near the engine’s cylinder 1 and bank 2 is based just opposite bank 1.
So, the O2 sensor 1 is based inside the sensor bank1 which is based upstream from the exhaust emission control device.
The Downstream Oxygen Sensor
The downstream oxygen sensor or “Oxygen sensor 2” monitoring the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio just like O2 sensor 1. The sensor produces electric energy that changes according to the number of unburned oxygen changes in the exhaust. While the system controller constantly increases or decreases the air-fuel mixtures due to the input from the O2 sensor 1.
Location
The O2 Sensor 2 is based inside the sensor bank2 which is just after the exhaust emission control device.
Planar
The planar oxygen sensor using a thick film of zirconia and alumina. Cause they both are measuring cells and the heating element that are embedded into a plate. So they offering the sensor to achieve its operations more instantly. They are highly fitted protection tubes that are used to protect the sensor from combustion residues in the exhaust. Planar O2 sensor is known for its best connection and communications.
Time To Replace Your Oxygen Sensors
Devices are meant to fail one day and should be replaced with new ones, so with the oxygen sensor. There are so many reasons for failure, one of the biggest reasons is installing the wrong oxygen sensor at the wrong place. In a vehicle, there are a variety of sensors that make you a little bit confused unless you are familiar with the positions. Though, always set the sensor at its place only. The sensor can also fail because of external factors such as water, road salt, oil, carbon, and dirt.
When your sensor is near the end of its lifespan, you will maybe start noticing some signs that it might be going to breaking down. You can identify when it’s time to replace your sensors with a new one before any problem arises.
The following signs help you when to replace the oxygen sensor from your automobile.
- Breakdown in the ignition.
- increase in fuel usage
- The vehicle will run roughly
- The light of the engine starts blinking or gets off
- Low performance.
- System recognizing the error in the sensor
- Disconnection between sensor and computer.
- Decreasing fuel mileage.
- Error in codes
Recommendation
Giving proper maintenance to the components of the vehicle is the only recommendation. You can maintain sensors by checking these little things.
- Check the engine light is on or not, do not run the car without getting it examined.
- If the engine light is blinking, then stop forcing the vehicle to run.
- Get the car to the mechanic to examine it when your car shows any sign of oxygen sensor failure.
- If the exhaust system is leaking, then it is time to replace your oxygen sensor with the new one because it can not be fixed.
- Test the code of the sensor timely.
For example Code P0130 (means sensor is not working properly or there is an error)
- Whenever you spotted the above faulty signs, then do not spend your money on repairing or maintenance. Cause it is not worth it at all to spend your money on lots of repairs or maintenance.
What brands of oxygen sensors are best?
You can buy your ideal oxygen sensor from the best global manufacturer of Oxygen sensors. Bosh, ACDelco, Denso, Hyundai, and Kia are the best and famous global brands. They provide you good sensors at the very best price. Their oxygen sensors come with accuracy, warranty, high speed, great communication, and connection, boost the efficiency of the engine and help to improve your vehicle performance. You can buy them online shopping sites such as Amazon and also purchase from your nearest car maintenance shop.
Take A Quick Look
Our Automobiles are embedded with various types of sensors such as torque sensor, oil level sensor, fuel level sensor, turbine speed sensor, light sensor, etc. But from various sensors, Oxygen Sensor is the most important sensor which monitors the unburnt oxygen, air-fuel ratio. These important factors help the vehicles in running smoothly.
Oxygen Sensors for Automobiles come in different types with different features, looks, and works. Types of O2 sensors are downstream O2 sensor, planar, Upstream O2 sensor, Direct Fit Sensors, and universal fit sensor. You can choose one of them according to your vehicle.
Here, you will find what are the faults or failure signs and reasons with recommendations. And also, you will get to know what are the best brands that produce oxygen sensors and from where you can buy them.
