The reason why a faulty oxygen (O2) sensor causes black exhaust smoke to flow out of your tailpipe is that it indirectly affects the balance of fuel and air in the combustion chamber. Depending on how the O2 sensor is malfunctioning, you may end up with excess fuel in the chamber. JTR Repair advises that when the engine burns away this fuel, it produces black exhaust. This is just one sign that your oxygen sensor is going bad. Here are the other signs of a faulty O2 sensor.
Performance Trouble
Excess fuel in the combustion chamber can cause your engine to surge and pick up speed. This speed increase is generally unexpected and goes in spurts. Another thing a malfunctioning O2 sensor can do is indirectly add more air into the combustion chamber. When this happens, your engine’s performance lags. This includes your vehicle’s acceleration.
Fuel Economy Loss
Anytime the engine is not running efficiently, you will go through a full tank of gasoline or diesel fuel more quickly. This is because an inefficient engine will burn through the fuel more quickly. Unfortunately, because the O2 sensor is malfunctioning, you will need to replace the sensor in order to restore your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Excess Vehicle Emissions
Another sign that your oxygen sensor is going bad is high emissions levels in your vehicle’s exhaust. When this happens, your vehicle will fail an emissions test if it must take one. Excess hydrocarbons in the exhaust can also have negative consequences on the environment. Again, you must replace the malfunctioning O2 sensor to restore normal emissions levels.
Smells of Burning Sulfur
Unfortunately, when the vehicle is releasing excess emissions, they can clog the catalytic converter and cause it to go bad. Generally, when the catalytic converter goes bad, you will have excess heat underneath your automobile and you may smell rotten eggs (burning sulfur) in the exhaust. In this case, you will need to replace both the oxygen sensor and the catalytic converter.
Dashboard Warning Light
Finally, because things are often the engine, the engine control module will turn on the check engine warning light if the oxygen sensor has gone bad. Normally, a malfunctioning O2 sensor will send an error code to the engine control module to alert it of trouble. This causes the module to turn on the check engine light.
JTR Repair is the best auto service shop in Crawfordsville, IN, so call us today to schedule a service appointment if you suspect your vehicle has a faulty O2 sensor.