Saturday, October 19, 2013
What Causes a Bank 1 O2 Oxygen Sensor to Fail
The oxygen sensors in your car perform several duties. Their primary function is to monitor and adjust your vehicles fuel mixture so that it gets the best possible fuel mileage while emitting the least amount of toxic emissions. Most vehicles have several oxygen sensors installed throughout the fuel system and engine, so the term "bank one" or "bank two" is used to identify the location of the sensor.
Age
No car part is built to last forever, and that is true for oxygen sensors as well. Over time, normal wear and tear can cause your oxygen sensor to fail. Common causes include the gases from engine emissions and buildup of naturally occurring engine deposits.
Chemicals
Oxygen sensors can be damaged by bad gas, leaded gas, internal coolant leaks, burnt oil and even products that have been applied to other parts of the engine to fix problems, such as gasket sealers. Oxygen sensors are really only meant to be exposed to good quality fuel, so other additives or chemicals can cause them to stop functioning properly.
Heating Circuit
Most modern O2 sensors have an electrical heating circuit built into the sensor. If the electrical heating circuit malfunctions or fails, it is not uncommon for the entire oxygen sensor to fail.
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