The O2 sensor and you: Why you need it

Modern vehicles are much more complex than their predecessors. Numerous additions have been made to increase the fuel consumption, as well as to reduce the emissions. One of these things is the O2 sensor. All modern cars have at least one sensor, although most have two, and several have four sensors. These sensors are located at various points in the exhaust system and play an important role in both the consumption and emissions regulation.

For the tuner to O2 sensors to be in great pain in the butt. Individual pipes are a great way to power and performance to add your vehicle. Unfortunately, it is also not a place for your O2 sensors to see if you can not buy the right kind of tubes and headers. Typically, a sensor can be mounted on the exhaust manifold gasket (which by the header version) will be arranged at half the height of the exhaust pipe, usually just before the catalyst and the other.

Working together, the two sensor your fuel / air mixture, and EGR valve control. Without these sensors, your check engine light is lit, your car is running rough and reduce your fuel consumption clearly. In addition, it is (read impossible) pretty hard to pass an emissions test without installing O2 sensors. The pesky check engine light will usually give you away.

What to do O2 sensors? They tell your car's computer, the volume of unspent gases in your exhaust. According to this reading, your EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve to open or close, so that these vapors to feed your engine and increasing fuel consumption. While tuners are not necessarily interested in the best gas mileage or reduce emissions, you still have these babies installed in order to pass your emissions test. Emission testing has been mandatory in most urban areas and even in many suburbs and rural areas.

In addition to the makes it impossible to pass the emissions test, the fact remains that the check engine light it difficult to know if another problem occurred. The check engine light is designed to illuminate under a variety of different conditions, from the sensor malfunction of the transmission problems and even loose gas cap (fuel leak sensor). The light can not turn off until you have installed the new O2 sensors. So, what do you do?

The best way to get around this problem, the headers and custom exhaust pipes with O2 sensor bungs already in place to buy. In this way, all you need to do is screw the sensors of the original pipes and install it in the new. The check engine light stays off and stay legally for testing purposes. O2 sensor removal requires a special socket, adapted to the diameter of the mother made in the sensor and slopes of the wiring harness in the leading vehicle. The dishes are usually found a short distance from the sensor, just follow the wire, and you will find it. In some vehicles, the wire ends are below the seats in cars, so be prepared.