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Showing results for tags 'oxygen'.
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Just read interesting article about oxygen sensors. Did not know about rear access to ambient air, and need to keep the 'normal' gunk off the sensor. Automotive Trivia http://www.rockauto.com/Newsletter/images/triviaPlate2.jpg The core of a typical oxygen sensor is a zirconium dioxide (zirconia) ceramic. Oxygen ions flow freely through this ceramic after it is heated to 600 deg. F (316 C). What else is zirconium dioxide used for? A. imitation diamonds B. thermal barrier coatings for diesel engine parts C. foundation for dental crowns D. all of the above Answer below http://www.rockauto.com/Newsletter/images/bar.gif The Other End of the Oxygen Sensor http://www.rockauto.com/Newsletter/images/RAmech.gif Oxygen sensors thread into the exhaust system where they obviously face extreme heat and harsh exhaust gases. Oxygen sensors fail when the bulb inside the exhaust pipe is exposed to lead, silicone, antifreeze, engine oil and other contaminants. Many people are not aware of the role that the other end of the oxygen sensor plays. Surprisingly, the visible end of the sensor with the wire pigtail is just as important and sensitive to contamination as the end slugging it out in the exhaust pipe. Nearly all oxygen sensors are designed to measure the difference between the oxygen level in the exhaust with the oxygen level in the outside air. The sensor generates a voltage based on the difference in oxygen levels that the engine computer uses to continuously adjust the fuel mixture, etc. The outside air the oxygen sensor needs for its comparison enters the sensor at the end with the wire pigtail. Depending on the sensor design, the air might enter through a dedicated hole or through the wires. http://www.rockauto.com/Newsletter/images/2212TomStory.jpg The oxygen sensor ambient air inlet is likely to be protected by silicone boots, porous PTFE (Teflon) or some other means. A routine splash of water is not likely to hurt an oxygen sensor, but leaking chemicals (engine oil, power steering fluid, etc.) can clog or enter the oxygen sensor air inlet and damage the sensor. Efforts to “protect” oxygen sensors by spraying them with lubricant, covering them with insulation, etc. can backfire if the sensor’s air inlet is blocked or contaminated. Oxygen sensor installation instructions emphasize that the entire sensor, including the wiring harness, is part of an integrated system. Routing and connecting the wires is as important as carefully threading the sensor into the warm exhaust pipe. I just read installation instructions for a Bosch oxygen sensor that had just two steps covering removing the old sensor and screwing the new sensor into the exhaust port. The instructions had ten steps covering the connection and routing of the oxygen sensor’s four wires. The oxygen sensor bulb buried in the exhaust pipe is on its own, but you can maintain the other end by making sure the wiring harness is never torn, rerouted or covered with goop. Tom Taylor, RockAuto.com
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Anyone catch the EverGo Oxygen commercial? I could be mistaken but it looked like a midnight venture two up? Anyone here? I don't know about the oxygen part, but it did give me an idea about nitrous and those pesky 1st gens... right Yammer?
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This is completely unrelated to motorcycles but this family is so helpful to others I thought I'd give it a shot. I have a 2001 ford focus zx3 (2 door hatchback). Its been missing at idle to the point where it will quit running once in awhile. Changed plugs, nothing. Changed wires, nothing. Changed ignition coil, nothing. When you start it it runs fine but once it warms up it acts up. For instance I get in car for work and drive 5 minutes. Stop at office to get paperwork and back out to car. Jump in drive another min. and then it starts this problem. Or I can start car and let it idle for ten minutes and it starts doing this. I just unplugged the oxygen sensor on the exhaust manifold and it ran rough for another two min. and then idled fine ever since. It's been doing so for at least 15 minutes now. So question number one. Does the oxygen sensor only tell computer when something wrong? Number two. If unplugged doesn't computer really think somethings wrong and turn a check engine light on or something? Thanks in advance.
