WHAT IS AN OXYGEN SENSOR?
Many people are mystified about the workings of that device in the exhaust system called the oxygen sensor (02S). How does something in the exhaust stream generate voltage and help the engine control module (ECM) to adjust the air/fuel mixture? What makes an 02S go bad?
The heart of a typical 02S is a thimble-shaped element made of a special material called zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). The inner and outer surfaces of this element each have an electrode made of a layer of thin porous platinum. The 02S is designed so that the inner surface of this element is exposed to ambient air (the atmosphere), while the outer surface, which also has a porous ceramic coating, is exposed to the exhaust gases.
While some oxygen is still present in burned exhaust gases, there’s obviously more oxygen present in the atmosphere. Because the oxygen proportions differ between the inner and outer surfaces of the element, and thanks to the special properties of the ZrO2, a voltage is generated between the two electrodes.
Keeping in mind that the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere is relatively constant, the voltage output will vary as the amount of oxygen in the exhaust gases varies. Less voltage is generated when the air/fuel mixture is lean because of the higher oxygen content in the exhaust. More voltage is generated when the air/fuel mixture is rich because of the lower oxygen content in the exhaust. By monitoring this voltage, the ECM knows how rich or lean the air/fuel mixture is, and it adjusts the mixture accordingly.
WHY DO OXYGEN SENSORS FAIL?
So what makes an 02S stop working properly? Carbon from exhaust? Sounds logical, but no, the number one enemy of an 02S is silicone. When the exhaust side of the element is exposed to silicone, the pores of the protective ceramic coating
become clogged. Once this occurs, the exhaust side receives less oxygen. As a result, the 02S generates more voltage than it normally would for a given air/fuel mixture. his may cause the ECM to lean the mixture enough to cause driveability problems or trigger the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL).
If the ambient air side of the element is contaminated with silicone, the porous electrode becomes clogged, reducing the oxygen on that side. Then the 02S will generate less voltage, so the ECM tries to compensate by richening the mixture. This too may deteriorate driveability or trigger the MIL.
Sometimes the source of the silicone may be the fuel, but the more likely sources are silicone sprays, greases, and adhesives. When you use these products, don’t let them get into the engine’s air intake tract, the exhaust system (upstream of the 02S), or the vents on the 02S.
Courtesy of hollenshades
