| One of the things that make owning a Toyota | | | | is responsible for providing data to the |
| so great is that it has an engine that | | | | engine management computer about the amount |
| produces a lot of horsepower and torque. But | | | | of oxygen in the exhaust. Usually located |
| that very same engine can also produce a lot | | | | near the combustion system, the oxygen sensor |
| of harmful gas and other toxic pollutants. | | | | detects the amount of oxygen in the exhaust |
| Inside the internal combustion engine of your | | | | gases just after it leaves the combustion |
| car, fuel and air is mixed and ignited by the | | | | system and after the fuel burn. By |
| spark plug. And when this mixture is ignited, | | | | calculating the exhaust hundreds of times per |
| it releases gaseous byproducts of tremendous | | | | minute, the computer on board your car's |
| heat and pressure. Some of those gas | | | | engine is able to make adjustments in order |
| byproducts include carbon monoxide, nitrogen | | | | to maintain optimum engine performance and |
| oxide, and other carbon-based gases that can | | | | lower smoke emissions. The quality of the |
| pollute the environment and cause health | | | | burn often shows that there may be a slight |
| risks such as respiratory problems. And in | | | | imbalance in the air-to-fuel ratio. The |
| order to counter this problem, your Toyota | | | | engine of your car depends on the Toyota |
| comes with a catalytic converter installed | | | | Oxygen Sensor as the quantity of oxygen it |
| within its exhaust system. | | | | can process is decided by various factors |
| | | | like altitude, engine temperature, air |
| The catalytic converter is an essential | | | | temperature, engine load, and barometric |
| component in the exhaust system because it | | | | pressure among others. The level of oxygen in |
| reduces the toxicity of the exhaust gases | | | | the exhaust also serves as the basis as to |
| created by the engine during the process of | | | | the quality of the burn itself. This is quite |
| internal combustion. The catalytic converter | | | | critical as a poor burn will not only waste |
| does this by using a catalyst, usually | | | | the potential power in the fuel, but it may |
| composed of a precious metal such as | | | | also signal a slight imbalance in the |
| platinum, which breaks down the carbon | | | | air-to-fuel ratio. And when this occurs, your |
| monoxide and other toxic gases in the exhaust | | | | car will experience poor performance and ends |
| gas into simpler, safer compounds such as | | | | up wasting more fuel. And to ensure your |
| oxygen. But in order to do this, the | | | | Toyota Oxygen Sensor will last you for a long |
| catalytic converter must have an adequate | | | | time, you should give more attention to the |
| amount of oxygen in order for the catalyst to | | | | following factors: good electrical |
| work. The car usually remedies this by adding | | | | connections, outside air supply, proper |
| more air in the air and fuel mix in the | | | | operating temperature and the use of unleaded |
| combustion chamber inside the engine, and in | | | | gasoline. This is important because a |
| order to know whether there is enough oxygen | | | | malfunctioning car oxygen sensor can result |
| in the exhaust gas, your Toyota employs a | | | | to the engine computer not reading the |
| tiny device called the Toyota Oxygen Sensor. | | | | correct air/fuel ratio, thus resulting to a |
| | | | less than optimal engine performance and fuel |
| Toyota Oxygen Sensors are a crucial part of | | | | efficiency. |
| your Toyota's emissions control system as it | | | | |