This is Mark’s story about his recovery from a sudden life-threatening illness. Watch how Ben supported him after he suffered life-changing injuries as a result of this serious illness.
Autoelectro has issued a warning to garages on the likelihood of more alternators than usual failing due to the high temperatures being seen across the UK.
Legislating for the Installation EV charge-points on all new homes and other buildings is only half-a-step, EV battery warranty provider Altelium has warned, as drivers need to be taught how to charge them properly to avoid damaging the batteries too.
TAn oxygen sensor’s life expectancy can vary greatly depending on the condition of the vehicle and whether it is properly maintained. Generally, based on typical maintenance routines, an oxygen sensor’s effective life span is between 30,000 and 50,000 miles.
After that, performance begins to degrade, which will in turn affect the vehicle’s overall fuel economy and performance. That can arrive quickly in the eyes of today’s drivers, many of whom won’t have their vehicle paid off by the time it needs to be replaced. However, if the engine is properly maintained in all aspects, the oxygen sensors could last much longer, up to 100,000 miles in some cases. The truth is, many vehicles on the road today would not meet the maintenance requirements to achieve that level of sensor life.
It’s no surprise that oxygen sensors need to be checked regularly and replaced as needed. They per¬form under fierce conditions, battling harmful exhaust gases, extreme heat and high velocity particulates. And the harder someone drives his or her vehicle, the more punishment the sensors take.
The oxygen sensor’s impact It is a key component, as faulty oxygen sensors cause a very large amount of emission inspection failures. Why? Because not all oxygen sensors are created equal. The oxygen sensor reports to the engine management computer the air/fuel ratio in the exhaust system. While it no longer is a one-wire unheated sensor like it was in the 1970s, but rather a four-wire or five-wire air/fuel ratio sensor, that means it can report information more accurately, but can be damaged more easily. These sensors include heated, fast light off, ultra-fast light off, Titania, zirconia, thimble, planar and wideband sensors. Staying up-to-date with these technologies is critical in diagnosing the oxygen sensor and this technology will only continue to grow as emission controls become stricter every year.
Two scenarios What goes wrong? A few things, actually. There are two scenarios technicians need to look for when inspecting an oxygen sensor to determine the cause of failure, and thus find the root cause of the problem. First, it can happen instantaneously when a contaminant comes into contact with the oxygen sensor’s ceramic element. Technicians who suspect this type of failure should look for evidence of certain types of silicone compounds or of an engine that is burning oil. Small amounts of tetraethyl lead in gasoline as well as over-the-counter fuel additives that are not oxygen-sensor-safe can kill an oxygen sensor. The second scenario is the gradual deterioration, resulting in a slow sensor that reacts so slowly that it causes a catalytic converter to perform less efficiently. This can lead to premature failure of the catalytic converter.
In this case, technicians will hear complaints of decreased fuel economy, approximately 10%-15% in most cases, excessive exhaust emissions and overall poor drivability. Now, while a customer might notice they are covering fewer miles per fill-up, they might not be aware of other problems as they adjust to vehicle driving conditions and, in the case of emissions, simply cannot observe this. That’s where technicians who perform emissions tests can assist customers by detecting these issues. Technicians can be the hero of this story though, when using the proper equipment. Using a digital volt-ohmmeter (DVO), a technician can detect a dead oxygen sensor. Two other tools – a digital storage oscilloscope (DSO) or scope meter – will be able to diagnose a slow oxygen sensor.
Not all sensors are alike How do you know that you’re getting a quality sensor? Walker Products’ robust oxygen sensor programme features the highest quality components to ensure OE fit, form, and function guaranteed. Designed, engineered, and 100% tested in house to ensure unsurpassed quality and sensor longevity for the greatest customer satisfaction.
Walker oxygen sensors feature a ceramic body made of stabilised zirconium dioxide and contained in a housing that protects it against mechanical effects and facilitates mounting. A gas-permeable platinum layer comprises the electrodes that coat the surface, and a porous ceramic coating applied to the side exposed to the exhaust gas prevents contamination and erosion of the electrode surfaces by combustion residue and particulates in the exhaust gases.
That means when you install Walker oxygen sensors, your customers get improved engine response and performance, lower emissions, better fuel economy and longer sensor life.
Selling to customers How do you explain that to your customers? It starts with the basics: an oxygen sensor monitors the oxygen content of the exhaust gas, which is processed by the vehicle’s ECU to evaluate engine efficiency. For quick explanations, service advisors can share four simple benefits customers can receive by replacing their O2 sensors:
Parking up an EV that is on a 70%-80% state of charge, (SoC) causes the greatest damage to the Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and temperature plays a vital role as well, according to new research.
BorgWarner has been providing remanufactured products for more than 25 years. Compared with the production of new products, remanufacturing uses significantly less energy to produce each product. When considering the product life cycle, remanufacturing enables a single part to have more than one life and, in many instances multiple lives, which results in a considerable saving of raw materials.
