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It is no mystery good car maintenance will significantly improve the fuel economy fuel of drivers over time, but some red flags are all too often ignored.<\/p>\n
Car\u00a0mechanic\u00a0Scotty Kilmer has previously discussed one critical\u00a0car\u00a0component on his YouTube channel and alerted drivers to its importance for fuel usage; oxygen sensors.<\/p>\n
Today most people are used to oxygen sensors on cars which monitor O2 levels to make the car run right.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Modern cars often use an air-fuel ratio sensor, however, which is much more efficient at making the car run better, according to Kilmer.<\/p>\n
They\u2019re also much more expensive to replace when they stop working, however.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> While the O2 sensors on older vehicles typically last 30,000 to 50,000 miles or between three to five years, newer sensors last longer.<\/p>\n This is because the sensors employed in newer cars have an additional heated element which can endure seven to 10 years of driving before wearing out.<\/p>\n The principal purpose of the sensor is to track the levels of oxygen present in the exhaust and instruct the car to adjust its air\/fuel mixture accordingly.<\/p>\n Without a sensor which works properly, however, the vehicle is more likely to run improperly and waste copious amounts of fuel.<\/p>\n According to the Department of Energy: \u201cFixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t ignore the check engine light – it can alert you to problems that affect fuel economy [and] more serious problems, even when your vehicle seems to be running fine. \u201c<\/p>\n Aside from checking whether the engine light comes on, drivers are also advised to stay on the lookout for any noticeable loss of fuel efficiency.<\/p>\n A sulfur or \u201crotten egg\u201d smell emitted from the exhaust or black smoke coming from this area could also signal a faulty sensor.<\/p>\n Failure to acknowledge any problem with the sensor and let the problem develop could put the catalytic converter of the vehicle at risk.<\/p>\n
‘I’m a mechanic – my car maintenance tip could save you huge sums in repairs'[INSIGHT] <\/strong>
\u2018I\u2019m a car mechanic – never change your engine oil before a certain mileage'[INFORMER] <\/strong>
‘I\u2019m a car mechanic – these two tips will give you gas mileage for a long time'[INSIGHT] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/24\/590x\/secondary\/oxygen-sensors-5047445.jpg?r=1699012384115\")
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