| An Oxygen sensor is sometimes called a Lambda | | | | to balance the level of air and fuel. The purpose of |
| sensor or probe, it is used to lessen emissions from a | | | | the ECU is to sustain a certain Air-Fuel Ratio by |
| vehicle by guaranteeing that the engine burns its fuel | | | | decrypting the data it collects from the oxygen |
| well and clean. Robert Bosch GmbH which is one of | | | | sensors. |
| the world's biggest automobile components supplier | | | | The component of the O2 sensor is a cylinder that is |
| was founded by Robert Bosch in 1886, and was | | | | ceramic with porous electrodes from platinum |
| responsible for the introduction of the first Lambda | | | | laminating both the inside and out then the entire |
| sensor/probe or oxygen sensor in the year 1976. | | | | thing is further plated in gauze made of metal. The |
| Oxygen sensors that are used for automobiles are | | | | oxygen sensor or probe functions by getting a |
| generally referred to as O2 Sensors and after the | | | | measurement of the ratio between the oxygen in |
| first one was pioneered by Robert Bosch, Volvo and | | | | the gas, in the exhaust and the external air, it then |
| Saab, which is a manufacturer of automobiles, but | | | | makes an adjustment that is dependent on the result |
| which General Motors is now the proprietor of, | | | | that it acquired from the measurement. |
| decided to be the first set of companies to use an | | | | The sensors will only function efficiently when they |
| O2 sensor in their vehicles; this was within the same | | | | are heated to an approximation of 316 degrees |
| year the oxygen sensor was introduced. The O2 | | | | Celsius or 600 degrees Fahrenheit; therefore the |
| sensors were not introduced into the United States | | | | companies have started to make the more recent |
| until about 1980, and in 1993, oxygen sensors | | | | probes with heating components enclosed in the |
| became a requirement on all types of cars within | | | | ceramic that makes the cylinder, in order for the |
| many European countries. | | | | sensor to heat up more quickly to the required |
| Engine Control Unit which is abbreviated ECU or | | | | temperature. The probes that were made without |
| Power-train Control Module which is abbreviated PCM | | | | the heating component would reach the required |
| is a computer programme for motor vehicles that | | | | temperature after a while, but took a little time as it |
| supervises the timing of the ignition, the amount of | | | | had to depend on the heat from the exhaust, in |
| fuel and other factors that is essential for an internal | | | | addition there are elements in the engine that is |
| combustion engine to operate. It collects data on | | | | made to absorb heat, so it took a while for the |
| oxygen concentration and then makes adjustments | | | | exhaust to get to the correct temperature to allow |
| to the quantity of fuel that is injected into the engine | | | | the older model oxygen sensors to work. |