Reasons to not adjust the Oxygen Sensor Signals

The Engine is said to be functioning in what is called a “closed loop” mode, when the vehicle is not being over loaded, such as mild increases in speed or the sustenance of a steady speed. When this occurs data is sent back and forth between the ECU and the oxygen sensor. The ECU then makes modifications within the fuel quantity with the expectance of an alteration of the o2 sensor. This then compels the engine to run somewhat lean as well as somewhat rich within consecutive data transference frames, called loops. It does this in an attempt to sustain and AFR that is on average predominantly stoichiometric.

If you interfere with or adjust the signal of the oxygen sensor that is sent to the ECU you could cause damages to your automobile and also increase the emissions from your vehicle in addition to possible damages to your engine. If you are seeking additional power and decide to make adjustments to the o2 sensor, this may cause the engine to operate with a rich mixture, while there will be a minor boost in power, it will be for a short while because soon enough the engine will start flooding from too much fuel that is not completely burnt out. An increase level of hydrocarbons will be in the exhaust and what this will do is to cause the catalytic converter to overheat.

If the adjustment that was made to the oxygen sensor that caused the engine to operate rich is kept at that level for a long-standing period, this may result in the complete failure of the catalytic converter. A failure in the catalytic converter may lead to backfires, this when the ignition takes place in the exhaust rather in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. A backfire is noticeable by the loud noise resembling the sound of gunfire or the fire that may be seen exiting the tail pipe of the vehicle.

In Contemporary engines the timing of the spark ignition internal combustion engine is controlled by the Engine Control Unit, the ECU regulates the timing throughout the revolution per minute range, The ECU also controls the fuel injector pulse width, Therefore alterations to o2 sensors that changes the operation of the engine to a mixture that is too lean or too rich could cause an incompetent burning up of fuel if when the fuel is ignited too early or too late.

The engine is said to be functioning at a WOT environment, which stands for Wide Open Throttle, this refers to when the accelerator is completely depressed  and the engine vacuum is decreased, This allows more air to enter into the combustion cylinders and  therefore increasing the need for more fuel in order to regulate the mixture. In other words when there is a Wide Open Throttle the signals from the oxygen sensor is bypassed and the ECU makes adjustments to ensure the proper operation of the engine,