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Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry
Stoichiometry in automotive terms is the principle that refers to the ideal air to fuel ratio being consumed in the cylinder. At 14.7 pound of air to 1 pound of fuel, even preconverter HC, CO and NOX exhaust gases will be at their lowest levels. However, no vehicle can maintain a precise 14.7:1 mixture.
Stoichiometry
Constant changes in the throttle position, engine load, and vehicle speed cause the mixture to vary almost constantly. The feedback system has to adjust the mixture constantly to keep the mixture near optimum levels. The system keeps the air/fuel mixture close to the ideal by constantly switching back and forth on either side of stoichiometry.
Stoichiometry
The engine management system is responsible for maintaining stoichiometry allowing the catalytic converter to operate at maximum efficiency while maintaining minimal emissions. The engine management system uses an oxygen sensor in the exhaust to determine if the air/fuel mixture is rich or lean and adjusts to compensate.
Rich Mixture
To keep the engine operating in closed loop, an oxygen sensor must be maintained at a minimum temperature of approximately 572F (300C). To help maintain this temperature, the oxygen sensors used on OBD-II systems contain heating elements. These elements combined with exhaust gas temperature keep the oxygen sensor temperature at nearly 1200F.
Two consecutive failures of the Oxygen Sensor Heater Monitor will result in:
A matured DTC MIL illumination
Age, contamination, and extreme heat can affect the oxygen sensor response characteristics. Degradation of the signal can be in the form of an extended response time (period duration) or a shift in the sensor voltage curve (sensor shift biased). Both conditions reduce the oxygen window, thereby reducing the catalyst capacity for exhaust gas conversion.
In general, the oxygen sensor waveform should appear like the waveform in the graphic to be shown. They must switch continuously above and below 450 millivolts, switching between once every two seconds, and five times per second. In addition, it should not drop below zero volts, except from occasional noise. However, the AF sensor is an exception to this rule.
Remember: It is this switching from rich to lean and back again that sets up the conditions in the exhaust for a three-way catalytic converter to oxidize HC and CO and reduce NOX emissions efficiently.
Zero Volts
If the engine is not running right, the sensor will not develop a good waveform. If the oxygen sensor is damaged, the engine will not run right. So how can you tell whether the oxygen sensor waveform is not right because of a bad sensor or an engine problem?
Adjust your scope using these settings: > Voltage Scale: 200 millivolts per division > Time Base: 200 milliseconds per division > Trigger Level: Auto On > Lower the zero voltage level to one division from the bottom of the display.
Make sure the engine is at normal operating temperature, and the oxygen sensor is fully warmed up. (2500 RPM for about two minutes) The engine must be in closed loop. If the oxygen sensor voltage is not switching, it is not in closed loop.
Results: If the oxygen sensor signal meets these requirements, the sensor is probably okay. If not, replace the sensor, and verify its operation again.
Misfire: One of the most obvious failures to show up on the oxygen sensor signal is a misfire in the engine. However, few technicians realize just how clearly a misfire will appear on the oxygen sensor signal.
Misfire: Of course, this depends on the rest of the system being in proper control of the mixture. A misfire may not show up at all on a system with the oxygen sensor signal fixed rich or lean. However, if the sensor is switching properly, a misfire will show up on the oxygen sensor signal.
Using a DSO
Make sure the engine is at normal operating temperature, and the AF sensor is fully warmed up. (2000 RPM for about two minutes)
Zero Volts
Rich Mixture
Using a DSO Drop the negative sign on the negative voltage, then add the two voltage values together to get the difference between high and low voltages. The total difference should be over 1 volt. If it is not over one volt, the AF sensor may be bad.
Zero Volts
Using a DSO If the AF sensor signal meets these requirements, the sensor is probably okay. If not, replace the sensor, and verify its operation again. Once you verify the AF sensor signal, look for any problems the signal indicates.