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Old 03-28-2013, 08:34 AM   #20 (permalink)
AndrzejM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Poland
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Berta - '97 BMW 318 tds Compact
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jayliu1984 View Post
What do you look for on spark plug and O2 sensor? There is no Check Engine Light, so beside to see if it is visually dirty, how do I know if they are affect anything?

This car is pretty new, 2009, do you think it is possible to have manifold leak and how do I even go about checking it?
You can check if o2 sensor is working properly with any OBDII scan tool or ScanGauge, UltraGauge etc. You should see Lambda numbers which should vary in a pretty fast rate. If the changes are slow or there are none your o2 sensor is just a piece of junk.
Regarding spark plugs you should check the gap between electrodes. It should be in a factory range.

I've seen leaks in almost or brand new cars either so the car age is not a factor here. Sometimes is just a bend hose, loosen screw or many other small things that can affect air fuel ratio.

You can do one more test. Let your engine to idle for a while just to warm up a bit and then just smell the exhaust gases. You shouldn't smell unburned fuel. If you feel that or you see any smoke like fumes there's something wrong. Then you should take your car to any service for exhaust gasses analysis. It can tell many many things of your car's engine to see what is coming out of the exhaust.
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Gerhard Plattner: "The best attitude is to consider fuel saving a kind of sport. Everybody who has enough money for a strong car, can drive fast and hit the pedal. But saving fuel requires concentration, self-control and cleverness. It's a challenge with the nice effect of saving you money that you can use for other more important things."
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