Driving more economically and with less environmental strain

According to the German Federal Environmental Authority, seven million tons of carbon dioxide emissions less have accrued since the introduction of the "Eco-Tax". High petrol and diesel prices compel drivers to save fuel. In the long-term, however, only more economic cars and low-emission vehicles can protect the environment - and consumers’ wallets. Which is another good reason why Bosch keeps working according to the principle it has already followed for decades: developing environmentally safe automotive technology that reduces pollutant emissions and fuel consumption. The lambda sensor is one example. Bosch introduced this innovation for cars with gasoline engines as early as 1976. It was a world premiere then. Bosch has delivered more than 250 million sensors to automobile manufacturers ever since.

What has long been standard in gasoline engines will now be introduced in diesel engines this year. But how does the lambda sensor help save fuel?

How does a lambda sensor work?

In Diesel engines, just as in gasoline-driven vehicles, the lambda sensor measures the amount of residual oxygen in the exhaust gas. This value shows whether the oxygen content in the cylinder is high enough to combust the injected fuel optimally, and is an important factor for precise engine control. The information obtained by the lambda sensor in the form of an electrical signal is passed to the electronic control unit for analysis. The control unit regulates the amount of injected diesel depending on performance requirements to provide the ideal fuel-air mixture at all times.

The results are: fewer pollutants in the exhaust gas, better protection against engine defects and lower fuel consumption.