Exhaust System Leaks
WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 29 other vehicles, including the 2007 Mercury Mountaineer, 2007 Mercury Monterey, 2007 Mercury Montego, 2007 Mercury Milan, and 2007 Mercury Mariner. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
In this type of condition, the engine runs rich of stoichiometry (14.7:1 air/fuel ratio) because the fuel control system is adding fuel to compensate for a perceived (not actual) lean condition. This condition is caused by oxygen (air) entering the exhaust system from an external source. The HO2S react to this exhaust leak by increasing fuel delivery. This condition causes the exhaust gas mixture from the cylinder to be rich. Examples:
- exhaust system leaks upstream or near the HO2S
- cracked/leaking HO2S boss
- inoperative secondary air injection system