CAR FIX advises that you need to head straight to the shop closest to you if your engine is knocking. Knocking sounds can be a sign that the engine is getting damaged. They are also a sign that the engine has a detonation problem in the cylinders. We have five auto service shops in Tennessee to help you. Here are the reasons why your engine is knocking.
Faulty Knock Sensor
Inside the engine, there is a sensor that is manufactured to detect when the engine is knocking. Once it picks up on the knocking, it notifies the engine control module of the problem so it can make adjustments in the combustion chamber to stop the knock. Unfortunately, the knock sensor can go bad, and when it does, it will not communicate with the engine control module.
Lean Fuel Mixture
One of the things that will make your engine knock in the combustion chamber is a lean fuel mixture. This means that the combination of air and fuel in the combustion chamber has too much air and not enough fuel. Consequently, this will cause multiple detonations in each cylinder rather than just one. When this happens, the detonations are what make the knocking sound.
Low-Octane Gasoline
Another thing that is going to make your engine knock is gasoline that has a lower octane rating than what your engine needs. For example, assume for the moment that you drive your dream Porsche. You can’t put 87 octane in the gas tank. The high-performance engine is going to require 89 at a minimum but most likely gasoline that has an octane rating of 91.
Misfiring Spark Plugs
If your engine is also stalling, the knocking sound that you hear could be the spark plugs misfiring. The engine control module controls the order in which the plugs fire. If it is malfunctioning, it may be firing the plugs at the wrong time. Another thing that will cause your spark plugs to misfire is age. It may be that you need to have new plugs installed in your engine.
Worn Rod Bearings
Finally, the source of a knock that will damage the engine is worn rod bearings. These are the bearings that move the rods to which the pistons are attached up and down inside the cylinders. If the bearings can no longer make a smooth motion, the rods will wiggle and the pistons will crash against the cylinder walls. This is the knocking sound you hear.
CAR FIX in Oak Ridge, Maryville, Knoxville, Cookeville, or Crossville, TN, is here to help, so call the shop closest to you today if your engine is knocking.
