Why Does Your Car Have Engine Knocks?
Engine knocks and pings might just sound like something that happens that you can’t do much about. But Argonaut Garage wants you to know that engine knocks are not normal and they’re not good. And there’s more that you can do about engine knocks than you might think.
Airflow Is Incorrect
Your car’s engine has to have air getting to the combustion chamber or there won’t be any combustion. When the air filter is clogged or the oxygen levels are off even by a little bit, that causes problems in the engine. You hear that in the form of pings and knocks, which eventually do cause damage in the engine.
Timing Is Incorrect
Timing sounds complicated, but it’s actually pretty simple. Air, fuel, and spark have to all hit the combustion chamber at the right time in order to fire properly. When they don’t, that’s a misfire and you hear the result as engine knocks. Your car’s engine might have too much or too little fuel or the fuel might be getting to the engine late. The spark could also be running later than it should for optimal results.
The Knock Sensor Isn’t Working
That sounds like a made-up part, right? It isn’t, though. Knock sensors are very real and they have a very important job. These sensors listen for knocks in your car’s engine and report that information to the car’s engine control module. The ECM then is able to account for things like timing changes, adjusting airflow, and adjusting fuel in order to reduce those knocks. But if the knock sensor isn’t functioning, then that information doesn’t get to the ECM at all.
You’re Using the Wrong Gas
Your car’s manufacturer can get awfully picky about which octane levels are right for your car. But there are good reasons for that. When you use gas that is the wrong gas for your car’s engine, you’re causing bigger problems than you realize. Over time, that incorrect fuel contributes to engine damage that can shorten the lifespan of your car’s engine and that is really bad news.Hearing engine knocks suddenly? Don’t wait, give us a call today at Argonaut Garage in Berkeley, CA. We’ll accurately diagnose what’s causing the engine knocks in your car and get the problem corrected. If there are multiple causes, we’ll help you to understand exactly what your car needs and why so that you have all the information you need to make the best decision for protecting your car’s engine.
