Are you hearing knocking sounds coming from the engine compartment of your car? That’s not good news, honestly, and Interstate Automotive has some information that can help you to understand why and what might be causing the issue. Eventually, engine knocking can lead to engine damage, which is definitely something you want to avoid.
Timing Is Off
When the timing isn’t functioning properly within the engine, your car’s engine is going to experience firing issues that translate to you as knocking sounds. Timing means that your car’s spark plugs fire at a precise moment in order for combustion to happen within the engine. If that timing is off by even a split second, then your car’s engine is misfiring, and it can get pretty loud.
Airflow Is Off
If there’s too much air flowing into the engine, that can also cause engine knocks. Fuel levels can be a problem, too. What might be happening is that the oxygen sensor is not measuring oxygen levels accurately. That leaves the car’s onboard computer guessing at what the airflow should be into the engine, which is never a good way to keep a combustion engine running properly.
Incorrect Gas
It can’t hurt to use a lower octane level of gas than what the manufacturer recommends, right? Unfortunately, that’s a big nope. The manufacturer recommends a specific octane level or range because that’s what your car’s engine needs in order to function properly. By putting in a different octane level, you’re basically starving the engine of the fuel that it needs to run properly and therefore you get knocking sounds.
Failing Knock Sensor
Another issue could involve the knock sensor in the engine. This is a sensor that detects misfires and knocking sounds, letting the car’s onboard computer know what’s happening. With that information, the computer is able to recalculate the fuel to air ratio and make other adjustments that can correct whatever is contributing to the knocking sounds. If the sensor is failing, that information isn’t getting to the computer and the car isn’t able to recalibrate anything to correct the problem.
Don’t let engine knocking eventually damage your car’s engine. Give us a call at Interstate Automotive in Eau Claire, WI today. We can set up an appointment for you, run diagnostic testing, and determine exactly what’s going on. You’ll have information that you can use right away to resolve the problem in your car’s engine and get back on the road safely.