Call Demore’s Automotive right away if your car, truck, or C/SUV’s engine is knocking all the time. You might even consider having your vehicle towed to our shop to avoid potential engine damage. A knocking engine can be a sign of a detonation problem or rod bearing problem. The latter can damage your engine beyond repair. Let’s talk more about engine knock and its causes below.
Air-Rich Fuel Mixture
A fuel mixture that is filled with air is called a lean fuel mixture. This fuel mixture starves the engine of fuel. This fuel mixture also causes multiple detonations in each cylinder instead of the desired one per cylinder. These detonations are created by mini fireballs that crash into each other. As the fireballs crash around inside the cylinders, they make a knocking sound.
Faulty Knock Sensor
Aside from a lean fuel mixture, a faulty knock sensor can also cause constant engine knock. This sensor is engineered to detect when the engine is knocking so it can alert the main computer chip of a detonation problem in the combustion chamber. Sometimes, the chip can fix the problem, such as add fuel to a lean fuel mixture. A malfunctioning knock sensor will not be able to detect engine knock.
Incorrect Octane Rating
You may also have a knocking engine because you put the wrong fuel in the tank. Another thing that causes multiple fireball collisions is fuel that has a lower octane rating than what is recommended for your engine. In other words, you shouldn’t fill your tank with fuel that has an octane rating of 89 when 91 is recommended for your engine.
Spark Plug Problems
The spark plugs can also make your engine knock if they are old. They fire the air and fuel in each cylinder by generating a spark. If they generate too many sparks, you’ll end up with multiple fireballs. One thing that can cause the spark plugs to misfire in this way is a faulty main computer chip. It is this chip that directs the spark plugs when to fire.
Worn Rod Bearings
Finally, worn rod bearings do not create detonation knock. Rather, they cause the pistons to bang into the cylinder walls as they are moved up and down by the rods and rod bearings. Naturally, this can damage your vehicle’s cylinder block.
Again, give Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, a call today if your engine is knocking. We can determine the problem and fix it.
