Whether you drive a car, truck, utility vehicle, or big rig, your engine should never knock. If you hear your engine knocking, you either have a fuel or detonation problem underneath the hood. Addressing this issue as soon as possible is important to avoid further engine damage. Thankfully, Moose Jaw Truck Shop can find the reason why your engine is knocking and fix it. Here are six common causes of engine knocks.
1. Octane
Of all of the items on our list, octane is the least damaging to your engine, but it can still cause knocking and problems. If you put petrol in your automobile that has a lower octane rating than what the vehicle manufacturer recommends, you could end up with engine knocking. The reason why you hear the engine knocking is that there are multiple detonations going on inside the cylinders. The spark plugs should only detonate the air and petrol in the cylinders once, but low octane ignites too early and creates tiny fireballs that collide inside the cylinders. This is the knocking that you hear.
2. Timing
The spark plugs are in charge of your engine’s timing. If they don’t fire in the correct sequence, you may have multiple detonations in the cylinders, and this, like low-octane petrol, can create knocking sounds caused by multiple detonations. The problem could also be with the engine control unit. It might be signaling the spark plugs to fire in the incorrect order.
3. Too Much Air
If there is too much air in the air and petrol mixture in your vehicle’s combustion chamber, this is considered a lean mixture and it will make knocking noises. Again, the reason why you hear the knocking noises is that you have multiple detonations going on inside each cylinder. A malfunctioning mass airflow sensor or clogged injectors can create this lean mixture.
4. Knock Sensor Failure
Because automobile manufacturers do not want engines to knock, they install knock sensors in the motors that alert the engine control unit of knocking problems. If the knock sensor has gone bad or failed completely, it will not alert the engine control unit of knocking problems and, as such, the unit will not make adjustments to prevent your engine from knocking.
5. Rod Bearings
Rod knock happens when the rods or rod bearings that are responsible for moving the pistons up and down wear down or break. As they wear down, you will hear the pistons clanking against the crankshaft walls, and this is the engine knocking sound that you hear. If the rods break, you will not be able to drive your automobile.
6. Tensioner
Finally, if your accessory belt tensioner is allowing the accessory belt to turn loosely, you will hear the belt banging around inside your engine and this might sound like it is an engine knock when, in fact, it isn’t. The belts, tensioner, or pulley can all make noise if anything is too loose or needs to be replaced.
Call Moose Jaw Truck Shop in Moose Jaw, SK, right away to schedule an appointment if your engine is knocking. We will get to the bottom of the issue and repair it.