That purr you love when your car is running can quickly get drowned out if your car’s engine starts knocking and pinging instead. Integrity Auto Repair advises that there can be more than one reason that engine knock is happening, and it’s important to figure out the problem as quickly as possible. Ignoring the problem is only going to make the whole situation a lot worse.
The Engine’s Timing Is Off
Combustion engines are complicated beasts. They require everything to work perfectly in order to give you the results you expect. That’s definitely the case with engine timing. Fuel injectors spray fuel to mix with air, which then combusts when the spark plug fires off. But, if you’ve got the wrong spark plugs in place, you won’t get the spark you need. If the timing is off on mixing the fuel with the air, that’s going to cause problems with spark, too. And, if the spark plug gap is too small or too large? You’ve got other problems. These can all cause your engine to knock because it’s not functioning the way that it should.
You’ve Got Built-up Carbon Deposits
Carbon deposits are another big concern. Because combustion engines burn gasoline, there is a lot of carbon going through your engine. As that carbon burns, residue builds up gradually all throughout the system. This is why gasoline manufacturers include carbon cleaning detergents to help keep your engine cleaner. They don’t all work perfectly, however, and it’s possible for those deposits to build up and cause knocking sounds. A professional cleaning can stop the knocking sounds much better than an over-the-counter cleaner you can buy at the auto parts store.
The Fuel Is Low-Octane
Car manufacturers have a lot of advice for you within the owner’s manual. You’ll find all sorts of information in there, ranging from how much air to put into your tires to what octane level is best for your car’s engine. If you’re using a fuel that has an octane rating lower than the one recommended by your car’s manufacturer, then you’re more likely to hear a lot more knocking coming from the engine. The easiest fix is of course to start using fuel that has an octane rating equal to or greater than the rating recommended in the owner’s manual.
Don’t let engine knocks and pings get you down. Contact us at Integrity Auto Repair in Eugene, OR, and we can assess what’s going on. Continuing to drive around with your car’s engine knocking can cause some serious engine damage that isn’t as easy to fix as you might hope.
