Are you hearing engine knocks in your car when it’s running? Those sounds can be infuriatingly obnoxious. Worse, they’re a sign that your car’s engine is not doing well and is sustaining engine damage that will eventually become more of a problem. A1 Automotive wants you to be as informed as possible about what causes engine knocking.
Air, Fuel or Spark Issues
Your car’s engine needs three things to get and to stay running: spark, fuel, and air. Problems with any of those three components mean that the engine doesn’t get what it needs to run well and you’ll hear that as knocks in the engine. Determining what exactly is causing the engine knocking isn’t easy to do, unless you see signs of specific issues that help you to narrow it down.
Problems with Sensors
There are sensors all throughout your car’s engine and other systems that help the ECM to keep track of what is happening and where. Many of those sensors are involved in the air, fuel, and spark equation. Other sensors, specifically knock sensors in the engine, are designed to detect and to report on engine knocking so that the ECM has the information it needs to address those engine knocks.
Avoiding Oil Changes
Getting your car’s oil changed as often as you’re supposed to is a crucial step in preventing all sorts of engine issues, including knocking sounds in the engine itself. If you’ve been a little more lax than usual about getting your car’s oil changed, it’s vital to correct that oversight as soon as possible. Skipping or delaying oil changes doesn’t necessarily cause permanent damage right then, but over time making a habit of delaying oil changes can seriously impact engine health.
Putting the Wrong Gas in the Tank
If your car’s owner’s manual told you to stick with a specific octane level of gas for your car’s tank, you might have scoffed a bit when you read that. But if you’re hearing engine knocks now, the gas you’re buying could be what’s behind those new sounds. The easiest way to test out that theory is to start putting the proper octane level of fuel in the car and see if the knocks disappear.
Tired of hearing engine knocks and want to make sure your car’s engine is alright? Contact us today at A1 Automotive in Lincoln, NE. We’ll thoroughly inspect your car’s engine and determine what’s causing the knocking sounds.