Engine knocks can be really irritating. They’re loud and obnoxious, but worse yet, they’re a sound that means your car’s engine isn’t getting what it needs. And engine knocks can eventually lead to engine damage. Here’s what Professional Automotive Services wants you to know.
Something about Engine Timing Is Off
Engine timing refers to making sure that the spark, fuel, and air all meet up in the engine at the exact right time. If any part of that equation is off by even a little bit, that causes misfires. Making adjustments to airflow, fuel, and spark plugs may help to solve the problem. You hear misfires as engine knocks. Over time, those misfires can even cause damage and that’s a problem.
There’s a Problem with Airflow
Your car’s engine needs to have fuel and spark, but it also needs air. If there’s a problem with air flowing to the engine properly, either because airflow is cut off or restricted, that’s going to cause issues in the engine. Making sure that your air filter is clean and that airflow is unrestricted helps to ensure that your car’s engine is getting what it needs.
Knock Sensors Aren’t Working
Knock sensors are something in the car’s engine that help the ECM, or engine control module, to know when there are knocks in the engine. Those little sensors pick up knocks and pings, helping the ECM to adjust different aspects of the engine’s function to account for what’s happening and to correct the issue. If they’re not working, the ECM isn’t able to make adjustments because there is not information.
You’ve Got the Wrong Octane in the Tank
Have you ever wondered why your car’s manufacturer tells you that you have to use specific octane levels in your car’s gas tank? That’s because your car’s engine needs specific octane levels of fuel in order to run properly. When you put the wrong gas in the tank, that causes issues that even the engine control module can’t account for, which ends up causing knocks, pings, and eventually also causes engine damage.
Professional Automotive Services in Greenwood, SC is here for you for all your auto service needs, including figuring out what’s causing those engine knocks. Contact us today and we can make an appointment to thoroughly diagnose the issue for you. From there, we can recommend the right repairs to help ensure that your car’s engine lasts a good, long while.