Engine Knocking
What is engine knocking and how do you fix it?
If you are regularly noticing a “pinging” or a “knocking” sound when you are driving in your vehicle, there is a good chance this noise is coming from the engine.
Engine knocking is usually caused by an uneven burning of fuel throughout the cylinders in your engine which then throws off the timing of the motor.
In a healthy vehicle, fuel burns throughout each cylinder in perfect harmony and propels your car forward. However, if something throws off this timing, fuel can be ignited at the wrong time, therefore causing a shockwave that causes that knocking sound inside of your motor. This type of malfunction can lead to serious problems for the engine.
How can I fix it?
Fuel can burn at strange rates throughout your engine for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, most of these reasons are fairly easy to fix. If the problem persists and you continue to hear knocking, however, schedule an appointment for a complete diagnosis at the Auto and Tire Doctor today.
1. Make sure you are using the correct octane level of fuel in your vehicle. You can find the recommended octane for your vehicle in your owners manual.
2. Use a detergent to help clean the inside of your cylinders. After a while, your car can start to build up carbon inside of the engine. While most fuels already have some amount of detergent added to them, adding more is sometimes very beneficial. Give us a call to find out what detergent is best for your vehicle.
3. Check your spark plugs. If your vehicle doesn’t have the correct spark plugs installed or if one is starting to go out, this could lead to engine knocking.