“Engine Knocking” and How to handle it?

Everyone agrees on the fact that, cars can make weird noises. If the sound is closer to a “knock”, you may be dealing with problems under the hood, problems that could cause engine damage if left unresolved. We are writing this blog as another informative post to educate everyone about maintaining their car’s engine.

What is an Engine Knock?

Engine knock or pinging occurs when a separate pocket of air-fuel mixture ignites after the spark has ignited the air-fuel mixture within the combustion chamber. The fuel-air charge is meant to be ignited by the spark plug only, and at a precise point in the piston’s stroke. Knock occurs when the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-stroke cycle. Here are some simple steps for you to avoid “Engine Knocking”  without much expense.

Increasing the fuel’s octane level:

Engine knocking often occurs when the air-fuel mixture is incorrect. To counter this, you can add an octane booster in the mix. This can help ensure proper octane rating, which can then stop the knocking.

The recommended minimum octane level in the US is 87. But just to be sure, it’s best to check your service manual for the right octane rating for your car. Using an octane booster is a good idea, it remains a responsibility for car owners to be aware of the right kind of fuel they are imbibing their used cars with.

Cleaning the combustion chamber:

Combustion chamber of a car

Check your cylinder for carbon build up every 100 hours of operation in order to be safe. The wrong kind of fuel will not just result in knocking but can also leave excess contaminants in your cylinders. These impurities can contribute to engine knocking. As such, making sure your combustion chamber is clean is essential to keeping those unwanted noises away.

You can add a detergent to your fuel to pull off this job. Fuel additives are available at our parts store so it’s easy to invest in one. Be sure, though, to follow the directions on the bottle before pouring it into your gas tank.

Checking the spark plugs:

Spark plugs on a used car

Actual parts of your car can also be the reason for engine knocking. For instance, the spark plugs. Your engine’s spark plugs deliver the electric spark that ignites the cylinder’s fuel/air mixture. Not only can they be the cause of these strange noises, they are bad for your engine overall.

Fortunately, spark plug replacement is a pretty budget-friendly fix. So make it a habit of doing a routine check of your spark plugs.

Keeping the car’s timing in check:

A Camaro Engine on display

In order to do this, you must first locate the timing mark on your engine. It’s usually found in a small gap in the transmission bell housing. After that, you need to identify the spark plug number you should check for engine timing. Refer to your car’s service manual to be sure, especially when it is a cheap used car. Before starting the test, it is advised to safely park your car and let your engine warm up first.

Then connect the timing light to your number one spark plug, aim it at the timing mark, and record the results to interpret the numbers accordingly. If your numbers are in the range specified in your owner’s manual, then there’s no need to alter your timing. However, if otherwise, you should adjust your timing to fix the knocking.