If your car, truck, or C/SUV engine is knocking constantly, bring the vehicle to the C&C Automotive shop that is closest to you. The sooner you bring your automobile to our shop the better because a knocking engine could be a damaged engine. We are going to discuss the causes of constant engine knock below.
Faulty Knock Sensor
One thing that can make your engine knock constantly is a faulty knock sensor. This is a sensor in the engine that will notify the engine control unit, your vehicle’s main computer chip, that the engine is knocking. If the sensor has gone bad, it will not alert the unit of the engine’s knock. Consequently, the engine control unit will do nothing to address the problem.
Lean Fuel Mixture
For example, one thing an engine control unit can do is correct a lean fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, and, you guessed it, a lean fuel mixture can make your engine knock. This is because there isn’t enough fuel in the mixture to fire quickly and succinctly. Consequently, you end up with a ton of firings in the cylinders that make the knocking sound.
Low-Octane Gasoline
Another thing that will cause a ton of firings in the cylinders is gasoline with a low octane rating. If you drive an automobile that is equipped with a standard engine, you can get away with 87 octane. If you drive a high-performance automobile, you need 89 or 91. Anything lower than the recommended octane will make your engine knock.
Worn Spark Plugs
The spark plugs can also fire multiple times in each cylinder if they are worn out. If your spark plugs are fine, the engine control unit may be malfunctioning and firing the spark plugs intermittently. This misfiring will make the engine knock.
Worn Rod Bearings
Your engine can be damaged severely if the cause of the knocking is worn rod bearings. These bearings move the rods up and down inside the cylinders. The pistons are attached to the rods. Worn bearings will crash the pistons against the cylinder walls.
Loose Accessory Belt
Finally, you may hear a knocking noise coming from the engine if the accessory belt is loose. Tightening the belt, or replacing it if it is worn, will resolve the problem.
Call C&C Automotive in Downtown Augusta, West Augusta, and Martinez, GA, and Aiken County and Columbia, SC, today if your engine is knocking all the time. We will find the problem and fix it.
