Can I drive my car if the motor is knocking?

Every automobile functions by a force. There is an engine that propels movement and proper function in a car. Hidden in the trunk, the engine is the very heart of every automobile.

You can drive a car with a knocking engine but not for a long time because no engine knocks out on a straight and sudden instance. It begins with sounding notes of warning hence, you should only drive such a car with symptoms of engine knock to the place of repair.

The engine is to every car, as air is to humans. Oxygen must be in its perfect proper state to serve its purpose of sustenance to the living man.

Whatever is capable of mixing up with the air to change its 100% Oxygen state is a pollutant and thus makes the air polluted and harmful to humans particularly. It then makes all the sense to state that Oxygen must be in its uncontaminated state to serve its purpose.

The Oxygen illustration perfectly describes the engine which is the subject matter here. Far from every other state, the engine must be in perfect condition to serve a non-hazardous purpose.

  • What is a Knocking Engine?
  • Can You Drive a Car with a Knocking Engine?
  • What Happens if you Drive a Car with a Knocking Engine?
  • What Causes Engine to Knock?
  • What are the Signs of a Knocking Engine?
  • What to Do if your Engine Knocks
  • Tips on How to Prevent your Engine from Knocking
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix an Engine Knock?
  • Final Thoughts

What is a Knocking Engine?

A knocking occurs when one or more pockets of air or gas mixture outside the envelope of the normal combustion front explodes.

In the ordinary course of events, some of the air or gas mixtures in the cylinder should combust resulting from the propagation of the flame front ignited by the spark plug. Spark ignition internal combustion engines are prone to knocking.

Thus, a Knocking Engine is such an engine that suffers explosion of gas outside the normal combustion terrain.

Knocking engine, also described as pinging comes with a sound. Knocking can mean one of many issues. While some of these issues may be easily fixed, others may point to major damage.

There is a  knocking sound when the air-fuel mixture is inappropriate, causing the fuel to burn unevenly rather than in uniform bursts.

Yes. You can drive a car with a knocking engine. However, not very far.

An engine knock is extremely expensive hence, the sooner it is attended to, the less it costs. The absence of engine coolant, oil pressure, or oil results in a catastrophic failure. While it is possible to drive with a knocking engine, plans to fix it must not take forever.

Like the oxygen illustration earlier, a person can still manage polluted air, but not for long. This is not in any way encouraging air pollution or the intake of contaminated air.

Where pollution comes unplanned and unforeseen, it must be that you are struggling to breathe and immediately looking to get rid of the pollution. It is even more addressable in engines.

This is because no engine knocks out on a straight and sudden instance. It begins with sounding notes of warning hence, you should only drive such a car with symptoms of engine knock to the place of repair.

However, where immediate repair may not be feasible, too much time should not be taken.

What Happens if you Drive a Car with a Knocking Engine?

Driving a car with a knocking engine can cause damage to the cylinder walls, the crankshaft bearings, or the surface of the piston. These parts are very expensive to repair, and that is more reason why you should seek a solution as soon as possible. It is never safe to drive with an engine knock.

What Causes Engine to Knock?

The engine’s inability to operate efficiently is its most common cause of knocking. Some common causes of knocking which relate to the ignition system or fuel, are; carbon buildup, bad spark plugs, a wrong fuel octane, vacuum leaks, or overheated engine.

What are the Signs of a Knocking Engine?

A Knocking Engine produces a knocking sound. Knocking sound is the most typical engine noise which shows there is a fixable mechanical problem. As you accelerate, this rattling, tapping, or pinging sound gets louder and faster, repeatedly.

With an early and correct diagnosis, every issue can be fixed.

What to Do if your Engine Knocks

An upgrade to gasoline with a higher octane rating is the first highly essential target.

Simply, an octane rating measures how heat-resistant a fuel is to prevent knocking.  Octane prevents the air-fuel mixture inside an engine from igniting before time. Thus, the higher a fuel’s octane, the more resistant it is to knocking.

Further, if your engine knocks,  tune it up. Get new spark plugs and wires for your engine. This way you help your engine function like it was brand new.

In addition to the above, change the oil in your vehicle regularly and monitor it for a low oil level.

You help yourself and your car with the practice of these healthy maintenance cultures. You save yourself no small headache, anxiety, and expenses.

Tips on How to Prevent your Engine from Knocking

Every damage major or minor can be prevented. Tips to prevent your engine from knocking may be as simple as:

  • Having your tank filled from reputable gas stations: Use fuel with higher octane ratings as often as you can afford. Such fuel can be gotten from gas stations known for integrity. While at this, your owner’s manual on recommended minimum octane ratings must not be ignored. You must keep up with recommended octane rating.
  • As much as you can, avoid or get rid of carbon deposit buildup. Quality fuel additive designed specifically to reduce carbon buildup is no crime.
  • Make sure your spark plugs are changed from time to time. You must follow the recommendation of your owner’s manual. Manuals are perfect for prescription on what, how, and when to do what.
  • Reducing the throttle immediately, on hearing any rattling, pinging, or engine knocking.

How Much Does it Cost to Fix an Engine Knock?

Fixing an engine knock can averagely cost $2,000-$3,000. Where damage is worse, you would have to pay extra to replace extra parts. I appeal that you do not refrain from necessary repair. If you do, expenses add up as damage gets worse.

Final Thoughts

The same energy with which you pursued the ownership of your car should be the same that you channel into its maintenance. On the occasion of constant neglect, it may shock you to know that the total amount you would have spent on repair or outright replacement of parts may almost equal the initial exorbitant price you bought your car.

For the risk of fire ultimate amidst other risks, do not prolong the knocking of your engine. You may not only be subscribing to temporary interruptions of your schedule. You successfully may be driving your car towards or laying the foundation to ground your car.

How long can I drive with a knocking engine?

Once an engine starts to knock, the rod can fracture without warning. It could be the next time you start it in your driveway, or it could keep going for six months. Eventually though, the engine will blow and you'll be stranded somewhere.

Can I drive my car if it's making a knocking noise?

My engine is clunking and knocking What to do – Stop driving and have the engine checked immediately. A knocking in your engine could be something as simple as a poor fuel mix. The wrong blend of fuel and air can cause multiple ignition points, creating those knocking noises you can hear.

Is engine knocking a serious problem?

What Is Engine Knocking? Pinging, or knocking, is audible evidence of premature combustion happening in one or more cylinders. It's a major problem with expensive consequences if you ignore it. A well-tuned engine depends on accurate timing to provide optimum power, efficiency, and wear.

Can you save a motor that is knocking?

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.