Can the Engine Still Run with Piston Slap?
4 Answers
Engine piston slap means the engine cannot run. The causes of engine piston slap are: 1. Excessive wear of the piston and cylinder, resulting in excessive clearance; 2. Incorrect piston installation direction or piston deformation; 3. Poor lubrication of the cylinder wall; 4. Bent or twisted connecting rod; 5. Clogged oil passages; 6. Severe carbon buildup in the combustion chamber; 7. Excessive fuel injection advance angle; 8. Excessively fast combustion speed of the combustible mixture, leading to excessively high pressure in the cylinder; 9. Overly thin cylinder gasket or excessive wear of the cylinder block top surface, increasing the compression ratio of the diesel engine. The effects of engine piston slap are: 1. Loud noise; 2. Increased engine compression ratio, making combustion prone to knocking; 3. Causing piston cracking and cylinder head deformation; 4. Causing connecting rod bending deformation; 5. Damaging the cylinder head.
I've been driving for almost twenty years, and encountering engine knocking is absolutely not something you should keep driving with. It's a major signal of internal engine problems, like abnormal combustion or piston rings hitting the cylinder walls. Continuing to drive will immediately worsen the wear, potentially cracking the cylinder or destroying the piston. Fixing it could require replacing the entire engine, costing tens of thousands. I once saw a buddy stubbornly keep driving, only to break down on the highway, nearly causing an accident. Safety first—what you should do now is pull over immediately, turn off the engine, forget about rushing, and call a tow truck to take it to a professional shop to check the ignition timing, spark plugs, or fuel quality. Using higher-grade gasoline and regular maintenance can help avoid such issues.
I'm just an ordinary office worker who commutes by car every day. When the engine starts knocking, I absolutely refuse to drive it. That 'bang bang' sound is really alarming—it could be due to excessive carbon buildup or a faulty ignition system. Forcing the engine to run in this condition can damage internal components, drastically increase fuel consumption, and even cause the car to stall in dangerous situations. Last month, I encountered a similar issue and immediately pulled over to check the oil dipstick, but if you can't fix it yourself, don't force it. It's best to call a mechanic to scan for trouble codes and possibly replace spark plugs or other parts to resolve the issue, saving you from bigger expenses later. Don't skimp on small costs—using 92-octane fuel can prevent a lot of trouble.
I have some knowledge about cars. Never drive when the engine is knocking. This issue is caused by detonation, where the piston rings and cylinder may collide with each other. Continuing to drive can disrupt the engine balance, increase noise, and cause a spike in fuel consumption. At best, you might spend thousands on repairs or part replacements; at worst, the engine could be ruined. Common causes include carbon buildup, faulty oxygen sensors, or using low-quality gasoline. You can stop and check the oil level and coolant, but avoid tampering with the electrical system. It's more reliable to visit a repair shop early to read the fault codes with a diagnostic tool. Regular use of fuel additives for maintenance can help reduce the chances of encountering this annoying problem.
