Can You Still Drive with Engine Knocking?
3 Answers
You should not drive with engine knocking. Knocking is a phenomenon where the combustible air-fuel mixture ignites spontaneously before the piston reaches the top dead center. Since the piston has not yet reached the top dead center, the tremendous impact force generated by the spontaneous combustion opposes the direction of the piston's movement, causing severe engine vibration. If the knocking is severe, it may deform the connecting rod or piston, and even lead to complete engine failure. Therefore, it is recommended not to drive when engine knocking occurs. Causes of engine knocking: 1. Using gasoline with an excessively low octane rating. The higher the octane rating of gasoline, the stronger its anti-knock properties. Using gasoline with too low an octane rating, due to its poor anti-knock performance, can easily cause knocking. 2. Overheating of the engine. If the engine temperature is too high, the combustible air-fuel mixture is highly likely to ignite prematurely, leading to knocking. 3. Severe carbon buildup in the engine combustion chamber. This increases the compression ratio of the engine cylinders and may also cause premature combustion of the air-fuel mixture, resulting in knocking.
Engine knocking sounds like a thumping noise from the car, and it's no trivial matter. If it were me, I would absolutely not recommend continuing to drive, as it indicates abnormal combustion, possibly caused by poor fuel quality, advanced ignition timing, or carbon buildup. Continuing to drive could lead to minor damage like spark plug and piston ring failure, or in severe cases, complete engine failure with terrifyingly high repair costs. I once saw a friend who insisted on driving with knocking, and the engine ended up completely ruined—regret came too late. In such situations, safety comes first: pull over immediately, call a tow truck to take the car to a repair shop for diagnosis, and don't risk driving to save money. Using high-octane fuel and regular spark plug maintenance can help prevent this issue.
I think engine knocking is quite dangerous, indicating a problem with the combustion process, such as using low-octane fuel or engine overheating. If you continue driving, not only will fuel consumption increase, but it will also accelerate internal engine wear, and the noise will become louder and louder. In severe cases, the engine may stall and leave you stranded on the road. Personally, when encountering this situation, I first turn off the air conditioning to reduce the load, then slowly drive to a nearby repair shop. However, it's best to avoid long-distance or high-speed driving as the risk is too high. Usually, paying more attention to fuel selection and cleaning carbon deposits every few months can reduce the likelihood of knocking and ensure driving safety.
