What are the causes of engine vibration?
3 Answers
Engine vibration is caused by: 1. Aging or loosening of engine mounts; 2. Engine misfire; 3. Excessive carbon buildup in cylinders, throttle body, spark plugs, or intake system; 4. Fuel system malfunction leading to lean air-fuel mixture and engine vibration; 5. Intake system failure. Solutions for engine vibration include: 1. Replacing brake pads and rotors; 2. Removing carbon deposits from the engine; 3. Improving fuel quality; 4. Replacing spark plugs; 5. Addressing insufficient cylinder compression. The function of an engine is: to convert the thermal energy of gasoline into mechanical energy by burning and expanding gas in a sealed cylinder, thereby driving the piston's motion.
Back when I drove an old car, I also experienced severe engine shaking, like sitting on a massage chair. At first, I thought it was a fuel quality issue, but even after switching gas stations, the shaking persisted. Later, a friend suggested it might be an ignition system problem, and after inspection, it turned out the spark plugs were burnt out. Spark plugs are responsible for ignition; if they're worn out or severely carbon-fouled, misfires can cause engine vibration. Additionally, a clogged air filter restricting airflow can lead to incomplete combustion. I also suspected dirty fuel injectors—if they're clogged, fuel spray becomes uneven. A dirty throttle body or faulty oxygen sensor can also cause trouble. Mechanical issues like loose engine mounts or excessive carbon buildup can, over time, make the engine shake. For prevention, regular maintenance such as oil changes and injector cleaning can reduce these problems. If the shaking starts, don't push through it—get it checked at a repair shop. Otherwise, you'll suffer poor driving experience and higher fuel consumption.
Common causes of engine shaking generally include ignition system failures such as damaged spark plugs or high-voltage wires leading to irregular ignition, fuel system issues like clogged injectors causing insufficient fuel spray or poor fuel pump supply, air system obstructions such as a dirty throttle body or faulty mass airflow sensor resulting in improper air-fuel ratio, mechanical factors like loose engine mounts, failed dampers, or carbon buildup in cylinders affecting balance, as well as low fuel pressure or ECU control errors. Once these factors appear, the engine operation becomes unstable and starts to shake. I recommend starting with simple checks to see if the spark plugs and air filter need replacement, then test fuel pressure and use a diagnostic tool to check for trouble codes. Avoid aggressive acceleration while driving, and regular inspections can effectively prevent shaking from affecting comfort and fuel consumption.
