What are the solutions for excessive noise after car maintenance?
2 Answers
There are mainly three situations where noise becomes louder after car maintenance. Below are detailed explanations for these three situations: 1. Poor fuel quality: Using lower-quality fuel will lead to poorer combustion inside the engine, causing severe engine vibrations and noise. Simply switch to higher-quality fuel. 2. Loose engine mounts: It's important to know that the engine isn't simply placed in the engine bay but is supported and fixed by components like engine mounts. When these components age and loosen, they cause noise during engine operation. 3. Loose plastic components in the engine bay: Some cars have many plastic components in the engine bay, such as the engine cover or intake pipes. When these become loose, they can collide with the engine bay, resulting in noise.
A few days ago, I encountered a similar issue where the engine noise became particularly loud right after a car service. I suspected there might have been a mistake during the maintenance. Specifically, common reasons for increased noise after servicing include: overfilling or using the wrong type of engine oil, which increases engine load; improperly installed air filters that amplify intake noise; or loose screws that rattle while driving. The first step to address this is not to rush into fixing it yourself. Instead, take the car back to the service center and have the technician recheck it—they can quickly identify the issue. If the noise is coming from the tires, it might be due to improper balancing of new tires; try checking if the tire pressure is normal. Don’t ignore such noises, as prolonged exposure can damage the engine and increase repair costs. Any abnormalities after servicing should be taken seriously. Make it a habit to listen to the engine sound every time you start the car after maintenance—it can prevent major problems. Like last time when I took mine back, they found a loose screw that hadn’t been tightened properly. After fixing it, the noise was gone.