What causes jerking when a car suddenly accelerates?
2 Answers
The reasons for jerking when a car suddenly accelerates are as follows: 1. Fuel quality issues: Using gasoline with a lower octane rating. Insufficient octane number in gasoline can lead to weak acceleration, resulting in decreased engine power and increased fuel consumption. 2. Engine oil quality: Insufficient oil pressure or poor sealing. Poor-quality engine oil can also cause insufficient engine power, reduced fluidity, and increased driving resistance. 3. Blockages: Components such as the air filter or throttle valve are clogged or malfunctioning. This leads to insufficient air intake, causing weak acceleration, slow speed increase, and a jerking sensation. 4. Ignition system problems: If the spark plugs are severely carbonized and ignition is poor, it can also affect engine acceleration.
The other day when I was driving my old buddy on the highway, it suddenly jerked during acceleration, which scared me into slowing down immediately. Later, the repair shop found out that the ignition coils were aging, and two out of the four cylinders had unstable ignition, causing intermittent power during hard acceleration. If spark plugs haven't been replaced for too long, this can also happen easily, as metal fatigue leads to excessive gap. Also, if the transmission fluid deteriorates, an automatic transmission will shift roughly, especially in older cars that require extra attention. I’ve developed a habit of replacing spark plugs every 50,000 kilometers, and avoiding flooring the gas pedal too often in city driving—being gentle with the throttle can extend part lifespan. By the way, a clogged air filter can also cause insufficient air intake, making the car feel like it’s gasping for breath during acceleration.
