Engine knocking in civic SR

[Civic las]

Hi All, did anyone experience engine knocking in civic SR? this happens with my car frequently specially when I pick up or accelerate to overtake vehicles. This happens on and off however, it despairs when turbo start working. Stafford couldn’t rectify the issue but told me bunch of civic turned in with the same symptom. I appreciate your valuable comments/suggestions on this matter please.

[matroska]

What about fuel? Substandard fuel??

[kmeeg]

  On 11/7/2018 at 5:41 PM, matroska said:

What about fuel? Substandard fuel??

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Exactly what I was thinking. I think oct95 is a must for them and I would suggest only to pump them from a known good gas station.

 

I hope simple things like air filter is checked?

 

Engine oil dip stick is checked? And oil is at the full level and not more than the full level. Does not smell petrol on dip stick. (What i'm trying to tell is that to check for oil and fuel contamination problem.)

[kush]

Hope you are using 95, pump from a reputed place and see.

[RWD]

definitely sounds like bad fuel. Take it out for a long drive and do an Italian Tune up. Then top up again.

On another note how do you know what's a reputed fuel station? Even the well known ones in Colombo have been known to serve substandard fuel.

[kush]

  On 11/8/2018 at 4:02 AM, RWD said:

definitely sounds like bad fuel. Take it out for a long drive and do an Italian Tune up. Then top up again.

On another note how do you know what's a reputed fuel station? Even the well known ones in Colombo have been known to serve substandard fuel.

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Word of mouth, i pump from only one place unless i have to and to date no one has ever mentioned about bad fuel, mixing or any other jugglery that usually happens in these places.

 

[matroska]

  On 11/8/2018 at 4:02 AM, RWD said:

how do you know what's a reputed fuel station

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yeah this is tough - its based on word of mouth as well as personal experience...some stations have a lot of bad rep. Some are well known for example the one run by the navy in Welisara near the Navy camp is well known to be an honest place - hence the long queues there always. 

[RWD]

  On 11/8/2018 at 5:32 AM, matroska said:

yeah this is tough - its based on word of mouth as well as personal experience...some stations have a lot of bad rep. Some are well known for example the one run by the navy in Welisara near the Navy camp is well known to be an honest place - hence the long queues there always. 

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hmmm...guess you can't go wrong at Laugfs then

[Civic las]

Yes I do, 95 was the only used. oil level is fine as well. But i didn't check the air filter since the car is new 4000km on clock. I also change the petrol station as well :-(

 

[Civic las]

  On 11/7/2018 at 5:41 PM, matroska said:

What about fuel? Substandard fuel??

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Yes I do, 95 was the only used. oil level is fine as well. But i didn't check the air filter since the car is new 4000km on clock. I also change the petrol station as well ?

 

[Civic las]

  On 11/8/2018 at 4:02 AM, RWD said:

definitely sounds like bad fuel. Take it out for a long drive and do an Italian Tune up. Then top up again.

On another note how do you know what's a reputed fuel station? Even the well known ones in Colombo have been known to serve substandard fuel.

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Yes I do, 95 was the only used. oil level is fine as well. But i didn't check the air filter since the car is new 4000km on clock. I also change the petrol station as well ?

[ajm]

  On 11/8/2018 at 10:13 AM, Civic las said:

Yes I do, 95 was the only used. oil level is fine as well. But i didn't check the air filter since the car is new 4000km on clock. I also change the petrol station as well ?

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is this 95 the so-called"Euro-3"?

These highly efficient 1L turbocharged Direct injection comes at a price. very sensitive to fuel quality.

[Davy]

  On 11/8/2018 at 10:43 AM, ajm said:

is this 95 the so-called"Euro-3"?

These highly efficient 1L turbocharged Direct injection comes at a price. very sensitive to fuel quality.

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Euro 3 is regular petrol, treated with additives to meet the Euro 3 emission standard which is pretty old. 95 is better than Euro 3. 

Also, the issue is not really with the sensitivity of the engines but with the substandard fuel quality in Sri Lanka. Modern cars have knock sensors that detect engine knock and retard timing to deal with low octane fuels (in case of emergencies), but there are tolerances. 

@Civic las, your best bet is to do a diagnostic scan to find out if the engine is really knocking on load. If it stops knocking after the turbo kicks in, it is likely to be retarded ignition timing which can be due to bad fuel among other things. 

[iRage]

Here is a complete ignoramus question...if the octane level is in doubt can't you put one of those octane boosters and see what happens ?

[Civic las]

 

  On 11/8/2018 at 11:27 AM, Davy said:

Euro 3 is regular petrol, treated with additives to meet the Euro 3 emission standard which is pretty old. 95 is better than Euro 3. 

Also, the issue is not really with the sensitivity of the engines but with the substandard fuel quality in Sri Lanka. Modern cars have knock sensors that detect engine knock and retard timing to deal with low octane fuels (in case of emergencies), but there are tolerances. 

@Civic las, your best bet is to do a diagnostic scan to find out if the engine is really knocking on load. If it stops knocking after the turbo kicks in, it is likely to be retarded ignition timing which can be due to bad fuel among other things. 

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@Davy, yes Stafford did the scanning and no codes found. I think I should change the fuel filter and see. This is annoying me. I did a test run today and got to know that if I accelerate the car slowly(very low RPM's) or in high RPM's (2200-2500) very rarely it appears. However, it mostly appear with moderate pickups(1700-2000). also I notice that the throttle response is very slow when this problem appears.

 

 

  

[Davy]

  On 11/8/2018 at 1:35 PM, iRage said:

Here is a complete ignoramus question...if the octane level is in doubt can't you put one of those octane boosters and see what happens ?

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You can. Wouldn't hurt to try.  

  On 11/8/2018 at 2:00 PM, Civic las said:

 

@Davy, yes Stafford did the scanning and no codes found. I think I should change the fuel filter and see. This is annoying me. I did a test run today and got to know that if I accelerate the car slowly(very low RPM's) or in high RPM's (2200-2500) very rarely it appears. However, it mostly appear with moderate pickups(1700-2000). also I notice that the throttle response is very slow when this problem appears.  

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Did they check your electronic throttle as well?  From your description, it seems to me like there might be a "dead spot" in the throttle position sensor (which I believe is built  into the electronic throttle). I like to think that the agent knows how to check it.

[RWD]

  On 11/8/2018 at 2:00 PM, Civic las said:

 

@Davy, yes Stafford did the scanning and no codes found. I think I should change the fuel filter and see. This is annoying me. I did a test run today and got to know that if I accelerate the car slowly(very low RPM's) or in high RPM's (2200-2500) very rarely it appears. However, it mostly appear with moderate pickups(1700-2000). also I notice that the throttle response is very slow when this problem appears.

 

 

  

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Please let us know the outcome after changing the fuel filter 

[Civic las]

While scanning the car they rave it a bit. Therefore, I guess it was checked. The car was inspected by Mr.Lal Allawattha  today. He concluded it as a power lag and asked me to use an injector cleaner and then an octain booster. Fingers crossed...….

Edited November 9, 2018 by Civic las

[Civic las]

  On 11/9/2018 at 12:45 AM, Davy said:

You can. Wouldn't hurt to try.  

Did they check your electronic throttle as well?  From your description, it seems to me like there might be a "dead spot" in the throttle position sensor (which I believe is built  into the electronic throttle). I like to think that the agent knows how to check it.

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@Dave, While scanning the car they rave it a bit. Therefore, I guess it was checked. The car was inspected by Mr.Lal Allawattha  today. He concluded it as a power lag and asked me to use an injector cleaner and then an octane booster. Fingers crossed...….

Edited November 9, 2018 by Civic las

[Civic las]

  On 11/9/2018 at 5:23 AM, RWD said:

Please let us know the outcome after changing the fuel filter 

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@RWD, Sure will let you know the outcome, The car was inspected by Mr.Lal Allawattha  today. He concluded it as a power lag and asked me to use an injector cleaner and then an octane booster. Based on the outcome, filter, pump etc will be checked. Fingers crossed...….

[ajm]

  On 11/9/2018 at 12:48 PM, Civic las said:

The car was inspected by Mr.Lal Allawattha  today. He concluded it as a power lag and asked me to use an injector cleaner and then an octane booster. 

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No Diagnosis? Hope this Typical trial and error treatment does not create more issues in you engine. I doubt if he has adequeate knowledge about 1.0L Gdi Turbo engines.

[Civic las]

  On 11/9/2018 at 2:18 PM, ajm said:

No Diagnosis? Hope this Typical trial and error treatment does not create more issues in you engine. I doubt if he has adequeate knowledge about 1.0L Gdi Turbo engines.

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@ajm, With experience he concluded that this is related to fuel and the best thing is to go with injector cleaner and octane booster. He is clamming that our fuel is contaminated and most of 1L turbo heavy vehicles suffer with miner power lags. Before inspecting the fuel filter and pump he asked me to try this out. 

[vag2]

  On 11/9/2018 at 12:48 PM, Civic las said:

@RWD, Sure will let you know the outcome, The car was inspected by Mr.Lal Allawattha  today. He concluded it as a power lag and asked me to use an injector cleaner and then an octane booster. Based on the outcome, filter, pump etc will be checked. Fingers crossed...….

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oh,boy. Hope a piece of gunk in the fuel tank doesn't come off by the "magic arishte" from Mr.Potato Estate and block your high pressure fuel pump /fine pitch injector nozzles.

[RWD]

  On 11/9/2018 at 4:17 PM, Civic las said:

@ajm, With experience he concluded that this is related to fuel and the best thing is to go with injector cleaner and octane booster. He is clamming that our fuel is contaminated and most of 1L turbo heavy vehicles suffer with miner power lags. Before inspecting the fuel filter and pump he asked me to try this out. 

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@Civic lasany update? Did this solve your issue?

[Civic las]

sorry, I couldn't use the car that much in the last couple of weeks. with the injector cleaner the problem is 80% solved and im sure it will despair with the next refilling and octane booster. Anyway, will let you know the outcome in the near future.