Bring your vehicle to Mike’s Auto Service & Repair if the engine is rumbling very loudly. This is a sign that you need a new muffler because the old one has a hole in it. It can also be an indication that someone has stolen the catalytic converter out of the exhaust system. If you know the latter to be true, have your vehicle towed to our shop so you do not inhale your vehicle’s exhaust while you are driving.
Grinding
Rumbling is just one strange sound an engine can make. If your engine is being starved of oil, the moving parts will grind against each other. You may hear the grinding or it may sound like another metallic noise, such as scraping. Driving the engine when it does not have enough motor oil in it can actually damage it to the point that it cannot be repaired. Get regular oil changes to prevent this problem.
Knocking
An engine can also knock. This can be a sign that the pistons are not moving up and down inside the cylinders smoothly. Rather, they are making contact with the cylinder walls because the rod bearings are worn. Another thing that will make your car’s engine knock is poor detonation. Several things can create detonation problems in the combustion chamber including spark plugs and wires that are worn.
Popping
The exhaust system tends to pop when it has a problem. Specifically, the exhaust manifold may pop or tap if it is leaking. If the leak is a small one, the manifold may hiss. The muffler can also pop if it has a hole in it, especially when you accelerate. Finally, you might also end up with a popping catalytic converter if it has been clogged by the carbon deposits that it removes from the exhaust.
Sizzling
A sizzling or boiling engine is a bad sign. This can be a sign of a fluid leak or scorching coolant, respectively. If the latter is the case, your engine will also overheat. In fact, it will be the hot engine temperature that causes the coolant to boil. If the engine is sizzling, you are likely experiencing fluid leaking onto engine parts that are hot. The fluid sizzles when it makes contact with the parts.
Finally, Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA, advises that your engine may also make a squealing noise if you need to have the accessory belt tightened. Don’t worry. We can take care of any engine noise that is out of the ordinary.
