KNOCKING PHENOMENON IN ENGINE

Knocking/Detonation/Pinging/Pinking:
Under normal conditions, the combusting air-fuel
mixture in the combustion chamber ignites in a
controlled manner. The mixture is ignited by the
spark, normally at the center of the cylinder, and a
flame front moves from the spark towards the
outside of the cylinder in a controlled burn. Engine
knock occurs, simply when the fuel pre-ignites
before the piston reaches scheduled spark ignition.
This means a powerful explosion is trying to
expand a cylinder chamber that is shrinking in size,
attempting to reverse the direction of piston and
the engine causing sudden pressure changes in the
cylinder chambers and extreme temperature
spikes.

Causes of Knocking:
High or incorrect compression ratio causes
incomplete combustion of fuel which causes
engine knock.
Incorrect ignition timing and incorrect setup of
spark plug causes knocking.
Chemical composition of fuel is also
responsible for knocking.
Carbon deposits on the cylinder wall causes
knocking.

How to reduce knocking:

Appropriate compression ratio.

Correct setup of spark plugs.
Using high quality fuel.
Using pre-combustion chamber.

Effects of knocking:

Knocking causes extreme vibration in the

cylinder and it can damage delicate parts of
engine.