What does a knock sensor do

thexav

Pro Tuner
Staff member
Points
407
Car
2002 Clio 172
I think I know the rough idea but can anyone actually explain what a knock sensor does? #

What is knock?

Will a car still run without a knock sensor?
 
What is knock?
Knock is when the petrol explodes prematurely due to compression. This causes the piston that is rising to rattle around and knock on the sides of the cylinder. Very bad. Will destroy an engine quickly.

what a knock sensor does?
Senses when the above is happening. If the ECU is any good it will then retard the timing a little to make the spark do the igniting rather than compression.

Will a car still run without a knock sensor?
Guessing that older cars dont have one, I'd say yes.
 
Last edited:
Great answers @Lunchmoney couldn't explain it better myself.

Even some aftermarket ECU's do not come with a knock sensor. By trimming back fuelling, ignition and boost to within safe levels you should not need it.

The Knock sensor is there to protect the engine should the fuel start to prematurely ignite. Running a piston against the crank in reverse by igniting too early is not going to do the engine much good at all.

It's amazing how quickly the knock sensor cuts in, and it has saved many highly tuned project cars from being destroyed.
 
The knock sensor detects preignition and detonation, potentially damaging forms of abnormal combustion.
When human ear can't detect these problems, the sensor works well.
A car still can run without it but it is, of course, an essential thing.
 

Please watch this on my YouTube channel & Subscribe.


Back
Top