Pre-Det knock - Octane?

[diverjeff]

Hey everyone:

'87 2.0 DOHC with 98K actual with original timing belt. Have been hearing spark knocking while pulling hills. Don't hear the knocking with higher rpm's. Wife said to turn up radio. Wife now walking to work.

Really, a few questions:

1. Will higher octane make a difference?
2. Can EGR be cleaned and could that be a possibility?
3. Could it be timing belt or are the belts toothed to prevent jumping time?

Car is running great. No loss of power just the knocking.

Thanks for the help!!

Jeff

[white3ch0c0late]

^LMAO, you and your wife jokes are hilarious

Well.. have you checked the spark plugs?

[Mike Gerber]

1. Yes

2. Yes. I would try this first.

3. Possibly, but probably not since you said "the car is running great; no loss of power."

It could also be carbon buildup around the valves. Do a search on this forum for "Seafoam" or take it to a pro to have the carbon removed from the engine.

Also, get that timing belt out of there. It could break at any time and leave you stranded. It is on borrowed time. I don't remember if the 3SFE engine in your car is an interference or non-interference engine. If it is an interference engine and that timing belt breaks, you could experience severe engine damage; valves hitting the tops of the pistons and destroying the engine. Do a search here on "interference engines" to check for certain. Either way, change that belt out.

Here's a good site to check on whether your engine is an interference engine or not:

http://www.gates.com/downloads/downl...older=brochure

Mike

[diverjeff]

Hey,

Thanks for the heads-up. Tried to remove a lot of carbon last weekend by putting 3 qts. of ATF in the oil but thanks to you all, saved the engine.

Any websites that have a process on how to change timing belt? I'm pretty handy with a tool (at least that's what my wife of 24 years says). Have a Chilton book but it shows lots of different models.

Will take a look at the plugs this weekend also. Thanks again for the help.

Jeff

[atobe]

http://autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker...3d8013e607.jsp follow the 3sfe since that's your engine