Honda Accord Engine Knocks on Lower Octane Level Fuel

salrock on 08/05/2022 - 14:47
Last edited 08/05/2022 - 16:55 by 1 other user

Issue : Car engine knocks . Honda Accord 2008.

This can be due to many factors hence decided to take car to a mechanic . 1st mechanic said can be because of low oil level and did full service which did not result in any success.

Took car to 2nd mechanic who said it's engine knocking(duh) and seems like bad fuel and just added fuel stabliser which did not help.

I did some research and filled tank with 98 petrol instead of 91 which solved the problem. Note car recommendation is 91 octane level petrol and it still knocks when I fill tank with 91

Question :

  1. Drive the car on 98 or 95 ?
  2. Anyone with similar issue can recommend what is wrong ?
  3. Can any one recommend a good mechanic located in North or West of Melbourne? (Imp)

Thanks

Automotive Car Honda

Comments

  • Keplaffintech on 08/05/2022 - 14:48
    +1

    2008 Honda Accord is ethanol fuel suitable. Try E10, it has a higher octane of 94 which might be enough to reduce knocking.

    Or if you buy into all the unscientific fearmongering over E10 then sure, spend more on 95 or 98.

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 14:50
      +2

      Hmm it does says E10 and 91 on fuel cap .

      • HairyChickens on 08/05/2022 - 14:57

        I had a 1999 Toyota Camry years ago in which I used E10 (because I'm cheap of course) and experience engine knocking and vibrations.

        Mechanic suggested I switch back to U91 and it disappeared. Note U91 is recommended for the Camry.

        • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 14:59

          It seems like my car engine might have timing issues or something else like kock sensor ?

          • Hithere on 08/05/2022 - 15:18

            @salrock: It's also possible that your spark plugs may need cleaning/replacing.

            They have been known to cause knocking by not igniting the fuel properly

        • pegaxs on 08/05/2022 - 15:39

          Well, that doesn’t make sense. E10 is 94RON, and U91 is, well, 91RON. Going back to U91 should have made it worse, not better.

          • HairyChickens on 08/05/2022 - 16:18
            +2

            @pegaxs: Camrys are built different. Leave them alone you are hurting its feelings

        • Cave Fire on 08/05/2022 - 21:46

          have a 98 camry with the1mzfe (v6) and no issues with e10. Should an e10 sticker somewhere or yours is missing. Switched on an almost empty tank, so the ecu picks up the difference. There was a little splutter on revving hard for the first time. After that the engine was much quieter. Definitely less power though. The e10 is meant to clean out certain parts as it is an alcohol. Also did injector cleans with 95 petrol a month or so to changing.

      • boxtrot19 on 09/05/2022 - 10:29

        I have a 2004 Accord Euro, 4cyl 2.4l, fuel filler hatch stipulates use Premium only. I've always put 95 in, without issue. The knocking problem fits perfectly if you're putting lower octane in than recommended….but you do mention yours stating E10 & 91 as being ok, yet fixing the issue with Premium - case solved, good work!
        I'd stop short of 98 for it, mind you.

    • skillet on 09/05/2022 - 09:45

      Run a few tank of E10, it will clean your fuel system. Add some fuel system cleaner to your fuel tank while your at it. Now switch back to 91 see if your knock is gone. If not, remove the fuel injectors get them cleaned and fuel filter changed. Next do the spark plugs. Check the MAF sensors as well although it's very uncommon to be dirty if you have been fitting quality air filters.

    • HeWhoKnows on 09/05/2022 - 21:09

      Knocking or "pinging "on lower octane is "normal"
      No need for a mechanic
      The car is telling you its not happy with that fuel
      Just put higher octane fuel in it

  • HairyChickens on 08/05/2022 - 14:59
    +11

    Car Engine Knocks

    Have you tried answering the door

    Laughs in JV

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 15:00

      Lol yeah JV . I tried .

  • apsilon on 08/05/2022 - 15:14

    New car to you? Not familiar with that model so not certain timing can be manually adjusted but thinking previous owner might've adjusted the timing to require the higher octane. Common to do on some older cars for a bit more power.

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 16:13

      Yes less than year old

      • apsilon on 08/05/2022 - 16:36

        Well I assume this isn't the first time you've filled up in a year so likely not the issue.

  • spackbace on 08/05/2022 - 15:24
    -3

    Sounds like you might wanna save for a new car…

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 16:25
      +2

      Possible outcome of this saga. You seem like a sales person lol

      • Switchblade88 on 08/05/2022 - 23:07

        You seem like a sales person lol

        That was indeed an accurate guess!

  • pegaxs on 08/05/2022 - 15:36

    To fill up the car with 98 would cost more than the car is worth, making it an economical write off…

    Also, if it is pinging on 91 and not on 98, either your timing is (fropanity) up, your injectors are clogged/stuffed or your pistons are covered in carbon, creating hotspots.

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 16:08

      Either timing or last owner never bothered to change spark plugs . Yes carbon is also a probable cause of fuel burning sooner . If only I could find a good mechanic so that I could avoid paying going thru the whole list.

      • trex on 08/05/2022 - 17:45
        +1

        Get a bottle of this $11.19 at SCA (or two bottles for $20 at Repco). Drive your car hard to clean the injectors.

        If you know how to DIY, change the spark plugs.

        • salrock on 09/05/2022 - 00:05
          +1
          1. Spark plugs
          2. Injector cleaning
          3. Knock sensor change
          4. Engine timing fix

          These are possible fixes . Thinking 1 and 2 via DIY

          • reactor-au on 09/05/2022 - 09:17

            @salrock: Wouldn't say 2 is DIY but mileage will vary (pun intended)

        • OZBargainer in SA on 09/05/2022 - 09:51

          i.e. after you pour in the fuel injector cleaner, run on the highway for more than 1/2 hour to get the injectors and plugs hot.

  • elgrande on 08/05/2022 - 15:52
    +1

    98 cheaper than a new engine …

  • Boioioioi on 08/05/2022 - 16:03

    Maybe you could take it to someone who knows about Honda tuning? Sounds like it would have something to do with the ignition timing. Maybe the engine has an aftermarket tune on it, and its tuned to suit 98 now, as another guy said.

    • salrock on 08/05/2022 - 16:11

      Yes mate trying to find one. Last time drove an hr for one without any success

      • Boioioioi on 08/05/2022 - 16:39

        Maybe try asking in a Honda enthusiast forum or facebook page in your area

  • pharkurnell on 08/05/2022 - 16:41
    -1

    Not sure why your asking here and just not trying 98.

    • salrock on 09/05/2022 - 00:07
      +1

      Mate car is not designed for 98 and its expensive.

      • skillet on 09/05/2022 - 09:51

        Try half 91 and half 98

  • GordonD on 08/05/2022 - 16:51

    Could be that the knock sensor isn't working, so the ECU is assuming 94+ octane fuel, even when it isn't.

    Back in the days of distributers you could get this with wrong timing. But that's all done now with a fixed crankshaft position sensor and software in the ECU. So unless that's been changed its unlikely to be that. Mine was programmed from the factory to get the best from 95 octane, and I had mine reprogrammed to get a little more again from 98 octane, but that's unlikely in an Accord.

    • salrock on 09/05/2022 - 00:11
      1. Spark plugs
      2. Injector cleaning
      3. Knock sensor change
      4. Engine timing fix

      These are possible fixes . Thinking 1 and 2 via DIY

  • Shpox on 08/05/2022 - 22:40
    +2

    Hi Mate, I have a 2008 Honda Accord and had the same issue. I have about 150k on the clock now, or so. Didn't happen when the car was new, but eventually did. I end up using 95 which for the most parts, doesn't knock.

    • menocheapsk8 on 09/05/2022 - 09:38

      Any idea why this would work?

      • Keplaffintech on 09/05/2022 - 10:43
        +1

        higher octane prevents knock

    • OZBargainer in SA on 09/05/2022 - 09:54

      I don't have experience with that car (and practical experience trumps general advice) but I have heard that carbon deposits can cause pre-ignition/knocking.

  • SlavOz on 13/05/2022 - 15:58

    I've owned 3 Honda Accords in the past and all of them say "minimum 95 fuel" on the inside of the fuel flap. I currently own an 06 model which says the same thing.

    Not like Honda is a premium brand but they do make very good engines which are designed to spit out some reasonable power, thus E10 fuel wouldn't be suitable. Only use E10 on cheapy cheap cars or smart budget designs like Toyotas.

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