360 Engine Knocking After Major Service . . .

I can't help you with your specific car but I've had the same worries about my own cars after service.

Once I was told, "it's a mechanical engine, it just makes noise." Which I already knew but the engine was making twice as much noise as I was used to. Sure enough I get it back in the garage and the valves were in need of more adjustment. Sheesh!

Another time I was told, "it's a 25 year old car, it's adjusted and tuned as much as possible, in your next service we'll have to order new parts for the engine." Sure enough it drove well for many thousands of kms and in the next service we replaced a few parts and it ran like new for another long stint.

If you are worried about the car/ noise. Go to the service manager and state your concerns. Say specifically why you're worried and you just want your car to be healthy. If you get the same story from him and it's a good shop with a good rep, get an estimate of when the noise should settle down {and what exactly is making the noise} then drive off and keep an ear out. If the estimated time should pass and the noise not diminish, go back or if it's far away call them and state your case. I doubt they would let a car leave with engine parts slapping together but it's been known to happen.

 

Maybe pick the car up and take it for a good long drive yourself and see if the noise is still there? I am assuming they adjusted the valves in this major service, if he is saying its hydraulic and it will fix itself over time. I have a feeling that they need to check/re-shim them again.

 

Hi Omar. Engine knocking can be only fuel/combustion related. If the car was sitting for too long, you could have some condensation build up in the fuel tank or in the fuel lines, especially in warm countries which could lead to knocking until the water is consumed. If fuel type was changed you could get some knocking. If sparkplugs were changed you could get some knocking until the ECU will re-adjust to proper ignition timing. Knocking should disappear after about 100+ kms once the ECU re-adjusts to the correct ignition timing. Fill the car up with the fuel you used to drive her with and drive for about 100kms and let us know if the knocking vanishes.

With hydraulic, I guess the guy means the hydraulic valve lifters. If valves were adjusted, the ECU will definitely need some time to re-adjust and to correct ignition timing as fuel mixture, timings,..etc. change. Just drive her for a while and knocking should disappear.

 

Engine knocking is caused typically by improper advance under load and/or high cylinder temps. Anything that causes the compressed air/fuel mixture to explode incorrectly and/or if the flame front of the explosion is uncontrolled. Usually it's poor gas or something off with the timing.

Did you clear the ECU when the car was cold? I would do that for sure. I would also put some injector cleaner in and make sure you are using the highest octane gas you can (here in the US, the highest we can generally find is 91). What do you have there? You should always use the highest.

The other issue is that if they got the cam timing wrong during the belt change, it could be producing the problem. What specifically did they do to the car during the service?

Ray

 

To hear the detonation that the "knock sensors" are there for you must have a very good sense of hearing. If you are hearing a knocking after the service, make sure it has enough of the right oil in it before you go to far!!
Should be better after service, not worse

 

Someone mentioned shimming the valves. I thought the 360's were hydraulic lifters? They shouldn't need adjustment either.

Clearance checking is however imperative. However, if the valves were adjusted inaccurately, it could constitute some lifter noise. On the other hand, if the car had been sitting for a while, don't be surprised it may knock a little due to poor lubrication of the lifters, or temporary lack there of. If this is the case, driving the car more to get oil in the lifters sure would help.

The timing alteration can also cause knocking if it's not correctly adjusted.

 

It shouldnt sound like knocking after a proper service!

Also in the event of changing the spark plugs Ferrari workshop manuals actual advise to hook up the car back to the SD2 computer and do a full reset, definately no knocking. You'll just get the usual self-learning procedure but not knocking.

I'd want them to check the valve timings all over again and also that it has enough oil!