Your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine will growl, grind, or make other metallic noises if there is little to no motor oil circulating through it. This can happen if the oil filter gets clogged. Continuing to drive the vehicle without oil can damage the engine beyond repair.
The engine will also growl if the alternator is going bad. The alternator will make growling noises if its internal mechanisms are wearing out. The same is true with the water pump, which can also make a growling or grinding noise in the front of the engine.
Hissing
You never want to hear your engine growl, but you also don’t want to hear it hiss. When this happens, you may have a leaking vacuum hose in the engine that needs to be replaced. If the hissing sound also sounds like sizzling, you’ve got a fluid leak in the engine.
Knocking
Another noise you do not want to hear coming from the engine is a knocking sound. This can be a bad sign that the cylinder block needs to be rebuilt. It can be a sign that the pistons are knocking against the inside of the cylinders because the rod bearings are worn out.
Rumbling
Does your engine rumble like a race car? That may sound cool, but it is also a sign that the muffler is damaged, the catalytic converter is clogged, or the catalytic converter has been stolen. The rumbling will get louder when you accelerate/press down on the accelerator.
Squealing
A squealing engine is most likely a loose serpentine belt that needs to be replaced. To move away from the engine for just a moment, squealing brakes are a sign that the brakes are overheating or the brake pads need to be replaced because the surfaces are too low.
Tapping
Finally, your engine may tap if there is a hole in the exhaust manifold. A crack in the exhaust manifold’s gasket can also make the engine tap. This may also sound as if the engine is popping, and another thing that can cause a popping sound is a clogged catalytic converter.
Don’t take chances. Call us right away if your automobile’s engine is making a strange sound. As we mentioned in the introduction, the sound could be the sound of the engine being damaged. We will inspect the engine and find the source of the strange noise. We will fix the problem once you approve the repairs. Call us today.