Noise from my engine

[AnthonyO3]

there is a weird knocking noise coming from spark plug wire area. It sounds like the noise is coming from the second spark plug from the right. When the car is on it looks like the spark plug wire doesnt connect all the way. Then if you put your finger on the wire you can fell a real fast knocking. It just doesnt sound right. and if you put your hand over the wire you can feal real fast puffs of air, i mean you can feel them over the other spark plugs but barely but on this certain one its a whole lot stronger than the other ones.
Can anybody tell me what they think the problem is? Plus when I replaced my spark plugs the other day all the spark plugs were covered with carbon. The spark plugs that were covered with carbon were the Bosch Platinum 4 spark plugs could these plugs have anything to do with the problem, please any insight would help.
Thanks,
Anthony

 

[fastdrvr23]

there is a weird knocking noise coming from spark plug wire area. It sounds like the noise is coming from the second spark plug from the right. When the car is on it looks like the spark plug wire doesnt connect all the way. Then if you put your finger on the wire you can fell a real fast knocking. It just doesnt sound right. and if you put your hand over the wire you can feal real fast puffs of air, i mean you can feel them over the other spark plugs but barely but on this certain one its a whole lot stronger than the other ones.
Can anybody tell me what they think the problem is? Plus when I replaced my spark plugs the other day all the spark plugs were covered with carbon. The spark plugs that were covered with carbon were the Bosch Platinum 4 spark plugs could these plugs have anything to do with the problem, please any insight would help.
Thanks,
Anthony

You need to pull the plug if you are feeling air coming out of that hole in the valve cover. It sounds like the plug isn't tight... I would check that first and see what you come up with.

 

[AnthonyO3]

thanks alot, i will try that later on today, do you have any idea about the carbon?

 

[fastdrvr23]

thanks alot, i will try that later on today, do you have any idea about the carbon?

I'm not really sure what could be the cause of the carbon deposits...

A couple of guesses though:

Where the plugs the correct heat range?

Do you use good gas, ie a well known brand, and the octane recommended for the car? (87 octane for 2.0L Pros)

Lots of hard driving before the engine reaches operating temp.?

Heck, it might be the fact that they were plus 4's... I've only ever used NGK's in the 3 mazda's I've owned. I'm sure there are some people here that've used the Boschs, maybe they'll chime in.

Thats about all I can think of, let us know what you find if you pull the plug out...

 

[AnthonyO3]

I pulled out the plug today and there was a lil bit of carbon, but not alot. I use 93 octane gas all the time, nothing less. I am going to baby it the next couple of weeks, see if i see any improvement.
Thanks,
Anthony
P.S.
Oh yea thanks alot earlier about the advice about the spark plug being loose, that was the exact problem, no more knocking and no more air gushes, thank you soooooo much
Anthony

 

[uclap5]

93 octane could be the cause of your problems...

also a waste of money. and a detriment to performance. that is, unless you are turboed or installed the high compression pistons.

 

[AnthonyO3]

I thought because of the advanced timing on the Mp3 it was better to use 93 octane or it would cause knocking, what octane would you reccomend?

 

[uclap5]

oh, never mind.

you didnt post what you had. hehe.

 

[AnthonyO3]

so what type of gas should i use for better performance. I have a Mp3 and i thought that it would be better because of the advanced timing that the Mp3 has.

 

[uclap5]

well, carbon build up is often a sign of running rich.

what is causing that? i have no clue. wrong plug heat range, clogged injectors, anything that could be causing it to run rich. i dont think its your gas anymore, its most likely something else.

 

[PaulMP3]

so what type of gas should i use for better performance. I have a Mp3 and i thought that it would be better because of the advanced timing that the Mp3 has.

yea, you want higher octane in the mp3. i use 93 or 94 always.

 

[AnthonyO3]

Ok just making sure, Uclap5 thanks alot for all the info, in one of the threads you said that it might be clogged up injectors, so should i go out and buy injector cleaner?
Can anybody give me more examples of why my car is running rich?
Or what i can do, i guess u can call it make it run "un-rich" ?
Thanks,
Anthony