C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Knock Sensor Question

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Old May 2, 2006 | 07:26 PM
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Default Knock Sensor Question

I replaced my knock sensor this weekend and excepted to get soaked with coolant, but it didn't happen. Is this something to be worried about? There was just a small amount on the sensor itself and a little inside the block. The car was on jack stands and I did not drain any coolant before hand.

Car is an 87 l-98 auto, knock sensor came up bad following FSM testing. I'm not having a cooling issues, just had occasonial engine knock under load. Since replacing the sensor all is good according to my ear and datamaster.

TIA

cmontel
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Old May 2, 2006 | 07:33 PM
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The knock sensor threads into the block drain hole in the right side of the block. Your description is one of "deferred maintenance". When is the last time, and how often, do you thoroughly flush your cooling system? The only thing that prevented your taking a shower was rust flakes and sediment blocking the drain hole.

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Old May 2, 2006 | 07:48 PM
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I changed the coolant last summer, when I replaced the water pump. I have only owned the car for two years. I'm not sure if the prior owner did any maintenance, it seems like the car was barely touched. Everything looked original including all the fluids.

I quess I will be changing the coolant and again this summer using a my local mechanic and a power flush system.

Thanks for the quick reply CFI-EFI
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Old May 2, 2006 | 08:23 PM
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Old May 3, 2006 | 03:56 AM
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Mine had solid metal behind it. (Surely CFI will tell me I'm hallucinating). Perhaps the holes didn't make it all the way into the water jacket on some blocks. Yours obviously had at least some opening, but maybe not much.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 08:11 AM
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Well that makes me feel a little better... I was picturing a block full of sludge, maybe it's half-full instead.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Mine had solid metal behind it. (Surely CFI will tell me I'm hallucinating). Perhaps the holes didn't make it all the way into the water jacket on some blocks. Yours obviously had at least some opening, but maybe not much.
I had 2 blocks like this. It appeared that they were not drilled completely through. I took a punch and twanked the thin piece of metal out. It allowed for complete draining of the block.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 08:30 AM
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My car is meticulously maintained, especially the fluids. When I changed out my knock sensor, I might have gotten three drops of coolant on the driveway. I too expected a shower, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
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Old May 3, 2006 | 07:48 PM
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Thanks everyone for your posts!! I will flush and refill my coolant and call it day on this issue. Sounds hopeful that the insides of my engine are not a total mess
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Old May 3, 2006 | 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by cmontel727


Thanks everyone for your posts!! I will flush and refill my coolant and call it day on this issue. Sounds hopeful that the insides of my engine are not a total mess
Let's hope so...however, I once stripped an engine to find a gel-like substance in the coolant passages low in the block. Turns out that previously two different coolants had been used without the first one being completely removed. Seems that some coolants cannot live with each other and react by forming a sludge....this would stop coolant from draining...
Perhaps when you flush your coolant, it might be an idea to remove your ks again and pry in to it's recess to see what is in there...!
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Old May 3, 2006 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Mine had solid metal behind it. (Surely CFI will tell me I'm hallucinating). Perhaps the holes didn't make it all the way into the water jacket on some blocks. Yours obviously had at least some opening, but maybe not much.
Call it (hallucinating?) what you like. I have had several that it took pounding with the heel of the palm if my hand on the screwdriver handle to break through. That sediment and rust can get pretty solid. Do you really think they use a special "bottoming" NPT tap on those drain plug holes, just to fool people? And if you don't believe they are drain plug holes, why do you think they have been there longer than a "knock sensor" was a gleam in it's inventor's eye?

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Old May 4, 2006 | 09:11 AM
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Was your system sealed when you pulled the sensor? I have removed knock sensors on my car and if I leave the pressure cap on I can remove and replace the sensor without getting douched. Now if I remove the cap the water streams out instead of dribbling .
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Old May 4, 2006 | 11:42 AM
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sludge and rust scale is what it is. once again cfi-efi is correct. i just removed knock senser and block plug yesterday and no antifreeze would drain. it looked like solid metal in there. when you start probing and scraping the recess of the bolt hole, be sure to have eye goggles on. there's alot of fluid in there.
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Old May 4, 2006 | 11:54 AM
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My did drain, with the engine on the stand I forgot to pull the sensor outside when I pulled the motor and once in the garage I pulled it and made a big ol' mess
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Old May 4, 2006 | 07:59 PM
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Also, I've read that GM does not recommend retorquing the knock sensor. (read: don't re-install it).
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