3 Common Bad Rocker Arm Symptoms

Rocker arms are components that open and close valves in the engine, allowing the air and fuel to enter the cylinders and exhaust gases to escape. The failure of a rocker’s arm can often cause severe symptoms that may have to be taken care of.

A Broken Rocker Arm Causes Symptoms

1.Ticking or Clicking Noise

Ticking or clicking sounds like the engine is idling with a heavy load or the car is running under load. A rocker arm’s disrepair or a misaligned position creates abnormally high friction and wear on the valve train components, producing this noise.

2.Loss of Engine Power and Performance

The engine’s efficiency is affected when the valves don’t move properly. If one or more rocker arms are non-functional due to being bent or broken, the valves do not open or close at the right time. This will disrupt your engine’s combustion process, and the car will experience an apparent reduction in power.

3.Rough Idling or Stalling

If a rocker arm issue occurs, your vehicle may even show signs of rough idling or stalling. The problem is caused by poor valve timing, usually a bad rocker arm, leading to misfiring or uneven combustion in the affected cylinder, making the engine run rough, especially at idle speeds.

How Long Can You Drive with a Bad Rocker Arm

Even though driving a short distance with a broken rocker arm repair is possible, it is not recommended. Driving the car in this condition puts additional load on the standard wearing parts of the valve train. This issue can rapidly evolve to the point where the wearing could be extensive and require expensive repair costs.

Can a Bad Rocker Arm Cause a Misfire?

Yes, a bad rocker arm can indeed make the engine misfire. This is because the rocker’s arm has been loose, worn out, or broken, so the movements of the valves won’t open and close in time.

Rocker Arm Maintenance

One of the best ways to avoid lousy rocker arm symptoms and prolong your vehicle’s train valve is by following the recommended maintenance schedule in your manual. In addition, you should regularly change the oil using the correct type and viscosity of the engine oil.

Performing a check-up on the oil level occasionally is a good practice. If the oil is below the required level, top it up. In case of any abnormal noise, vibration, or poor performance, you need to have your vehicle looked into by a professional motor mechanic without further delay. 

Conclusion

Rocker arms are the main elements affecting the performance of your engine. Therefore, they must be given immediate attention if they go wrong. If you have a concern with your rocker’s arms, please do not hesitate to get your vehicle checked by a professional.