New guy with a 2013 Escalade ESV Premium AWD

Today, I replaced knock sensors 1 (driver's side) and 2 (passenger's side).
Biggest part was finding the right angle to shove my hands in for access.
I had to R&R the front drive shaft from the front axle to get enough room to shove my gorilla paw in to get knock sensor 1 done. For torquing the knock sensors to 18 ft/lbs, I ran long extensions and had the torque wrench outside the frame rails.
It worked.

skpyle said:

Today, I replaced knock sensors 1 (driver's side) and 2 (passenger's side).
Biggest part was finding the right angle to shove my hands in for access.
I had to R&R the front drive shaft from the front axle to get enough room to shove my gorilla paw in to get knock sensor 1 done. For torquing the knock sensors to 18 ft/lbs, I ran long extensions and had the torque wrench outside the frame rails.
It worked.

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I'll be interested to learn if changing the knock sensors changes the results you're seeing in the monitor. AFAIK, those are not a maintenance item, but perhaps they should be.

To be honest, I feel the same way. I replaced them as part of the troubleshooting, based upon the spiked readings I was getting.
I plan on monitoring knocks on my way to work tomorrow evening.
Also, might be based upon age, though my Escalade is only 9 years old.

skpyle said:

To be honest, I feel the same way. I replaced them as part of the troubleshooting, based upon the spiked readings I was getting.
I plan on monitoring knocks on my way to work tomorrow evening.
Also, might be based upon age, though my Escalade is only 9 years old.

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Could those spikes be related to Torque Management?

I don't know. The spikes were random, and the vehicle speed was relatively constant, as was perceived engine load (by me).

I monitored knocks on cylinders 2, 4, and 5 on the way to work yesterday evening. I still saw some spikes, but I realized I was looking at them on a scale of 1 to 0. Meaning yes or no. Not magnitude of the knock. I switched to Live Plot of total knock retard. That was quieter. Though, I saw a few 5 degree knock retard events. Sometimes at steady state cruising. Accelerating brought the occasional 1 degree knock retard.
To be honest, I don't really understand what I am looking at.
On that note, do LS engines have minor knock as they run? Is what I am seeing normal?

This morning, I will be monitoring the OCTSL_M factor value on the EFILive AutoCal V3 on the drive home. We will see if it looks any better.

I am considering loading the stock tune back in the engine and looking at the same data on both the Tech 2 and the AutoCal V3.

Nice approach on identifying what the norm may end up being and using real data for the root cause. I’ve always wondered what a new factory motor would show and if this is the norm.

petethepug said:

Nice approach on identifying what the norm may end up being and using real data for the root cause. I’ve always wondered what a new factory motor would show and if this is the norm.

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Thanks!

To be honest, I am making this up as I go.

In the Navy, I was taught to troubleshoot equipment down in the engine rooms. I am now paid to do the same thing in a heavy stamping facility.

I approach my vehicles in the same way. Try to develop a logical plan, observe all data, use any and all resources available to me, and try to make sense of what I am seeing.


This morning, I monitored the OCTSL_M factor value on my drive home from work. It started at 0.191 in the parking lot, then dropped to 0.00 as I drove on surface streets.
Once I hit the highway, the value started to rise, then cycled up and down. All changes were gradual, no spikes.
Max I saw on the highway was 0.101, with 0.00 as minimum. Avg was 0.048 - 0.055.

I could not really see a pattern to the rise and fall of the value. It would go up during steady state. It would go down during accelerating. It would go up when accelerating. It would go down when steady state.

I refueled with 25.5 gallons of 93 Octane ethanol gasoline at my local QT just before I got to work last night.
I will drive a couple more days, then monitor the OCTSL_M factor value again.
See how it is on 93 octane again.

In that case, I can want a ride in the 928S or at least a few pics. I’ll put money that car is dialed in and overbuilt on all of its known Achilles heels like a spit polished engine room.

petethepug said:

In that case, I can want a ride in the 928S or at least a few pics. I’ll put money that car is dialed in and overbuilt on all of its known Achilles heels like a spit polished engine room.

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It is not...yet. But it will be.