EagleTalonTim
15+ Year Contributor
- 833
- 13
- Jan 10, 2007
-
Brighton,
Tennessee
Well, there are a number of things this could be, but before I go breaking loose the rods, I want to get some feedback on what someone may suspect this is. Unfortunately, I did not get a video of this sound since I wanted to get into the oil pan before dark.
Here is the problem I am experiencing.... For the past 3 or 4 days, I started hearing a slight tapping sound that was not steady in the engine area when sitting at a stop light. The sound only happens at about 900 rpm...no higher, no lower. Higher RPM, everything is normal, idle rpm (750) the sound is not there. As soon as I press the gas a slight bit, the tapping sound shows up but is still not a consistent tap. I jacked the car up this evening and tested to see if the transmission was my issue. When I got under the car and had a friend rev the engine a bit, the sound was clearly coming from the oil pan close to the #3 cylinder. So far, I have drained the oil which is perfectly normal and actually in need of a change (no flakes or shavings), dropped the oil pan, and rotated the crank around so I could see if the rods had slack in them. All the rods have about 1/64 or 1/32 of an inch play side to side from left to right. I can't really tell if there is up and down slack since the pistons don't move as easy. I can tell that when I push up on the rod caps, the oil around it gets "thicker" and when I let go, the oil seems to suck back into the bearings.
I just replaced the bearings about 10,000 miles ago with ACL bearings fit to stock specs. I do not have a micrometer, so checking specs is really hard to do. Of course, I did break in the bearings like stated in several rebuild forums by driving 500 miles and changing the oil and taking it easy on it. Currently, I am running 20psi with an EVO III 16g and never go over 6k RPM. The oil pump was BRAND new and was put on right before winter and before the bearings were put in. So, if anyone has and ideas on what to check for or if the slack in the rods is ok, please help! This is my only vehicle and I really need to get it going again soon.
Here is the problem I am experiencing.... For the past 3 or 4 days, I started hearing a slight tapping sound that was not steady in the engine area when sitting at a stop light. The sound only happens at about 900 rpm...no higher, no lower. Higher RPM, everything is normal, idle rpm (750) the sound is not there. As soon as I press the gas a slight bit, the tapping sound shows up but is still not a consistent tap. I jacked the car up this evening and tested to see if the transmission was my issue. When I got under the car and had a friend rev the engine a bit, the sound was clearly coming from the oil pan close to the #3 cylinder. So far, I have drained the oil which is perfectly normal and actually in need of a change (no flakes or shavings), dropped the oil pan, and rotated the crank around so I could see if the rods had slack in them. All the rods have about 1/64 or 1/32 of an inch play side to side from left to right. I can't really tell if there is up and down slack since the pistons don't move as easy. I can tell that when I push up on the rod caps, the oil around it gets "thicker" and when I let go, the oil seems to suck back into the bearings.
I just replaced the bearings about 10,000 miles ago with ACL bearings fit to stock specs. I do not have a micrometer, so checking specs is really hard to do. Of course, I did break in the bearings like stated in several rebuild forums by driving 500 miles and changing the oil and taking it easy on it. Currently, I am running 20psi with an EVO III 16g and never go over 6k RPM. The oil pump was BRAND new and was put on right before winter and before the bearings were put in. So, if anyone has and ideas on what to check for or if the slack in the rods is ok, please help! This is my only vehicle and I really need to get it going again soon.
