Knock/Rattle under valve cover, confused.

[jukematt]

I just got EvoScan and a logging cable and did a couple of runs to check what my car is doing. Turns out I am running really lean in the top end especially (which was also evidenced by my high EGT temps). Well she was fine after the runs. Then a couple of days later I noticed a knocking/rattling sound when I went just 2000 RPM and higher. The higher the RPM the faster and louder the sound was.

I popped the hood and revved the engine to listen where it was coming from and it sounded like right under the valve cover near cylinder one. I also took out the cylinder one spark plug wire and the sound was still there. After some searching on here, I read that it could be lifters so I removed the valve cover to check them. Someone said on one of the threads you can check them by pushing on them with your finger and if any depress from that force, they are bad. I couldn't push any down at all. Then I read on another thread that the only way to check the lifters is by removing them...?

I then put my valve cover back on and had my friend come over to listen. For some reason it was much quieter this time and instead of increasing speed at higher RPMs, it was intermittent at certain RPMs. And he said it sounded like coming from under the valve cover at the cylinder 4. But he also said it sounds like rod knock. And he poked his fingers around in the head and the oil did look pretty shiny with some grey but also some goldish colored shavings (only powder though no real pieces).

Side note: I checked my oil pressure gauge and it doesn't seem like it has changed.

This video kind of sounds like it:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cylinder-head-short-block/339929-ticking-noise-could-lifters.html

So my questions are as follows:

1. If it is one or more lifters, is it possible to check them by just pushing down on them or can you only check them by removing them? If remove, how to check then?

2. If it is rod knock, I thought the sound would seem to be coming from the block, you would see very low oil pressure, and that it goes away when you remove the spark plug wire?

I'll try to post my own sound/video clip later today. When I tried to record yesterday, it just came out all static like on my phone.

I also still have the balance shafts installed FYI

EDIT: If it is the bearings I was going to get these:

http://www.extremepsi.com/store/product.php?productid=19648

but they have three bearings size options and I don't know which to get.

 

[TurboATM]

If it sounds like that video, then its rod knock. I just went through this with my car.

 

[Brandon1ggsx]

+1 for rod knock

 

[jukematt]

OK so what is with the different bearings sizes? Should I just get the standard?

 

[95eclipseguy]

If it is a rod knock,

You can't really know the extent of the damage until you inspect the crank and rod. Most likely, in my experience you will need to have the bottom end of your engine rebuilt. The more you run the engine the more damage it will cause and the more costly it becomes. At least pull your oil pan and check it out if you are comfortable doing it.

The rod journal on the crank will most likely be damaged and your rod could be as well. The crank will probably need to be ground to "clean up" the damage. The amount the machine shop needs to grind the crank will determine the size of bearings you will need so any purchase before inspection and measurements would be most likely fruitless. I have seen where only the rod bearing and oil were replaced but It only lasts a short time. I in no way recommend doing this.

This does not even begin to give you all the possibilities, oil contamination, what caused the bearing failure, etc... Just hate to see anyone spend their hard earned money on something they can't use.

If your not a mechanic, take it to someone you trust. I hate to say this but this is not going to be cheap.

 

[jukematt]

Yeah I want to do as much as I can myself as both a learning experience and to reduce cost. I have a friend who is willing to help. And as soon as I heard the sound I stopped driving her. I don't think I've driven ten miles since I first heard it. My friend's friend has a 2G Talon TSI AWD and it happened to him and he was able to get by with just replacing the bearings and hasn't had a problem since.

I am hoping I am also that lucky since it is in the very early stages. Very little goldish colored powder appears in the oil in the head but we will see when we drop the oil pan this weekend. I was just going to get those bearings so if I am lucky then we can do it all in one day just replacing them. If not so lucky, then I'll just have them on hand for when I get to that point again.

Crossing fingers...

I uploaded a video. Bad quality but if you listen at 38-45 there are some louder ones. Also a few after 1 minute. There is a fairly loud one at 1:19. It was hard finding the right RPM.

My Baby Is Sick

It was weird because after I took off the valve cover, messed around with trying to check the lifters, then put it back on, it wasn't as loud anymore, hence the difficulty finding the right RPM.