Huge knock

[sandersb]

I started up my SR for the first time today, only to be met with a ridiculously loud knock.

I just need a little help diagnosing so I can take the next appropriate step(s). Describing the sound as well as I can, it seems to be coming from the inside of the head; it kinda sounds like something's loose, as when I shut it off, something in the engine rattles to a stop. To put it best, my engine sounds like a diesel when it's running. A diesel in bad shape.

The sound is repetitive and consistent, coming from around the center of the engine.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated

[IanS]

What gen engine?

Is your oil pan dented? The SR oil pan is easilly dented causing the oil pickup to be blocked.

Is your timing set properly?

Has any internal engine work been done?

Has the engine been oil starved, oil starvation can dry out the lifters, causing them to tick loudly.

By pressing the tip of a screwdriver to different parts of the engine, while holding the handle to your ear you should be able to narrow down the location of the noise.

Where did you get the engine from?

[sandersb]

S13

One small dent near the center of the pan

I haven't checked; how should it be set?

I haven't done any internal work, so as far as I know; no.

I just added oil for the first time today, then started it ~45 mins after. Never started w/o oil.

I tried that briefly, it's loudest just under the valve cover, on the head

I got the engine from http://www.royaljapanesemotors.com ; a used engine importer in Montreal.

[supreamS14]

If you had said a tap or click it wouldent be so bad. BUT you said " I started up my SR for the first time today, only to be met with a ridiculously loud knock. "

I relly hate the bearer of bad news but a HUGE KNOCK can only be 1 thing... conecting rod/bearing

[IanS]

I relly hate the bearer of bad news but a HUGE KNOCK can only be 1 thing... conecting rod/bearing

Some people have a different idea of what a knock is.

With the engine running, disconnect your injectors one by one, if one of them makes the knock go away, you most likely have a spun rod bearing.

[sandersb]

Thanks Ian, I'll check the injectors one by one in the morning. Is there anything else that I could/should check while I'm at it?

And how would I go about fixing/replacing a spun bearing?

[supreamS14]

Some people have a different idea of what a knock is.

With the engine running, disconnect your injectors one by one, if one of them makes the knock go away, you most likely have a spun rod bearing.

What A great Idea

I thought A ridiculously loud knock and HUGE KNOCK sound from the motor could only be 1 thing. What elts could a ridiculously loud knock or a HUGE KNOCK be?

[sandersb]

hah thank you too, Supream, for your insight

[Koshin]

Knock, knock.....
Modified by caddylt1 at 9:50 PM 7/8/2008

[sandersb]

No, I'm not getting an oil light. I'll check again just to make sure, but I didn't notice one. It could be that when I wired the 240sx dash connector to the SR ECU, I didn't wire oil, etc.. lights. I just used the wiring instruction from heavythrottle.com :

Yellow / Red stripe - Tachometer signal

Yellow / Green stripe - Speedometer signal

Orange - Ignition start

Black (may be more than one ground) - Ground

Blue / Green stripe - AC signal

Blue / Black stripe - Water temp signal

And didn't connect any of the rest.

The dent is about 1/2 an inch deep I think, maybe even less.

[IanS]

The dent is about 1/2 an inch deep I think, maybe even less.

That is enough to block the pickup tube, you may be starving the engine of oil.

What A great Idea

I thought A ridiculously loud knock and HUGE KNOCK sound from the motor could only be 1 thing. What elts could a ridiculously loud knock or a HUGE KNOCK be?

STFU, people hear noises and they freak out, they exaggerate and make the problem seem far worse than it is. Numerous times Ive had customers call complaining of loud knocking noises, but upon inspecting the vehicle, I discover the noise is no more than a tapping lifter, or ticking chain guide. The guy just got his engine running and any noises can be very discomforting.

Don't blow things out of proportion, you freaking out and telling him his engine is garbage is void of any help at all. We need to troubleshoot a little to nail down the actual cause of the noise.

If you aren't going to actually be helpful, then GTFO.

[IDriveFords]

just to be sure pull off your valve cover and make sure the upper time chain guide isn't broken and clanging against the chain. There shouldn't be ANY dents in your oil pan, like stated above if there's a dent you may be starving your engine of oil. If you feel like making a mess you can also make sure your oil pickup is working by leaving the valve cover off and turning the key (dont start it) and see if oil squirts into the head. Might be a bit messy but its a simple way to tell if your oil pickup is being blocked or not. Crank it don't start it, if you start it i promise you'll have a big *** mess to clean up in your engine bay.

[supreamS14]

STFU any noises can be very discomforting. Don't blow things out of proportion GTFO.

WELL SORRY IAN!!! Maby I did blow things out of proportion, All I asked you was what else could it be and I didn't realize he might not know the difference between a tick/tap/rattle and a ridiculously loud knock .

you freaking out and telling him his engine is garbage is void of any help at all. If you aren't going to actually be helpful, then GTFO.

I didn't freak out, I stated my opinion and without my opinion you wouldn't of even stated your disconnect each injector trick that I find very helpfull! I didn't say his engine is garbage. Ive changed out just rod bearings with great success! AND I would want to be prepared for the worse than pu$$y footing around the bush! I came to nico to learn great info not to be told to STFU or to tell people to STFU! All I ask is for us to bury the hatch and not loose a possable friend over a matter of opinion. Wouldn't that be a great example to set for future nissan enthusests !

[IanS]

I didn't freak out, I stated my opinion and without my opinion you wouldn't of even stated your disconnect each injector trick that I find very helpfull! I didn't say his engine is garbage. Ive changed out just rod bearings with great success! AND I would want to be prepared for the worse than pu$$y footing around the bush! I came to nico to learn great info not to be told to STFU or to tell people to STFU!

I was grumpy last night, your first post you jumped straight on the rod knock wagon, and you didn't give any way to confirm your suspicions, this annoyed me, I then interpreted your second post as poorly placed sarcasm, which set me off. I apologize for blowing up, I just didn't read your posts as being helpful. Im sure if you reread your second post you will realize how it could have been taken badly, I took it as a sarcastic crack at myself personally, which would have been uncalled for. Now that I reread it myself I can tell this is not the car, and now I feel like d-bag.

All I ask is for us to bury the hatch and not loose a possable friend over a matter of opinion. Wouldn't that be a great example to set for future nissan enthusests !

Only if we can kiss and make up, then it would be something for everyone to see. I would suggest finding an avatar of your own, the board supplied one makes me feel like you are a newb, when its not the case. As shallow as it sounds, most people treat newbs with less respect then those of us that have been around for a while. Take the time to make an avatar, personalize your account, that way it will be memorable, people will remember who you are.

[sandersb]

Thanks to everyone in this post for all the help!

Goddamn I love this site

[Koshin]

my vote is on the oil pickup is partially blocked....hopefully it didnt do to much damage.....

[sandersb]

I just rechecked my pan, and the dent is not in the center of the pan as I thought, but at the front right corner of it.

Do you think that dent would still starve the engine?

[Koshin]

your best bet, if the pan is dented, replace it. 60 bucks bro...get anything elsefigured out....

[sandersb]

Thanks man

[IanS]

your best bet, if the pan is dented, replace it. 60 bucks bro...get anything elsefigured out....

There is really no need to replace it yet, I would suggest just removing it, and banging out the dent with a hammer. That way, you can also see if there are any metal shavings in the pan.

[Koshin]

^^^^I am a little neurotic about stuff....for 60 bucks it is better to replace it. You can inspect the old pan for shavings and such, just put a new one on. but thats just me.......when you do, check the pickup for any damage as well.

[supreamS14]

I beat mine with a metal hammer and it worked good but a week later I seen the pan dripping. It was really hard to find but there was a 1/8th inch hair line crack. It was soo small I thought it was a tiny scratch. I tryed to stick weld it but it still leaked I ended up buying a greddy pan after saving for 3 weeks.

Im just suggesting taking it eazy on the pan, maby using a rubber hammer and a softer surface than concrete(what i used ).

[Koshin]

Thanks to everyone in this post for all the help!

Goddamn I love this site

God doesn't need a damn, he can walk on water.......

[sandersb]

Haha yeah man thanks for the heads up

[IanS]

^^^^I am a little neurotic about stuff....for 60 bucks it is better to replace it. You can inspect the old pan for shavings and such, just put a new one on. but thats just me.......when you do, check the pickup for any damage as well.

I agree, but I'm sure he would like to get this figured out ASAP, and waiting a week for an oil pan, just to find out he needs a rebuild, doesn't sound like any fun.

[Koshin]

I agree, but I'm sure he would like to get this figured out ASAP, and waiting a week for an oil pan, just to find out he needs a rebuild, doesn't sound like any fun.

Word up.....I agree, if you need stuff rebuild let me know. I can get all the stuff for cost from m buddy at West Covina. He gets me everything. I dont even bother calling anyone else...

Like I said Ian, I'm a little over kill about my cars. I think that helps me in the long run. I am especially weird about my Silvia...