1989 2.0L Engine Noise

Aloha from Hawaii,

I've had my 1989 2.0L for 3 months now and its been a dream, but now its making a terrible knocking noise, I can't figure out where its coming from.

So far I have:

• Took alternator and water pump / Fan Clutch out of the picture (Replaced Waterpump anyways)
• Dropped Oil pan - Pan is clean.
• Connecting Rod bearings sound ok
• Everything on the rod side has been re-torqued to spec
• Replaced both Belts and tensioners.
• Started from scratch and retimed all marks at TDC #1 - Rotor points at #1 and firing order (1-3-4-2) is correct.

No dice, still has noise.

Its just loud enough where I can't tell exactly where it is.

Here is what I am hearing:

https://youtu.be/TilMduKZNnE

Any ideas?

Hello SVbabido ~ sounds like a Tesla :thumbup:
Maybe some of the noise is tappets in the valve train (?) I used Rislone engine treatment to cure tappet noise on my truck & I am using 10W--40 oil ~ good luck
George

grab a big screw driver and press it against the engine, hoding the handle end to your ear, this will help you pinpoint it


kinda hard to tell over a video, but it seems to get louder when you put the camera closest to the cylinder head/rocker cover.

so if you havent already you should check the valve clearances. How did you check the rod bearings?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tortron

grab a big screw driver and press it against the engine, hoding the handle end to your ear, this will help you pinpoint it


kinda hard to tell over a video, but it seems to get louder when you put the camera closest to the cylinder head/rocker cover.

so if you havent already you should check the valve clearances. How did you check the rod bearings?

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I dropped pan and checked each one on my back on a gravel driveway, wasnt fun. Not an ideal way to do things, but I no longer have a shop or garage to do things correctly at the moment.

I will check valves next, thanks a ton.

You can also hold a length of hose to your ear and pass the other end around the engine until you hear where the ticking is loudest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xboxrox

Hello SVbabido ~ sounds like a Tesla :thumbup:
Maybe some of the noise is tappets in the valve train (?) I used Rislone engine treatment to cure tappet noise on my truck & I am using 10W--40 oil ~ good luck
George

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Awesome idea and thanks! Will grab some tomorrow morning.

Mahalo!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SubGothius

You can also hold a length of hose to your ear and pass the other end around the engine until you hear where the ticking is loudest.

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Will do at first light, I used to have a stethoscope, but that trick sounds great!
Thanks!

oh yeah so just checking the torque on the bolts rather than clearances?
i guess if there was no glitter in the pan when you took it off then its probably not a bearing going.
The valve clearances would me my bet, might have a nut backed itself off

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Narrowed the noise down to lifters using the hose trick and then used Rislone for about 30 minutes and no more tapping! Changed it out with 10w-40 and it sounds smoother than when I got her.

I did notice when I had a screwdriver on top of piston 1 that I could feel the carbon buildup, does anyone recommend doing a fuel treatment or am I asking for trouble cleaning everything out?

Mahalo and much appreciated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SVbabido

Just wanted to thank everyone for their help.

Narrowed the noise down to lifters using the hose trick and then used Rislone for about 30 minutes and no more tapping! Changed it out with 10w-40 and it sounds smoother than when I got her.

I did notice when I had a screwdriver on top of piston 1 that I could feel the carbon buildup, does anyone recommend doing a fuel treatment or am I asking for trouble cleaning everything out?

Mahalo and much appreciated.

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CARBON FIX buy a bottle of CATACLEAN @ O'Reilly's (not cheap $26.00 but it works if you follow the directions) Not only does it clean the engine but the cat & exhaust system too ~ after two uses my truck runs better :^)

GOOD JOB fixing the ticking noise :thumbup:

A spray bottle full of water will do the trick on decarbing the combustion chambers. Air filter off, engine running at full operating temperature and spray a few pumps into the throat of the carb with the throttle open (more than 2000 rpm). Some guys say dump water straight from a cup but having water pool in your intake manifold is a bad idea. Keep pumping until you hear the engine sound change - there should be a bit of crackling and rough running to start off with, but as the carbon swells and burns off it will become more tame. Now that you have close to full valve lift it will run better and the carbon won't build up as heavily.

*if you are still running the factory ignition coil or it obviously hasn't been touched in over 10 years, think about replacing it. Tired coils affect economy and power.

89 usa 2.0 sohc has hydraulic lifters ?
'feel' carbon buildup on top of piston, with screwdriver ?? ....sounds wierd

might be burnt oil if its not rock hard

A puff of exhaust smoke on acceleration from a stationary start might indicate worn valve stem seals. #1 cause of exhaust smoke and oil burning/consumption in these engines. Gen 2 trucks 'should' have hydraulic heads, but you never know what a PO has done to get an engine running. If it's apparent the valve stem seals are shot, it's a good a time as any to scrape the crap off the pistons and send the head off for a hot tank and reconditioning...

Check the balance shaft inside the engine. I had similar issue which started out small noise but got to be a bangin noise. Discovered it was from the balance shaft. The bearing came out and wore the hole out. I removed it and replaced with replacement kit. Runs ok with a little vibration.