I have a 97 Sunfire with the 2.4L. When I was headed to work I started to hear a knocking noise when I pressed on the gas from a stop and it would start at about 2k RPM. Well I checked the oil and it was a little low but not empty so I filled it up. Well after I left work i pushed on the gas and the knocking was very loud after 2k RPM even lost almost all power at one point. When I got home i took off the top cover and noticed a bit of an oil build up near the spark plug holes. I took out the spark plugs and they seemed fine. so i put it back together and started it up and still the loud knocking is there. It almost seems like the knocking it coming from the timing...chain...or is there a belt? Anyway it seems like it is coming from there but not for sure. To give you an example on how it sounds it sounds like im hitting the top cover with a wrench. Well I hope this is enough information
I would guess something happened to your valvetrain. Pull the valve cover off and see if anything is extremely out of the ordinary.
Im guessing randizzle is right.... a collapsed lifter can be noisy but makes a ticking sound and wouldnt cause the huge loss in power... as for oil near the plugs, make sure your oil pressure switch isnt leaking, or more likely, someone just missed the hole while adding oil and its been there for a long time.... if you accidentally dump oil on the top of the engine (and it runs down under the IDI cover) thats where it goes and isnt extremely uncommon to see it there.
But but does sound like a rod bearing
Cool thanks everyone for the information!
randizzle wrote:goodbye rod bearings.
low oil helps this happen FAST.
#3 i bet.
