Rod knock, or noisy lifter?

[smuryof]

Does rod knock sound different than a sticky lifter? I have had a noisy lifter for quite awhile, but it always disappeared after the engine warmed up. Now, I get ticking after warming up, and it comes and goes. Always smooths out with higher RPM, but always comes back when the engine is back to idle. How can I tell if this is rod knock? Is knocking usually much worse than this?

And, does anyone by chance have an audio clip of what rodknock would sound like?

[Xedosman]

Rod knock usually varies with throttle, might not be evident on low levs and little strain. Lifter tic varies with engine speed, but not throttle. I'd say a rod knock tends to be a heavier knock also. If the sound dissapears on high rpm, I'd say it is lifter tic. I have good experience with Castrol oils, in keeping internals clean and/ or removing old sludge.

[Kyrasis6]

A rod knockis just that, it will sound like a knock, lifter noise will sound like a tick, or sometimes like an exhaust leak. If it is a lifter it may or may not make less noise at higher rpm depending on how bad it is.

If you do your oil changes like you should then you shouldn't have any sludge regardless of what oil you use. Sludge comes from lack of maintenance and abuse, granted some oils may sludge up easier than others but that is fixed by either switching oils or simply changing your oil more often. Almost all of your conventional oils today will handle 3-5k+ miles on change no sweat.

[Tyranitar]

Actually, Quaker State leaves a varnish material that could plug small passages. Don't use Quaker State, it is a terrible oil. You can see it too, dark brown deposits that coat the inside of the engine. They should be light or not at all.

[smuryof]

Actually, Quaker State leaves a varnish material that could plug small passages. Don't use Quaker State, it is a terrible oil. You can see it too, dark brown deposits that coat the inside of the engine. They should be light or not at all.
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If I am still unsure, I think it is probably a lifter - I'm guessing if I heard a knock I'd know it. Plus, wouldn't I be getting vibrations from the engine if it was a rod? Anyhoo, it only seems to come about after fairly hard running. I should probably stop driving it like a sports car.

I never use Quaker State. My reasons are much more low-tech. I just never liked the green bottle. Looked somehow sinister to me.

*snort*