hey guys, recently when i've been starting up cold i get this slight knocking until it heats up really good. i've got bout 104K's and i don't think it should be doing this but anyone got any tips? the car sounds perfect after about 10 mins but its just annoying to hear you know. Would synthetic oil or 10-30 help? thanks for any info!

it could be your spark plugs going out maybe. cuz the knock is a timing problem. since you got 104k have you done a tune up. could also be type of gas used. change the cap and rotor and wires. basic tune up stuff.

so its nothing really serious? cuz it sounds like its coming from top of the engine.. well i am due for a basic tune up.. i did everything else on the car already.. just need the plugs, wires, and rotor changed. and i'm using 89 oct gas by the way

a knock is not too serious, but not good for the engine. it will cause premature wear on your engine so fix as soon as you can. but what it sounds like is the ignition going out, 100k is time for a tune up, if you've never done one before you will notice a big difference in performance and engine will run alot smoother. i would also suggest timing belt change, since 100k is when you suppose to change it.

actually i have done the timing belt and water pump already. i was waiting for the spring to change the plugs, wires and rotor. but is that the problem even though the knock goes away when the engine is hot?

is it knocking or pinging ? sometimes people mistake the 2. did you make sure you have oil in your car ? how loud is it ?

yeh i just changed the oil the other week.. but its been making the noise for a while now. Its a knocking becuz its there at idle. when you rev it sounds faster but not louder. its like a tapping noise. i'm thinking about putting in some 10-30 next to see if that quiets it. as soon as it heats up the noise stops though.

ever check/adjust the valve lash?

valve lash? can you explain a little further? thanks

my old saab did the same thing. After a lot of research i found ou that theclicking sound was from the hydrolic cam followers. they are filled with oil but when it is cold the oil most likely is not doing it's job there.

use a long screwdriver and hold it against the valvecover neareach cylinder and put your ear on the other end. listen to see which cylinder the tapping iscoming from. then pull offthe valvecover and, using a peice of wood, press onthe little round metal thyings under the cam lobes forthat cylinder, if they feel mushy then they are your problem.
if they are solid then check clearances under the lobes andthe followers for that cylinder.

i would also cay check the valves i had that problem with my nissan truck it tapped till it pumped oil up onto the head

Originally posted by m3kidds
valve lash? can you explain a little further? thanks

Valve lash, also known as valve clearance, is the total clearance between the valvetrain components when the cam is on the base circle (at TDC firing, for example).

I believe that your vehicle has mechanical lash adjustment (no hydraulic followers/tappets/lifters). As far as I know, all Honda automobile engines use mechanical lash adjustment, but I may be mistaken about that (anyone have a counter-example?).

To adjust the valve lash:

look up the specs for valve clearance in the cold condition (Haynes or Helm manual should have this info)

remove the valve cover

turn cylinder 1 to TDC
check the valve clearance (lash) at each valve at cylinder 1 using a feeler gauge
if there is too much clearance, loosen the adjuster nut, turn the adjuster screw, then retighten the adjuster nut
if you adjust the clearance, re-check it when you're done

turn cylinder 2 to TDC and repeat
turn cylinder 3 to TDC and repeat
turn cylinder 4 to TDC and repeat

reinstall the valve cover (preferably with a new set of seals, but you can probably skimp on this and get away with it)

thanks for the info guys.. also one more question.. can i use 10-30 oil since i have good amount of miles on the engine now? thanks

I assume that you want to do this because you're having to add oil between oil changes? You can do it if you want to, but you'll get slightly worse fuel economy and more difficult starts in cold weather.

actually i don't have to add oil bet. changes but i was thinking thicker oil might quiet the knock?

It might, but it also might not.

If your "knock" is piston slap, then the thicker oil will probably help to quiet it.

If it's improper valve lash, then adjust the damn things already!