engine tick/knock - Land Rovers Only

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 04:58 AM

I just purchased a 1996 discovery. The PO told me that it needed lifters because it had been ticking for a long time. When I went and looked at it, the truck sounded more like it had a bad rod bearing than lifters. While it does sound like the noise is coming from the top of the engine, it is LOUD.

So, I drove it home a few miles, revving it no higher than 2200rpms, mostly keeping it under 2k. He said he has been using it for many months like that. It did not get worse in the 8 mile or so drive. Here is the strange thing. When you are fairly heavy on the pedal, you do not hear the noise. It is VERY LOUD when the engine is not under any load. Like when you are JUST BARELY on the gas, or just taking off in first gear. (or revving it a little in neatrual). The truck also seems very gutless compared to my 94 (which is an auto.)

The 'RED' service engine light is also on. I am going to plug in a diagnostic reader and see what I find.

My question is, does what I am describing sound more like something in the top end; or rod bearings? Any tests I can do myself to narrow it down?

TIA for the help.

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 05:25 AM

. . .just found out that the red SES light is nothing but a reminder and since the yellow check engine light is not on, I can assume the engine is not throwing any codes. SO, no help from that!

Disco Mike · 06-20-2006, 07:29 AM

Ted,
You might consider draining out your oil, replacing it with ATF and restarting it letting it only idle for up to 20 minutes, then drain it again adding a good 20/50W oil like Castrol.
After that HD flush, go take a short drive, if the noise is gone, your engine was plugged up with sludge, if there is no change then plan on tearing it down. Either way you will be better off cause the engine will be much cleaner and easier to work on if you have to.
Mike

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 02:15 PM

Really? I have never heard of that before. It won't hurt anything? I will go pick up some ATF and everything required for an oil change tomorrow. Any special ATF to buy?

Also, I do not know if this is related or not; but when the vehicle first starts the oil light stays on for about 10 seconds. During that 10 seconds it knocks pretty loud and then AS SOON as the oil light goes off you can no longer hear the knock at idle. (You can only hear it as I described above, when driving or revving it in neatrual.)

Thanks for the help, Mike.

Muddy Oval · 06-20-2006, 02:25 PM

An aggressive flush like that can work wonders- it can also release a ton of crap into the engine and require more than one flush. I did a kerosene douche on a 95 Disco and it worked great.

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 02:48 PM

Hey Muddy, where in VT are you located? I am just across the lake from Burlington in Port Kent, NY.

I am about to do this engine flush with ATF, and I really hope that clears things up. Oil blockage sounds like it could be the issue but that does not really explain the loss of power. . .

Badger1 · 06-20-2006, 03:20 PM

Might want to think about dropping the pan also and cleaning the screen on the oil pickup, and scrape the crap from the bottom of the pan.

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 05:09 PM

I just got everything I need to give this a try. I will let you guys know how it goes.

Badger, I may look into doing that however I don't have an oil pan gasket on hand. How long does that job take? (On my Porsche 951 it was about a 20hour job!! Real PITA!!)

tedwright · 06-20-2006, 06:30 PM

Just finished everything. Not much of a change. I know that there are exhaust leaks causing a 'ticking' but this is really a knock. I guess I will have the dealer probe into it next week when the truck is in for the gas tank recall.

tedwright · 06-23-2006, 11:12 AM

Driving it to the mechanic today, the enging locked up only about 1/4 mile from my driveway. It was strange because it was such a smooth and quiet lockup! Shifting from first to second at about 1800 rpms, as soon as I pushed in the clutch it locked. I spun a rod bearing in my porsche and it made a horrible noise before smashing the rod through the side of the block. Nothing like that here, the engine just stopped quickly.

texasrover · 06-23-2006, 03:28 PM

Damn!!!

I wonder if you had a sleeve come loose in one of the cylinders... hmmm

Sorry to hear about that... best of luck.

Rovin4life · 06-24-2006, 06:03 PM

Sounded like the engine lost engine pressure from a bad oil pump.

The long rattle sounded like no pressure from the pump.

Engines for those are to hard to get a hold of.

06-20-2006, 04:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	engine tick/knock I just purchased a 1996 discovery. The PO told me that it needed lifters because it had been ticking for a long time. When I went and looked at it, the truck sounded more like it had a bad rod bearing than lifters. While it does sound like the noise is coming from the top of the engine, it is LOUD. So, I drove it home a few miles, revving it no higher than 2200rpms, mostly keeping it under 2k. He said he has been using it for many months like that. It did not get worse in the 8 mile or so drive. Here is the strange thing. When you are fairly heavy on the pedal, you do not hear the noise. It is VERY LOUD when the engine is not under any load. Like when you are JUST BARELY on the gas, or just taking off in first gear. (or revving it a little in neatrual). The truck also seems very gutless compared to my 94 (which is an auto.) The 'RED' service engine light is also on. I am going to plug in a diagnostic reader and see what I find. My question is, does what I am describing sound more like something in the top end; or rod bearings? Any tests I can do myself to narrow it down? TIA for the help.

06-20-2006, 02:25 PM	#5 (permalink)
Muddy Oval Otherwise known as STEVE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,968 Gallery: 0	An aggressive flush like that can work wonders- it can also release a ton of crap into the engine and require more than one flush. I did a kerosene douche on a 95 Disco and it worked great. __________________ 2002 Freelander 2000 DII w/CDL 1967 SIIA 109SW Former Rovers 2004 Modded "S" Disco, R.I.P. 2004 G4 Disco 2002 Modded Freelander 1995 Modded Disco 1994 D-90 #8 1993 NAS D110 1990 Range Rover County 1973 SIII 88 1972 Range Rover 2 door

06-23-2006, 03:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
texasrover Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 490 Gallery: 0	Damn!!! I wonder if you had a sleeve come loose in one of the cylinders... hmmm Sorry to hear about that... best of luck. __________________ That is not a leak! That is undercarriage rust inhibitor. 98 Discovery

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06-20-2006, 05:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	. . .just found out that the red SES light is nothing but a reminder and since the yellow check engine light is not on, I can assume the engine is not throwing any codes. SO, no help from that!

06-20-2006, 07:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Disco Mike Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Parker, Colorado Posts: 5,784 Gallery: 0	Ted, You might consider draining out your oil, replacing it with ATF and restarting it letting it only idle for up to 20 minutes, then drain it again adding a good 20/50W oil like Castrol. After that HD flush, go take a short drive, if the noise is gone, your engine was plugged up with sludge, if there is no change then plan on tearing it down. Either way you will be better off cause the engine will be much cleaner and easier to work on if you have to. Mike

06-20-2006, 02:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	Really? I have never heard of that before. It won't hurt anything? I will go pick up some ATF and everything required for an oil change tomorrow. Any special ATF to buy? Also, I do not know if this is related or not; but when the vehicle first starts the oil light stays on for about 10 seconds. During that 10 seconds it knocks pretty loud and then AS SOON as the oil light goes off you can no longer hear the knock at idle. (You can only hear it as I described above, when driving or revving it in neatrual.) Thanks for the help, Mike.

06-20-2006, 02:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	Hey Muddy, where in VT are you located? I am just across the lake from Burlington in Port Kent, NY. I am about to do this engine flush with ATF, and I really hope that clears things up. Oil blockage sounds like it could be the issue but that does not really explain the loss of power. . .

06-20-2006, 03:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Badger1 Forward! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Loo-eee-ville, KY Posts: 2,163 Gallery: 1	Might want to think about dropping the pan also and cleaning the screen on the oil pickup, and scrape the crap from the bottom of the pan.

06-20-2006, 05:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	I just got everything I need to give this a try. I will let you guys know how it goes. Badger, I may look into doing that however I don't have an oil pan gasket on hand. How long does that job take? (On my Porsche 951 it was about a 20hour job!! Real PITA!!)

06-20-2006, 06:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	Just finished everything. Not much of a change. I know that there are exhaust leaks causing a 'ticking' but this is really a knock. I guess I will have the dealer probe into it next week when the truck is in for the gas tank recall.

06-23-2006, 11:12 AM	#10 (permalink)
tedwright off road wanna-be Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 30 Gallery: 0	Driving it to the mechanic today, the enging locked up only about 1/4 mile from my driveway. It was strange because it was such a smooth and quiet lockup! Shifting from first to second at about 1800 rpms, as soon as I pushed in the clutch it locked. I spun a rod bearing in my porsche and it made a horrible noise before smashing the rod through the side of the block. Nothing like that here, the engine just stopped quickly.

06-24-2006, 06:03 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rovin4life Former NAS LR TECH, Current AUS LR TECH Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: DOWN UNDER Posts: 1,884 Gallery: 0	Sounded like the engine lost engine pressure from a bad oil pump. The long rattle sounded like no pressure from the pump. Engines for those are to hard to get a hold of.

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