Acceleration noise

[bridget]

Hi I drive a 97 Escort 186,000 in decent shape. It is making a rapid knocking or rapping type noise when I accelerate. I put oil in but it still is making the noise.

Any ideas, I'm flat broke and can't afford a mechanic at the moment.

It drives well, but occasionally will need a second try to turn on when I stop for a few minutes.

[HuskyBoris]

my guess would be a lifter or a rodknock but leaning more towards the lifter,I had a couple of Escorts and the lifters in both of them started making noise,it's not horribly expensive to fix but I do it my self,probably a couple hundred bucks at a garage,or less if you plead brokeness with them and they have a good heart,not sure what else to say.

[Bearfootfarm]

Run some Seafoam through it ,and use a GOOD brand of gas.
You may need a higher octane
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engine_knocking

Detonation can be prevented by any or all of the following techniques:

• the use of a fuel with high octane rating, which increases the combustion temperature of the fuel and reduces the proclivity to detonate;
• enriching the fuel/air ratio, which adds extra fuel to the mixture and increases the cooling effect when the fuel vaporizes in the cylinder;
• reducing peak cylinder pressure by increasing the engine revolutions (e.g., shifting to a lower gear, there is also evidence that knock occurs more easily at low rpm than high regardless of other factors);
• increasing mixture turbulence or swirl by increasing engine revolutions or by increasing "squish" turbulence from the combustion chamber design;
• decreasing the manifold pressure by reducing the throttle opening; or
• reducing the load on the engine.

[foxtrapper]

Originally Posted by bridget

It is making a rapid knocking or rapping type noise when I accelerate. I put oil in but it still is making the noise.

A rapping sound, like a hammer striking something, is bearing. Be it rod or main, or even wrist pin (doubt that though). It is the knell of impending death. You can limp along quite a ways though if you keep it oiled and don't push it hard.

A sound like a soda can full of gravel is knock or ping. This is fuel related. It will damage the engine given enough time. Usually an indication of needing a tune up. You can do a very good job of cleaning the engine up though with nothing more than a glass of water. Easily handled by simply using less, or more, throttle to reduce the number of times it's making this noise, and how long it makes it.

You say you added oil, was it out? That's never good. Don't let it run out of oil. You can get away with low, but don't let the oil pressure be flickering the light.

[bridget]

No I would never let the oil get that low. I usualy add some when it reads a little below full.

[bikehealer1]

Foxtrapper is correct, although a rod knock will be a "double-tap" sound as the rod hits once on the up stroke and once on the down stroke. A lifter usually makes a tock tock sound.

[Old Vet]

It may be a lose drive coupling like a universal that may be knocking.

[Navgatr]

I've had some people mistake a bad exhaust manifold leak for a knock.
You will hear this noise very clearly when you accelerate and very little at idle.
Just a suggestion. I can't hear what you're hearing.
Good Luck

[plowjockey]

fuel detonation (pinging) under acceleration, can sound like a rod or lifter knocking also.

I'd try bearfoots fuel fixes first.

[agmantoo]

With the transmission in neutral and you rev the engine (not excessively) do you hear the knock?

[blufford]

That's a lot of miles (186,000) for a 97 Ford Escort. If it gives up its ghost it doesn't owe you nothing.

[HuskyBoris]

perhaps you can take to a mechanic for a listen,we can all throw probable guesses into wind.,,hopefully you can find a mechanic who would be willing to give it a listen for free or maybe a mechanicly inclined friend,lots of good ideas to try here as well but none of us can hear it.

[bridget]

Yeah agmantoo, whenever I hit the accelerator moving or not I hear it.

[agmantoo]

bridget

Your reply is an indicator of issues that could be very serious within the engine. It is possible that it could be less of a problem but not likely. You need to let a competent mechanic hear how the car noise sounds. I would not recommend that you continue to operate the car without doing so. Good luck.

[rancher1913]

second agmans advice--you might save yourself a bunch of money by spending a little now. the timing belts need changed at 60000 but every time i've done mine (4 escorts--one with 300000 miles) its looked ok and probably could have gone another 60000. the manifold will make noise no mater what if its leaking, just fixed the kids escort that was developing a leak. you might get lucky and just need a valve adjustment. curious to know what it turns out to be so I can be looking for it on mine down the road.

[foxtrapper]

Originally Posted by bridget

Yeah agmantoo, whenever I hit the accelerator moving or not I hear it.

Again, type of noise is very telling. You've yet to describe it.

[bridget]

In my first post I described as a knocking or rapping type noise, however I think this site comes closest to what I'm hearing. Took me days of checking sites trying to find the actual sound.

http://yourlisten.com/channel/conten...ged_car_engine

[wannabechef]

Sounds like a rod/main to me. A tick is a lifter, a knock is from deep inside and is usually big heavy metal parts with play.

[Bearfootfarm]

I also agree with Agman.
If it makes the noise while STATIONARY, it's something serious.
My first reply was based on the assumption it only happened while accellerating under a load

[Countrybumpkin]

If nothing else, you could pick up a engine from a salvage yard pretty cheap, and put it in-cheaper than a new car!