It sounds really bad almost like a rod but its completely stock and only has 50,000 miles. It just doesnt seem right. The car idles fine and still has power it just sounds like its going to explode. There is no metal shavings in the oil. I pulled the valve cover and it looks a little sludgy but everythings in one piece. What should i check next?

 

get a simi long flat head screwdriver put the tip on each cylinder one at a time and the other end of the screwdriver to your ear and listen you should be able to tell if its one cylinder or all of them...

 

from my experiences and those of some of my buddies, the y7-y8 oil pumps are easy to sludge up without extremely routine oil changes and IMO they arent nearly as capable of supporting a VTEC engine as the older z6 pumps...thats why there are alot of y7-y8's with rod knocks and or spun bearings

 

That's why I change my oil every 3k.

 

Or sooner. Well i guess im gonna have him start looking for another motor could we put a z6 engine in there with the y8 sensors or just get another y8?