sounds like a light tapping when I start it cold, the tapping accelerates as I hit the gas.

goes away really quickly (1 to 2 minutes).

car was oil starved before I took ownership (valve stems/seals leak) and now I have to decide whether it is going to be cost efficient to change the timing belt/water pump and replace the valve stems/seals AND whatever this tapping/knocking is - OR - drive it till it dies and replace the engine at that point.

my Q is how could I determine what is making this noise, or is it hard to tell without hearing it? compression tests were all ok (150, 150, 145, 150) and it runs great, just curious more than anything what could cause it.

 

sounds like it could possibly be a main bearing rattle.

 

oh jesus.. that would be real great since I bought this Civic because my 94 Bonneville had a clearance problem!!!

any way to confirm/rule out if this is the case?

in my Bonneville it doesn't knock until it warms up, other way around here, knocks until it warms up and only when its cold outside it seems.

 

yeah it sounds like its the main rattling, but it won't really hurt the motor, but would be best to get it fixed sometime..