H23A1 (202k miles) - I hear rod knock when I start the engine but it goes away in a sec or less. Is it safe to drive this car? Any easy fixes or do I have to drop the pan and replace the bearings assuming the journals are not gone?

 

Could be piston slap and not rod knock hard to say esp without the car phisically look at. Only reason I say piston slap is because it does go away when the motor heats up. Rod knock typically does not.

Just my 2cents. Goodluck

 

I agree. Seeing as you have some miles on that motor, your rings are wearing and there is a gap between the cylinder and piston. When the pistons warm up, they expand and the noise goes away. Are you running 5-30W?

 

is it a single speed noise or a double speed noise kind of like a valve tick but slower

 

The car runs fine?

 

my 92 does that, the engine rans fine. I have about 210k on the motor. I think the bottom bearings are worn out.

 

Car runs fine and fast. It does sound like the oil picks up and fills the gap between the rod bearings and thats why the noise goes away. Compression test gave these numbers:
205
195
205
195
With no sparkplug wires connected. So not sure if rings are it. I know I'm gonna need to take it apart at some point but was wondering if there's any additive to put in that will take care of it temporarily?

Also, are those compression numbers ok?

 

for a motor with 202k, those are some impressive numbers.

 

Only a leakdown will tell you for sure.