I searched and didn't find much information.... It's completly stock 97 4 door civic I think the lowest model(I'm overseas so it doesn't have badges).
So I kind of have two questions.
First one is the one mentioned in the title..... The engine seems extremely loud when driving, and even when idle it seems louder then it should be. However when I press the clutch in when Idling the sound lowers a little.
The sound is not like knocking or ticking, just a regular engine sound just rougher.
Obviously the more gas I give it the louder it gets, and this comparing it to my friends 99 civic(same look), his car is no were as loud as mine.
As I have briefly read it may be the oil weight, keeping in mind that I am in an extremely hot enviorment what oil should I get? What else can it be?
This is where the second question comes, Maybe I should do some maintance if so what should I do? The car has around 135,000 miles.... Recently I serviced the Ac, the Starter, and the alternator.
I appreciate any help, Thanks in advance.

 

Did you just recently get the car or always had it? The lower the number the thicker the weight(oil). My first thought was your car idles higher and when you push the clutch in it drops the rpms down a bit. thinking maybe a exhaust leak somewhere? Any weird smells?

 

I recently got the car maybe 3-4 months ago however when I bought it the alternator was making a louder winding up sound so it overshadowed the original sound of the engine. The reason I bought the car was because I was really in need of it and finding a car here is not easy.
I don't smell anything funny coming into the car, or outside of the car for that matter. Nor does there seem to be any sound coming from the exhaust itself.
I'm going to try to make a video or something and post it up on youtube within a day to demostrate what I am talking about.

 

Here's the video, you can clearly hear when I am holding the clutch in the sound is kind of normal but when I release it the sound gets louder and rough.....
The video sucks, I was just holding my Phone outside the door so don't expect anything too fancy.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ4WTZt1Ebo

 

Cant watch the vid coz I am stuck on dial up but it sounds like it could be a tranny problem if pushing in the clutch makes it go away and sound normal,maybe a throwout bearing.

 

Would that affect the tranny at all? I mean in driving I don't find any tranny issues.