Well, it all started after this winter. I think that my snow tires messed up my engine, as they were wayyyy to big and heavy for my little civic. Anyways, it has been making this clicking noise that seems to be coming from the head. There is also a slight rattling noise when I let off the gas quickly. It is barely audible when the temp is low but as the engine warms up it becomes more prevalent.

It seems to be louder when I am actually driving, when it is under load. I just spent a long time adjusting the valves to spec, broke a dang vc bolt in the process, so I know that is not the problem. My mechanic listened and told me that it might just need a valve adjustment, but I have no idea now.

O2 sensor light came on a few months ago, but that went away. The engine also seems to knock when the oil gets low, as like most Hondas, it burns a little oil. I just keep some with me and fill it up as needed.

I have a video of it here when sitting still and you can kind of hear it. You folks have any ideas?

 

Since you adjusted the valves according to specs and you say the noise is in your head (actually the car's head) I would the do a leak down test- I like to do mine with the valve cover off and spark plugs out-and I even remove the exhaust mani(I get crazy wit it) but I can hear when its exhaust valve thats not right through the exhaust port and easy to spot intake valves passing air up around the valves that are not right when piston at TDC. just my 2 cents

 

What would that accomplish? Sorry, I'm just a novice car guy. Are you saying that one of my valves may be bad? Or that I am getting bad compression? Would that really cause the clicking? I thought it could be a bearing or something.

 

Anyone Else?

 

When I listen closely. It only seems to make the noise when it is at operating temperature. It sort of sounds like a lawn mower. A weird sort of rattle. Starts around 2.5k rpms

 

If anyone else is having this problem, it was a bad distributor bearing.

 

Why on earth are you letting it get so low on oil to the point where it starts knocking ?. are you changing the oil at proper intervals ?. on a lighter side comp test/possibly leak down and my though on it is the start of rod knock or could just be valve tap.


edit: listened to the vid AFTER i posted my response that's not valve tap....how much oil was in it when the vid was taken ?