Engine noises are sometimes hard to determine. Depends on how loud the noise is and where it occurs in the engine, and how rapidly it occurs.
Sometimes you can grab a very large, long screwdriver and put your ear to the end of the handle. Touch the other end to a bolt or solid part on the engine. The screw driver acts just like a stethascope and you may be able to tell if the noise is coming from the top of the engine (lifters) or lower part (bearings).
At ALL TIMES be very careful the screwdriver, your jewelry, your hair, or your clothing or hands do not come in contact with anything that is in motion on the engine you could be hurt very badly. Be careful around the pulleys and drive belts, and remember that electric cooling fans can turn on at random without warning.
If the noise is a repeated heavy, dull thunk occurs when you step on the gas, you may be dealing with worn out main bearings.
Rapid, solid Knocking is sometimes rod bearings going bad.
A knock that does not occur rapidly may mean you simply have a fouled spark plug or bad spark plug wire, or clogged injector.
Lifter noises are usually lighter tapping like noises, but can sometimes be pretty loud.
Sometimes an oil change and a brisk drive can free a sticking valve lifter.
A valve train really shouldn't have any troubles unless you've racked up more than 100,000 miles on it.
Another thing to try is release the tension on the serpentine belt and run the engine for only a few seconds. If you decide to actually remove the belt for this test, make sure you make a careful note of how the belt is wrapped around the pulleys first!
Even the pros goof up on that one sometimes.
If the noise is gone when a belt is removed, or when the belt tension is released, one of the accessories like the water pump might be making an odd noise.
It's really hard to say without hearing it -- only a reliable honest mechanic can really give you an accurate answer.
the knock could coe from a few places, if it is in fact a "knock" it could be a piston rod, if its more of a tapping comming from the top of the motor you could have a loose rocker arm, if it is a loose rocker arm i would suggest tightening them up if it stops and comes back i would replace the lifters
Lifters dont really knock, they chatter. You may have a bigger problem.
It could be lifters ir maybe the car ran hot and the motor damaged.
Could be several things depending on how hard of a knock it is. Rod bearing, stuck piston ring, cracked piston, low oil and lifters chattering, fuel injector stuck. Any knock is usually serious and almost always expensive to fix.
a lot of times its your timing belt, if its more of a knock its could be a rod knock
your knock sensor could need to be replaced
If the knock sensor failed the CEL (Check Engine Light) would be illuminated and the engine may "ping" or "spark knock" under load. Serious "spark knock" can damage the engine if allowed to continue.
Typically vehicles that use hydraulic lifters & have more miles on them, tend to have a tapping sound until the engine is "warmed up." The hydraulic valve train is designed to eliminate the gap at all operating temperatures, though overtime the lifters wear out and don't fill with oil as quickly resulting in the tapping sound you hear until the engine has warmed up, and the lifters have been properly filled and lubricated.
Lifters can take time to pump up at first when starting....but worn main bearings can knock also
souds like its low on oil or may need lifters or possible it needs a cam or new timing chain depending on the knock . i would make sure its full of oil first . if that's not it i would take it to a machanic
Generally if the engine has a knock you need to have the lifters adjusted and at that point the gaskets could be replaced. Good Luck and Remember.Change Your Mind, Not Your Oil.Use the First In Synthetic Motor Oil's.See My Bio For more information.
It could be that the timing is off. You may need to retard it.