Parked at a gas station last night, left the car on and when i got out i noticed a thumping/knocking sound coming from the engine, like hitting solid plastic with a mallet kind of sound. popped the hood and it sounded like it was coming from the rear bank, fairly fast about 3 or 4 per second. i'm not too big on internal engine but im thinking oh **** its a valve or lifter or spring, something like that. went to leave, turned off the radio and fan and listened to it right when i left and could faintly hear it increasing with the RPM- brought around 3-4k a few times, still smooth and quiet but what i heard still kidna bothered me, although when i got home and listened it was gone, and gone this morning too. any ideas?

only thing i could think of is low oil, is the VQ REAL particular about the level? since what happened to that other guy, blowing the engine from having it changed two quarts low(2 is a lot though) mine is maybe half a quart low, i'm about 1/4 from the top of the hatching on the dipstick, though thats not much far as i know.

 

nothin huh?

 

I guess I'll take a crack at it. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any common internal engine problems that sound like a thumping/knocking that you describe. Of course, my idea of a mallet striking solid plastic may be different from yours. But seeing how you say your engine runs smooth and quiet, would steer me away from thinking it's engine internals. A dull pitch near the rear bank makes me think you have an exhaust leak.

 

hmmm... haha thanks, i might just give this one the "ah forget it" it hasent come back, nothin to worry about i dont think...