Rod knock?

[sl0wkarate]

Hey guys! Hoping someone can shed some light on the situation I'm finding myself in right now. I have a 1986 sr5 with a 22re in it. On my drive home tonight I noticed a knocking type sound when cruising around 2000rpms that goes away when I start accelerating and comes back when I hit 3000rpms. It also shows when I let off the gas to shift or come to a stop. However it isn't there when I am at idle. I thought that maybe I have an exhaust leak but it doesn't seem consistent enough but from what I have read about rod knock is that it is usually apparent at idle as well. The motor has a new head and timing chain/guides. 201k on the bottom end as far as I know no rebuild has ever been done on it. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Honestly preparing for the worst though lol

 

[gtgt_bangbang]

hows the oil pressure ? A loose rod often shows there.

You can get a knock out of the lower end due to rods or mains Shell bearings or even excessive thrust (sideways) movement.

You can try a stethoscope, or even a long screwdriver or rod , touching various parts of the motor, and held up to your ear.
Don't touch anything that may knock the screwdriver through your head.

 

[sl0wkarate]

[MENTION=119161]gtgt_bangbang[/MENTION] As of right the now the oil pressure gauge hangs out around the first hash mark and under load is between the first and second hash marks. Not sure where it is normally supposed to hang around. >.>

 

[gtgt_bangbang]

no, I mean MEASURE it , with an accurate gauge. Plumb a tool on there.

I dont even know your gauge, but you would think 1/2 way is the target, lower at idle is expected but how low ? some guages can tell you when the oil is hot ( thin) or even a weight change. Others tell you basically " there was oil in it when you bought it"

They dont call them "I.Do.It" gauges for naught.

 

[KidVermicious]

[MENTION=119161]gtgt_bangbang[/MENTION] As of right the now the oil pressure gauge hangs out around the first hash mark and under load is between the first and second hash marks. Not sure where it is normally supposed to hang around. >.>

It's normal for the 22RE to show around low oil pressure on the gauge until you rev it.

So if you're thinking rod knock, unplug the spark plug wire on each cylinder one at a time. If you pull one and your sound goes away, then there's a good chance you're right.

 

[gtgt_bangbang]

Agreed, it's normal for all middle-aged motors to have modest oil pressure, heck, it's normal for most middle-age drivers to be a little low on pressure at the crank,

I just got done with a lousy Chrysler motor that had a little tick that sounded lower end but came and went, and couldn't pin down under drive or coast, which turned out to be excessive thrust clearance of one rod on its journal. Chrysler decided that thrust control wasn't important on that crankshaft web, and the rod was happy to wear off what little there was.

I was calling for an accurate gauge, because we're troubleshooting here, not looking for something to check when bored at the stoplight