I'm fairly sure the valves are knocking on the right side of my engine. The knocking comes from under the valve cover (my first hint) and it goes faster when I rev the engine. At first I thought it was the fan hitting the shroud (same type of noise) but I'm pretty sure its the valves. Now the engine was low on oil by about two quarts when I noticed this. I filled it up to the maximum "full" on the dipstick and I don't hear it as bad anymore. I can't notice it inside the car, but if I lift the hood and listen I can hear a rattle.

Now what? Heavier oil? Valve job? Will I do it any damage if I keep driving it with care to keep the oil level up? What do you guys think?

 

Pull the valve cover and check the >rocker arm,pushrod for excessive wear.

Dennis

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I had a 460 doing the same thing.The rocker arm had wear under the fulcrum,changed rockers and no more noise.

Dennis
1979 F-250 4x4 460 4-speed 33"s
1977 Highboy 429 4-speed 35"s
1969 Ranger on a 1978 F-250 4x4
frame 466 560HP 4.10's 33"s

 

What is you motor in?

Proford

 

It's in a 78' Lincoln COntinental.

 

I had a similar noise on my '77 F350 460. I thought it was a lifter, so I put in an oil additive to help, and it turned out to be an exhaust leak at the exhaust mainfold. A manifold bolt was missing. Replaced it and bada bing, bada bang, no more noise.
Sounds like yours is mechanical, but just a thought.

 

I am getting this exact same noise on my 92 F350 when my oil goes down by 2.5 qts or lower. The oil pressure gauge stays okay, but I suspect that the oil system sees a pressure drop on the right side and the lifters start to collapse. Fill it back up with oil, and after cool down and restart, the noise is gone untill the oil level drops again. I have another thread going in regards to where can this much oil go in 275 miles???

TGT