1998 Honda Prelude BIG PROBLEM WITH ENGINE. Or is it?

SIDFLCH

MEMBER
1998 HONDA PRELUDE
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
186,000 MILES

I got this 98 lube just 5 months ago.I had no idea they burn so much oil. So yeah after getting the low oil sensor.I guess I musta put in just enough oil to last a week. But I drove it( not too hard only 3500 rpm shifts). Most of the time I was stuck in traffic. However I hear knocking as I accelerate from say 40 kmph to 60 kmph. Tht knocking goes away after a few seconds as the car revs on( to 3000.I never go beyond tht now). My questions is. Is this knocking or ticking? Is my engine screwed? Or I can still fix it? Please help.

Sunday, September 28th, 2008 AT 12:03 PM

3 Replies

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi sidflch,

I would say it is near impossible to diagnose the noise type for you.

When does the noise appear, accelerating only? When it reaches a certain rpm? When there is load? How about no load revving of the engine?

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Friday, October 3rd, 2008 AT 9:15 PM

SIDFLCH

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The noise appears while accelerating only. And only when the engine is hot. Cold starting and revving the engine does not cause any knocking or rattling.I was told it was my cat because when we raised the car up we saw it's broken from the inside and it rattles when we shook it. But then it should rattle upon acceleration at any time, shouldn't it?

The knock like sound is also erratic. It' may come on and not come on again when I'm in gear in and in the same rev band

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Saturday, October 4th, 2008 AT 5:12 PM

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi,

Logically what you said about the rattling is true but from personal experiences, I have encountered the problem exactly as what you don't agree.

The catalytic converter does not rattle when cold but when hot it rattles even when at idling.

When a problem is found, you ought to solve it to be able to get to the next level. By doing so, you would eliminate time wastage if it is the cause of the problem. How illogical it may sound, sometimes it still is true.

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Saturday, October 4th, 2008 AT 8:07 PM