well, im about to buy that 92 loyale i posted about a while back..

but, i was driving it tonight and noticed a loud "rapping noise" at around 3000 rpm...other than that, it drives great...aarghhh tell me it isnt something like a rod knock..if you shift at no higher that 2800 or so, noise is never heard..just once it gets up past 3000 or so, do you hear that rapping knocking sound...

thanks

a rod knock will happen generally when you are hovering at an rpm or changing from acceleration to decelerationg. If it does it under hard acceleration it could be something else, but still could be I suppose. If you have cheap low grade gas in it, it could be pinging. Mine does that when it's cold right now. It's kind of tinny noise, whereas a rod knock is more solid sounding, and louder. Once it's warmed up a bit it is completely gone no matter how much gas I give it or what rpm.

If you can drive "through" the noise, and it goes away above 3500, it's probably something like the exhaust hitting the body or a loose heat shield or broken bits in one of the catalytic converters rattling.

 

If it continues to rattle/knock all the way up, I think that's bad.

it does it under hard acceleration and is a bit loud, especially with the hood up.. almost a machine gun type sound...

sounds a bit scary to me.

but if you shift at around 2500 or so, the noise is never heard..its only when it reaches about 3000 that its audible...

Usually, cars that make noises like that are a BIG gamble. It could run for a long time while making the noise, or it could die the day after you buy it. I would be especially concerned if you can't figure out exactly what it is because subarus generally don't make noises like that.

I have a similar problem with my 92 loyal, but it's more of a loud "TAK, TAK, TAK" sound that goes away when the engine is hot. The 92 has hydraulic (self adjusting) lifters.

 

According to the others in this group, they state that "noisy lifters" are a common problem which is due to a dirty engine.

The suggestion was to add an engine oil detergant, run it, drain it, then change to a non-Fram oil filter (cause they are defective)and use a lighter weight oil.

 

I have done this to mine and it's 50% quieter. They say after a few 100 miles the noise should go away.

 

Best of Luck!

 

T.J.

well, this rattling noise is only evident in mid-high rpm's..at idle and up to oh, around 2700-3000 is completely nonexixtent..the faster the rpm's, the faster the noise...

Maybe it's just me, but I would not lay out cash for a rig that sounds as you describe, unless I knew for certain it was a minor thing, or priced like the engine is bad. Sound is a primary diagnostic tool, don't discount it.

ill be taking it to a very good sube mechanic here in the coming week, but was just seeing what you cats thought about it...ya, theres no way i would buy it b4 knowing exactly what the prob is...