Engine Knock Issue

[87MKthr33]

My friend has a 1987 Supra MKIII with about 78k miles on it, no engine modification history and is experiencing engine knock.
The details: Most noticeable when idling and in low rpm's, also it is enough to cause the car to shake noticeably (idling and low rpms) at high rpms it is less noticeable. If there is anyone that knows what this issue sounds like the help would be greatly appreciated, and if i need to give more details please let me know, thanks in advance.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Are you getting any codes? Can you really hear a knocking sound?

 

[Finnon]

if its shaking the car is it not an engine mount knackered?

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

if its shaking the car is it not an engine mount knackered?

Yeah that's what I was thinking it might be Finnon if he's not getting a knock from the motor.
A 87 with only 78k miles wow. You would think with low miles like that the motor should be in good shape unless it's really been abused. What's the rest of the car like 87mkthr33?

 

[87MKthr33]

Thats the thing, the rest of the car is in good shape except maybe the radiator. The engine was knocking when he bought it, except it was very very slight. When we inspected the spark plugs, they were drenched in oil. We planned to replace the valve cover gaskets, but we havent had time since school started. so now the engine knock has graduated into a deeper, fuller knock that really shakes the whole car. Also, ever since the knock became worse, it started producing this really noticeable smell, that comes from the engine and not the muffler

 

[87MKthr33]

Yeah that's what I was thinking it might be Finnon if he's not getting a knock from the motor.
A 87 with only 78k miles wow. You would think with low miles like that the motor should be in good shape unless it's really been abused. What's the rest of the car like 87mkthr33?

The interior is just about flawless, carpets and seats are perfect no odor, the paint still looks for the most part, but a 20 year old paint job is sure to look a little old, also along with the sound i was talking about is a strange smell coming from the engine, maybe oil?? and one more thing, he said the spark plug was covered in oil or something like that the last time he took it to a mechanic.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

Thats the thing, the rest of the car is in good shape except maybe the radiator. The engine was knocking when he bought it, except it was very very slight. When we inspected the spark plugs, they were drenched in oil. We planned to replace the valve cover gaskets, but we havent had time since school started. so now the engine knock has graduated into a deeper, fuller knock that really shakes the whole car. Also, ever since the knock became worse, it started producing this really noticeable smell, that comes from the engine and not the muffler

If they were drenched in oil on the outside , that's the valve covers leaking and would give you a burning oil smell when the car is hot. Could also cause the plugs to misfire. Did you change them? Drenched in oil on the inside of the plugs that's a different story.:nono:

 

[87MKthr33]

AJ, I'm not sure what you mean by drenched on the inside. Can you describe that? From what you said, I'm pretty sure its on the outside. Its weird because there was oil on the plugs when he bought the car, but no smell. The smell started recently, and the smell is usually accompanied by the deeper knock. After further testing out the car, we found that the deep knock doesnt happen everytime the car is started. We thought it would occur whenever the engine got hot, but that was not the case. Im not sure what triggers it, but everytime he drives somewhere and parks for a while, it always knocks deeply when he starts the car back up. Also the oil smell no longer goes away, its just worse when the deep engine knock is there.

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

AJ, I'm not sure what you mean by drenched on the inside. Can you describe that? From what you said, I'm pretty sure its on the outside. Its weird because there was oil on the plugs when he bought the car, but no smell. The smell started recently, and the smell is usually accompanied by the deeper knock. After further testing out the car, we found that the deep knock doesnt happen everytime the car is started. We thought it would occur whenever the engine got hot, but that was not the case. Im not sure what triggers it, but everytime he drives somewhere and parks for a while, it always knocks deeply when he starts the car back up. Also the oil smell no longer goes away, its just worse when the deep engine knock is there.

Were the electrodes covered in oil is what I mean by on the inside. If you get enough oil down around the plugs from leaking valve cover gaskets it can short out the plugs. The plugs can get hot and the oil will try to burn off. Maybe not smoking hot but hot enough to give you an oil burning smell. You have to clean out the oil from the recesses in the head around the plugs with a turkey baster, rags and screwdriver, and anything else you can get down in there. As far as the knock, if the plugs are not firing right it could possibly give you a knock. Is the car missing? Or it could be the dreaded Rod Knock Monster.

 

[BlackDynamite]

An old trick i was taught, was while the car is running, on you're distributor cap, go around, pull 1 wire, listen to the noise, put it back then pull another, and listen....You should hear a louder knock(most of the time), if it has spun a bearing....You can also try a compression check, drain you're oil and check for metal shards, and maybe a video...check exhaust manifold to see if bolts loose...and if you have rod knock check out my sig for help, and make sure to check the crankshaft for wear if the bearing was spun, i had to get a new one because mine was damages beyond repair....

 

[AJ'S 88NA]

An old trick i was taught, was while the car is running, on you're distributor cap, go around, pull 1 wire, listen to the noise, put it back then pull another, and listen....You should hear a louder knock(most of the time), if it has spun a bearing....You can also try a compression check, drain you're oil and check for metal shards, and maybe a video...check exhaust manifold to see if bolts loose...and if you have rod knock check out my sig for help, and make sure to check the crankshaft for wear if the bearing was spun, i had to get a new one because mine was damages beyond repair....

Good old backyard mechanics still works most of the time:icon_bigg . I don't see if you have done the compression test or checked codes. Or that you have changed the oil. Some of these things Black Dyno has suggested are basic things you should do when you have a problem like yours. You have to try to narrow things down by doing the basic things.