Bonneville SSE '94 136,000 miles

I've read the other posts on engine knocks but really didn't get much from them. There was one that had a long list of steps to go through to diagnose which I'm not interested in and will just have my mechanic do that if it comes to that.

I'm hearing an engine knock (not real loud, but noticeable) when car is idling and can hear it speed up when step on gas. You cannot hear it when car is at highway speeds (20+ MPH).

Lay it on my straight guys, is this the dreaded valve problem I hear so much about with this engine. Damn I hope not after just shelling out $2400 in a rebuilt transmission.

Please give me good news, but give me honest answer too.

Its not allways in the engine. Check all external mounts, balancers etc first.
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...ic.php?t=87748

What dreaded valve problem? I'm not aware of any.

Ok. I've heard from one mechanic that if this engine needs anything after so many thousands of miles it is a valve job. Is this incorrect information Willwren?

Not at all. I can't even think of the last time I've heard of a valve job unless it was purely for performance. Your mechanic obviously isn't very knowledgable about your motor, or he'* confused it with something else.

Willwren. This particular guy wasn't my mechanic.

I'll make an appt. to have this looked at.

These are extremely reliable engines, especially the series one L27. Most last several hundred thousand miles with normal maintenance before needing any overhaul service, and even then, valves aren't an issue.

A knock? Maybe a tick? Possibly a clicking? Is there any way you could get a sound clip of this knock? Or at least isolate the sound to one general area? These engines are not completely silent either, they have their own sounds, small ticking noises and such. Is this a new noise? If you place your hand on the intake plenum while the car is running, can you FEEL the noise?

My old L67 when it first started to knock

I heard my L32 start to knock a few nights ago too. :? As I remember it bottom end knocks are much slower in speed then a valve train knock. It'* been a few weeks since I heard a collapsed lifter though (3.8L w-body.)

Ed