1999:engine knock

99 3.1, last year i replaced top end gaskets, new waterpump, alternator, plugs, temp sensor, starter, radiator cap. anyways it knocks now, i thinks its a piston slapping, it does it all the time any rpms. but after some research i think it could be spark knock, there are no dtcs. any one know how to tell the difference between piston slap and sprk knock?

Piston slap goes away after the engine warms a little and you would normally have some degree of this from new. Someone knowledgable has to listen to this to determine if this is a bearing noise, if the engine had been run with coolant in the oil this can damage the bearings.

ya it sounds like that but never goes away, like i fried a ring or something, but wouldnt the knock sensor set off a dtc if its knocking? it definetly sounds like a piston is slappin the cylinder wall

are you sure you don't have a lifter knocking? If you had piston slap it should go away. Deep bearing knock and you should be able to tell it is bearing knock.

i guess it could be, but its pretty loud and hollow sounding, how would i go about testing it? its coming from the top more, more by the fire wall.

My guess is the lifter has come loose or it is sitting in a stripped out hole. You might need to look at it again. Whenever I had that sound, it was a loose rocker.