Knocking from the engine, minor or major problem?

My car started making a knocking noise yesterday and I was just trying to figure out some possibilities. It seems to be knocking in relation to the RPM as well as the volume of the knocking is louder with higher RPMs. It mainly sounds while accelerating slowly, or constant, between the 3000-4500 range. I know there are many parts that may cause this. Any ideas? I will try to get a recording of it because I find it hard to describe. Hopefully someone out there will know right off the top of their head.

Is it true that everyone is baffled? I would be too. I took it in to PepBoys to check the timing, but they said it is most likely coming from the bottom were the rods are. Surely they know what they are talking about. I told them though that every cylinder is at the proper compression (about 180-186psi) and it doesn't seem to be losing any noticeable horsepower. I have cleaned the injectors, replaced all plugs, increased the octane, then changed the oil...thats when I noticed it was several quarts low, though it has never been before. I can only estimate that it burned about 1qt every 1K miles, but I don't know how long after the last oil change that it started buring so much. There are no leaks under the car but some thin gray smoke come from the exhaust every couple of minutes. Just wondering though...should I spend $1000 to have the engine rebuilt or do further investigation into the issue? I still have no idea what exactly is wrong with it.

In a possibly related question...If I were an EGR valve, where would I be? How do you check one to make sure it is working right?

WAIt did you say a couple of quarters low? Do you realize your car only holds about 4 quarts dude a couple is 2 lol wtf dude. Dont starve your car of oil if your car burns oil more then usual make sure you check the oil level atleast every 3 days if you drive it daily . But the knocking sound might have to do with oil starvation i dont know good luck with that.

Not sure why the oil disappeared though. I have done 5 or 6 oil changes for it and have always gotten atleast 4 qts out and i put enough back in to hit the max line on the dipstick which is roughly 4.5 qts.

I'm not sure if I can explain it though, but I was talking to some of my friends about my car. They do not see how it is possible for there to be engine damage since the noises only occur for a small range and only while accelerating. Again, my car doesn't seem to be losing any power, which is common with engine damage, minor or major. It seems, from their perspective, that it would have to be coming from the exhaust manifold. I guess either from a vaccuum leak, egr valve, or small crack. I am not sure if that is what it is but I want to find out. I have asked about a vaccuum leak before in this forum but had no luck with replies. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=294463

I still dont know why the oil was so low, 500 miles later, no change in oil level. I will keep you updated though.
I guess I have to figure these things out since repairs cost so much.

i've never heard of anything but engine damage causing any knocking sounds. any possibility that it's there all the time but only can be heard at certain RPMs?

The only thing that I can think of that would be causing a knocking sound would be a bearing, or lack thereof. AS for the EGR valve, it's bolted to the left side of the intake manifold, looks something like a flying saucer, and it's right below and in front of, (towards the front bumper) of the Throttle body.

Not sure exactly what you are referring to but I will take a look...as for the "flying sauce" I am flabbergasted that flying sauce would be in my hood. heh

The knocking sound is that your oil pump isnt pumping oil to your cylinder heads. So you need to change your oil pump fast. Thats what happend with my Rs the knocking got louder and at the shop its the oil pump. So change that sh*t man or say bye bye to your motor haha.

I took the liberty of cleaning my EGR valve which was clogged with thick black stuff. There was a slight increase in accel which i wasnt expecting. Unfortunately it didnt help the knocking. I am just curious how much it will cost me to do all of this.

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umm, could you repeat that...in english

the white smoke coming out of the exhaust and the oil nurning out is ur valve seals. thast what happen to mine, i was losin oil everthing i go for a change the guy would say what happen to the oil it's low. they check for leak an no leak. i took it to the dealer and they said it was my valve seals.