Engine Knocking

[lennyg]

Recently my car has started making a knocking noise wile it is running, also when i start the car it makes a grinding noise...i check my oil for the knockling and found that it was low so i filled the oil, however the noise continued..
any help any one could offer would be greatly apreciated.
Thanks
-Kenny

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!

Try to isolate the noise to see where it is coming from. I would check the belt tensioner first. If that is ok then check the bottom end of the engine. You didn't say how low the oil was but if it was only down a quart I don't forsee any engine damage. Although depending on the engine you have you may be experiencing Piston slap that the only way it can be fixed is with a complete rebuild.

[lennyg]

Thanks a lot. The sound was coming from the front of the engine was all I was able to tell. And the oil when I checked it was not even showing up on the dipstick. Funny thing was I had planned to change it anyway tomorrow, cause I knew it had been a few months since I last did it.

Thanks
~Ken