Metal rattling noise when accelerating

I have not gotten to that point yet, plus I don't really have a local shop to take it to.

 

So here is where I am at now.

Pulled spark plugs and valve covers. Spark plugs were definitely replaced and not happened correctly. Almost all were .050 and above, two were abover .060. one cylinder looked like it had a lot of residue and that was the one with the spark plugs and gapped at .063. not sure what else to look at while I have the covers of I didn't get a picture of the other side but it pretty much looked the same aside from that one cylinder looking rusty.

 

After reading a ton, do we even have lifters in our engines?

 

Sounds like heat shield rattle.

 

It's not, checked them all.

 

So after replacing my spark plugs and taking the valves covers off to check everything (even replaced my gasket since I had the covers off). I am still getting that noise. I can not for the life of me figure out what it is. Maybe a failing oil pump?

 

Dang, can you get a video/sound clip? To me, that one coil pack/spark plus looks dodgy. Try a compression test maybe?

You could try and put a thinner oil in it, there are so many thing that could be wrong have you tried taking it to a decent shop?

 

Not yet, Trying things on my own before I take it to a shop.

 

Late to the party and only skimmed posts...have you check your idlers pulleys?

 

The cylinder head looks good. How many miles? Mine makes a tapping noise for the first mile or so on cold start ups then goes away.

 

I have not, never thought to check them.

 

180k. About what mine does, just only worries me since it didn't do this last winter.

 

I do think that one coil pack and cylinder looks grungy because my valve gasket was failing and oil was getting in there. The old gaskets pretty much flaked apart when I removed them.

 

So could lifter still be a potential problem?

 

180k

 

Remove the belt and check...I d almost bet $$ that's your culprit.
Easy to check, easy to repair, inexpensive fix...sounds like your sound description too.

 

Ever ran fuel system cleaner like Techron concentrate, Redline SL1 or Amsoil PI? You could use a bore scope to look inside the cylinders to eliminate the possibility of a head gasket leak.

 

This is with a 50.00 bore scope and a smart phone app. 60K when I took these pictures.

 

Hey I'm the most mechanically inclined but I have the same problem, what exactly am i looking for?

 

The pulleys that carry your serpentine belt.
https://goo.gl/images/1L729d