Oil pressure results:

Idle: 1.5~1.9bar
2000rpm: 4.3 bar
4000rpm: 5.1 bar

I already looked at the lobes, and they seem fine unless you see something I dont in the pics.
When I had the coolant tank out of the way and had my head down close by the oil filter with the engine running, now it seems like the noise is coming from the crank. It does sort of sound like a thrown rod, but not as extreme......Ive never had a noise so hard to track down. A stethescope would help, cant find mine.

 

remember what i said about people miss-diagnosing the water pump for a rod knock?
Those oil pressure numbers are spot on, so you're down to either the water pump or cam chain tensioner, the plastic thing under the valve cover is for keeping the oil from splashing out of the oil cap as a member already mentioned. It just sits there

 

Man, I think I would kill someone if my car was making noises that I can't find for this long... Hope it all works out!

Josh

 

Thanks. Yeah when I had the valve cover off I was thinking the oil cap was above the other cam shaft which is why I was confused about the black shield. Ill get a stethescope to try and pinpoint it further.

But, going to the track soon, so watch out for that Columbus Ohio thread late tonight, Im taking my cam and cam mount

Drained my oil after 50 miles w/ the seafoam treatment and changed it, washed the car and Im allllllllll set [8D]
I switched things up this time going with Mobil1 0w40. Im normally an Amsoil 5w40 freak.

Also, I got the oil pressure gauge for $9 after calling around to 6 stores,I had to cut the line half way and fit an elbow piece in so I could thread it into the oil cooler. Sort of an odd angle to thread in a bulky gauge/line. Im glad low oil pressure is ruled out, and its nice to be aware of these things anyways. I almost bought a compression tester too because it was so cheap.

 

Low oil pressure was ruled out with the fact that the oil pressure light was not on, did you try plugging in the coils and running the engine with the valve cover off to see if the cam chain tensioner was loose and the cam chain binding?

 

wouldn't that make a huge mess? [&:]

 

There was no slack in the cam chain when I had the valve cover off.
Its usually too late for the people that get oil lights. By the time the oil light goes on, there are normally bigger problems. Checking the oil pressre manually would give me a good idea of what the future holds.

 

did you ever find out problem or fix for noise? experiencing similar situation here...my brothers' friends say it sounds like the 'kickers', not mechanically impaired so dont know what that is. hope you were able to resolve your noise because that would give me hope. dont wanna send to shop and get jacked $$$

 

Figured it out!

Water pump.

Me and a tech at work put the car up on the lift and removed the belts/started the engine till the noise went away. Spun the waterpump pulley by hand and it makes noise. Whats stupid is its not even 2 years old. Was replaced when I did the timing belt, etc. and is the updated type with the metal impellor. So I can get an OEM Audi waterpump from work for about $60 which aint bad. Looks like my weekend plans are set.

Question for those of you who got the ECS ultimate timing belt for 00+ 1.8T w/ external water pump. Did this happen to YOU?!

Im just happy it wasnt rod knock

 

Congrats! any buyers yet on your car?