I have a 2000 1.8t chip modded and a stage 3 clutch. After a night of racing a few rice burners, the next day I noticed that my car was making an awful noise. Sounds like a slug of metal is bouncing around.

At first I thought the throw out bearing was starting to fail. You can really feel the vibration in the clutch and it made since cuz as you get into gear and revs get higher you don't really notice the sound in question, except sometimes under deceleration you can. However when you get out of the car and listen in the engine bay, the sound is coming from the rear of the engine, but it seams to be emitting higher than you would think a throw out bearing would. Almost like it is right under the valve cover.

Bare in mind that the car seems and feels to me as though it is running fine engine wise. So throw me a couple thoughts my way, any and all would be appreciated.

 

does it sound like rocks inside a metal container

 

yes jumping bean rocks/boulders in a metal container..yup that would be a fairly suitable explination of the sound that is haunting my dreams.

 

so.... new symptom and I have to say its a heart breaker.... its now dropping oil out the back...so it looks like I must have done a number on it... still any incite would be great.

 

Rocks in a metal can usually means the wastegate flapper in the turbo has either broken or the nuts on the wastegate accuator need to be adjusted/retighten. If this is the case you should have noticed a big drop in boost pressure. Adjusting/retightening the nuts is easy but it requires taking the turbo out to do. So either way, the turbo has to come out.

Without any other insight, my guess is the oil is coming from a bad valve cover gasket.