Sounds like a rod bearing

happened to my friends STI after hard runs at El Mirage and 7,000 miles since the last oil change

 

Sounds like a bent rod. Ford uses crappy Metaldyne compressed powder metal rods to reduce cost. Not to mention they arent machined between the rod and the rod cap, they form them as one piece, drill and tap for the bolts...then "snap" it into two seperate pieces. JUNK!

 

I started trouble shooting.
a/ Span the charger no abnormal resistance
b/ Checked the oil, no residue or water.
c/ Started Checking the sparkplugs and no signs of impact

As I am working on removing the sparkplugs I drop a screw and it goes somewhere I cannot see (not on the floor.), so I jack up the car and I start feeling around..

I look at my driver side header and I see a drop of amber fluid on the bolt of cylinder 8.

I wipe the bolt only to find out that is totally loose. I feel some of the rest of the bolts and they where somewhat loose as well. I tighten up everything fired up the car... and no noise..

Just a little remnant noise possibly I need to change the header gasket as it may have burned.

What a relief.. I need a drink.

 

Good to hear you found out what it was!

 

Thanks.

Hey does eny one know If I can use thread locker on the header bolts, or just the heat in the region does not complement the use of it? Preferably blue not red.

 

Try stage 8 bolts.