I just noticed today that my car is making a slight knocking noise (not a usual knock from lower octane) and I really have no clue what it could be. My father said it could be a lifter. The car runs great but I have noticed a small loss in power (if that makes any difference in diagnosing the problem). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Take the valve covers off, and check to see if a rocker arm is loose, maybe you pulled a rocker stud. Or a bent pushrod... worse case scenario with a knock is bearing clearances are shot.

 

How loud is it? Deep tone, hollow tone, light ticking, rapping? Does it come at engine speed? Twice engine speed? Only under load, all the time, or just idling? Intermittent, only cold, constant?

 

I looked at it some more today and it appears to just be an exhaust leak from the collectors. There was no noise from the engine compartment and I could clearly hear the "ticking" noise from the collectors. I guess my father just got me imagining things. Thanks for the help.