MY 1996 ECLIPSE GST HAS A KNOCKING SOUND IN TOP SIDE OF ENGINE. IT STARTED WHILE DRIVING IT TOTALY SHUT DOWN.THEN WHEN I CRANK THE CAR AGAIN IT WAS KNOCKING.NOW IT WILL RUN STILL BUT IT ONLY KNOCKS A LITTLE AT START UP AND WHEN I GET OVER 2000 RPM'S.IN ADDITION TO THAT AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND HEATS UP IT LOSES POWER AND BEGINS TO BURN OIL...THEN IT WILL GO DEAD AND NOT CRANK FOR HOURS!!!WHEN YOU TRY TO CRANK IT AGAIN RIGHT AWAY THE STARTER MOTOR ONLY CLICKS THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER AT ALL UNTILL IT HAS SET FOR SEVERAL HOURS.SOME FRIENDS HAVE SAID SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THE CAUSE AND I WOULD LIKE ANYONES INPUT ON THIS THE REASONS I HAVE HEARD SO FAR ARE BENT VALVES,BAD ROD,BUSTED VALVE SPRINGS,TIMING BELT,THE CRANK HAS WALKED ON IT(WELL KNOW IN THIS 4G63T 7 BOLT FROM WHAT I HEAR.THANKS TO ALL FOR ANY IDEAS

 

Sorry, but it sounds like a broken crank. Oil is pumped through the crank. If it is broken, it does not get to the top of the head. The knocking sound is most likely a piston hitting the bottom of the head. This happens because the crank wobbles at the break. Without the oil circulating, the engine will heat up and freeze. If you remove the head, check for a shiny point on the bottom of it. That will prove the crank is broken.

 

Well ill offer another suggestion then. Maybe a bad head gasket, that will curtianly cause the car to burn oil, run like crap, and cause bad compression. Just something to throw out there i guess, id check your oil cap for white crap