Bad knocking 2zz engine (Is this the cause?)

[Jack_R]

Recently my usually solidly reliable Celica T-Sport decided to start knocking, sounded to me like a typical case of rod knock so shut it down straight away and had it trailered home

So I've pulled out the rod bearings, but none are as monumentally bad as I expected:









They are pretty awful but would that amount of wear be the knocking noise?

The crank still looks pristine, top end all looked great and the oil wasn't full of metal, nor the oil filter or pickup.

I'm a bit stumped, pretty sure it's not the gearbox as it still had drive when it went. Anyone got any ideas?

[loquacious]

I don't know if it's just, the picture but they look absolutely fked to me!

[Jack_R]

Think I was just overthinking it, I've seen some in other engines at uni that have literally come out in a few pieces so I suppose that's what I expected, thanks for the sanity check!

[227bhp]

Yes that's the cause of the knocking, but what is the cause of the damage?

[Jack_R]

The driver...

[227bhp]

Always a good idea to remember to put oil in the engine.

[Jack_R]

There was plenty of oil in it but they suffer from starvation in corners when the lift cams kick in, I forgot this :'( Wish I'd baffled the sump earlier!

[227bhp]

You've done the right thing and it's an easy fix at least.