Ticking / Slapping Noise Coming From Engine

[CDsDontBurn]

Earlier today on my way home from work, I noticed that there was a ticking / slapping type noise coming from the engine. The odd part about this is that I didn't feel any power loss or anything. It is loudest when I give the car some gas and also when I'm sitting at idle I can hear it. It's of course loudest when I give it some gas.

Not sure if it's related, but about two weeks ago I changed out the spark plugs because I had a horrible mis-fire. Upon removing the spark plugs, I found that one of them was utterly destroyed.

Any ideas as to why this is happening?

 

[Valet]

That's your valves.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Why does it sound like escaping gasses though? And why is it only coming from the rear?

 

[Valet]

Does it matter? It's still your valves

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Wouldn't valves be making the noise gradually rather than all of a sudden?

 

[Simkid5614]

Check the adjustment and make sure nothing else is destroyed, Might be able to get away with it.

 

[mo.v6accord]

not to thread jack, but how do you fix this?

 

[CDsDontBurn]

I haven't fixed anything yet.

The pictured spark plug in my OP was from two weeks ago. That spark plug was removed from the rear of the engine on the driver's side. The noise that suddenly started yesterday on my way home from work is coming from that same area.

I'm thinking that the when the old spark plug exploded, the threads from the destroyed spark plug also damaged the threads on the valve head and now there is enough of a gap between the threads of the new spark plug and valve head spark plug threads that gases and / or spark is coming up through the spark plug chamber. That's my current theory at least because that's what makes sense to me as to why there would be gases escaping if all hoses are still properly attached.

 

[001Stunna]

Did you try to probe inside the cylinder for possibly parts of that sparkplug still in there? I'd buy one of those magnetic pick up tools and see if you can use a lend-a-tool program for a video probe and have a look in there.

As already mentioned it could also require/need a valve adjustment but it sounds weird for it to start out of nowhere.

 

[CDsDontBurn]

Yea. I used that "antenna magnet" thing to pick up spark plug remnants. I was probing for a good 20min continuously finding little shards of the old spark plug in the chamber.

I'm in no doubt I need a valve adjustment. I know I've been needing one already, but I didn't have the time, haven't been able to afford the job or have the tools - namely the shims to measure the gap - to do it myself. Yesterday I picked up a shim kit and a valve cover gasket kit. Now that I'm done with school, have the valve gasket kit, and have the shims, I'm going to have the time. No more excuses, lol.