Well I drove the car the mile home still knocking, when I started it it knocked really loud a couple of times then quietened down to the knocking its been doing already today. I checked the oil and it was well below the quarter mark, I'd say just above minimum, so I put some more in. By then I was rushing because I was due back at work and like a d*ckhead some ended up down the exhaust pipe (where it leaves the engine) so everytime I started it after a min or two the exhaust got hot, and black smoke came up from the oil burning. Not wanting it to set alight I left it well alone and walked back to work.
But it's now louder knocking when I start it (only once or twice), and then knocking the same frequency but quieter than on start up on idle about every second.
Really am p*ssed off with myself for managing to get it on the exhaust downpipe (if thats even the right name.....) because now I guess I'll have to leave it for a good while and/or give it a wipe of when it's cool before I can even think about driving it.
And that's if I should even be driving it with the knocking.
Could it be I just need to drive it a bit for the oil to get around the engine and stop the knocking, if that's the problem.
Really I have no idea I'm just so worried it's terminal or going to cause permanent damage that can't easily be undone.