I have a knock in the engine area that is variable with RPM and happens while in gear or not. It is intermittent and starts when there is a load while in gear and then will continue while out of gear. It sounds like it is near the lower rear of the engine like it is in the flywheel area. Someone suggested I may have a cracked flywheel. Is this possible? How would this happen? Are these symptoms consistent with a cracked flywheel? I am trying to avoid an engine change. TIA, Mike

"a knock in the engine area" is a vague description. Could be anything making metal-to-metal contact. Check your motor mounts and exhaust sytem. I can't imagine a flywheel cracking but if it did it could be disasterous if it seperated at high rpm's. I would think a cracked flywheel would cause excessive clutch chatter. A sharp engine knock could be a stucking valve lifter. A dull knock could be bad rod bearing, loose piston pin, piston slap or excessive crankshaft end play. Wish I could give you a definitive answer. Hopefully it's something simple.