I do. No shavings at all. I also checked the VTEC solenoid screen.. maybe one or two microscopic pieces, if not any at all.

 

I think a bearing that is just failing would maybe only wear lead, I think the other metals are at the later part of failure. Spend $25 and send an oil sample to Blackstone, they turn samples around in a day or two.

 

Have you checked your valve clearance?

 

could it be something else along those lines that is sticking or bad? It sounds very much head noise to me, but that off rythm "tap, tap, tap", doesn't seem like your typical out of adjustment valve. I have had very similar noises on all of my high mile DOHC Hondas, and my S2k even has a off rhythm tap from time to time, not nearly as loud but very similar. Using a stethoscope it seems to be right from the front of the head or cylinder 1.

 

I did a valve adjustment on an ap2 engine not too long ago. One of the valves was looser than an 8th street hooker and it was making a clacking noise very similar to the video and another very loose one making that arrhythmic tapping, they both happened to be on cylinder one. After I adjusted them, the car sounded normal again. It sounded extremely similar to OP's first video.

 

I just did mine a few k ago, but I guess it doesn't hurt to take another look

 

 

That's exactly where my sounds from. I can clearly hear it on top and at number 1 piston. I have the exact same problem as him to. And just like him it started after I did an oil change.

 

But when I rev the motor up. The noise seems to go away while it's in above idle rpms. I would think that if it was a valve hitting u would hear it even at higher rpms

 

Yeah it is that Honda engine sound with a faint "ca ca ca" mixed in randomly, the oil warms and it is gone. It could also be worn chain guides. Although none of this would explain why disabling cylinder 1 removes the noise. Unless the compression of that cylinder and position of that chain coincide to a specific "rattle spot".