My engine is making a loud knocking noise

I have a 2005 ford escape hybrid. I noticed day before yesterday that there was a slight ticking noise in my engine so i stopped at a gas station to check the oil. I was surpised thatI had to put in 4 quarts of oil. I do have to say that i was just under 2K of being over due for an oil change. I didn't think this would be a huge deal bc i change the oil every 3K and i've been told that with hybrids you don't need to change it till 5K. At first i only heard the ticking noise when i hit the gas pedel. You couldnt hear it at all when it was idling. Mostly when i was taking off or if i was going up hill and the RPM's were high. The noise would get louder and faster when the RPM's are high. This morning i was easing up a hill and it starting making an even louder knocking noise… Almost like something it loose or ratteling inside and its constant, even when idling. I'm really stuck between a rock and a hard place right now and do not have the money to get a new car or fix a huge problem. Please, someone give me some good news and tell me its a minor fix… Please.

It is common for an engine to burn a small amount of oil at a slow rate. Usually around 1 quart at around 10,000 miles. Engines are not 100% sealed. There are small amounts of oil that get past the piston rings and get burned in the combustion chamber, usually undetected. However, if you do not check your engine oil level frequently, the lack of oil causes the engine to heat up causing it to burn even more oil. This is just a cycle of the less oil in the oil pan, the more oil is consumed.
The ticking noise is the rocker arms hitting metal that is not lubricated with oil. The knocking noise is the piston rods hitting on the main rod bearings because there's no lubrication.
Because of the lack of oil and probably the excessive frictional heat, the rod bearings and the rocker arms have worn to the point that they are loose and will continue to knock and tick. You can either go with thicker oil to quite down the noise or rebuild/replace the engine.

I can't tell a lie, your a** is done for. You can't run a car on one quart of oil and even worst is the fact you are racing the engine going up hill. Go get a bus pass your going to need it.

Nothing is Loose.Nothing to do with extended oil change interval either. THAT IS THE END OF THE GOOD NEWS

You bent something made of metal(something that was suppose to be straight… Now it ain't) and that hammering is that metal part bending more and more… As it knocks about the hole only a strait rod goes through… So it is like a wild animal trapped in a cage… IT IS BREAKING FREE.

Running out of oil especially that thin stuff is not good. You have zero oil pressure and zero slip between the parts. When parts do not slip past each other, they GRAB. You bent a con rod. If the car was shut off with the key… Then it is still possibly a SAVE. There's a good chance it is a fixable problem. Not cheap but cheaper than waiting till the next stage.(below)
So a couple of parts and mechanic labor costs.

From this day forward you are using Footmobile.

A hole through the engine block is not fixable.(which is where this is heading or the next stage as the engine stops DEAD. Now you Bwoke it. (motor replacement is the only option)
So entire engine(short block) and mechanic labor costs.

Do not run the engine anymore. Tow truck takes it where it is.

You can phone a few shops and get some prices on changing out a bent connecting rod and labor costs. Vs changing out a short block and swapping over the good parts cost.

Have a mechanic look at it- in real life, not online.

You now have the opportunity to enjoy that new car smell because your old car is not worth repairing. If you have the time and space you could sell off the parts and maybe get $500. Out of it, otherwise call a scrap dealer and they might give you $50. For it.

Sorry if it is s major knocking noise it is something major. Could be very expensive to fix. Better to stick to a regular car. You are not saving the plsnet anyway