hey, I am new here and dont know much about engines. My question is last night I was driving around after installing my DC header and I accidentally missed 4th gear and ended up dropping it in to 2nd, the RPM's shot to 9 and I immediatley put the clutch in. The cars idle is normal and it runs perfect still, but there is now a ticking/tapping noise coming from my engine when I accelerate, it kinda sounds like a exhaust leak but there is none. I was just wondering if anything like this has happened to any of you guys and what you might think it could be? Thanks for any info.

 

you tapped a valve more than likely. Better start thinking of some upgrades to do while your head is off!

You can *try* to have the valves adjusted, but it probably isn't going to work.

 

How bad could this be, and what is valve tapping? Thanks

 

well, what you did was go so far past the redline, that the pressure being put on the valve to open by the cam, shoved it past the limit that the spring could hold it. You literally pushed the valve into the piston. That is, IF that's what happened. There are a few other possibilities, that's just my guess at the most likely.

Kinda like if you have a slinky and you are just casually holding it at one end and lightly letting it expand and compress like a yo-yo towards the floor. It doesn't touch the floor, but just goes up and down, up and down. Well, then you take it and THROW that slinky (that bastard toy) with a lot more force... it expands more and hits your mothers ceramic tile in her kitchen and bends the end of the slinky... that's what you did.

 

Oh, and it's going to be $500-$1000 to fix cause you have to pull the head off the block. A very expensive missed shift. Sorry man.

Look at it this way, get some crower valve springs and retainers and some Stainless steel valves. Upgrades are always good in a situation like this.

 

it could've been worse... much worse.
One way to tell what you did is to run what's called a "leakdown" test. I'd take it to a mechanic to have it done. What they do is fill the combustion chamber with compressed air and messure how much leaks out with a guage. Over a certain amount and you are losing compression and need something done. When they do this test, simply listen to the exuast, intake and the valve cover breather. Any air coming through that you can hear, and it's going to be that valve bent:
Exuast: exuast valve
Intake: intake valve
Valve cover: rings... but you didn't screw the rings... so don't worry.

 

well at least your car is still running...... hey JG, can he still drive around normally until he saves enough money to fix and upgrade his internals?

 

er... well... yeah, probably. It doesn't appear to be TOO fugged. It doesn't have a miss in it, which is good. I've known people to roll around for a few weeks on something like that, and I don't *think* it will do any damage. I would worry about valves seats, but you should have those re-done when you put new valves in anyway.

Remember, don't go and spit blood just yet... have a test done. That will give you a much better idea. If you live in the south, I have an awesome mechanic that's cheap.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I am taking it to Acura on Monday so they can check it out. Does it matter how loud the valves are? Because they are barely noticeble and hard to hear except when I downshift.

 

then you *might* be able to have them adjusted and get the noise to go away. A good Acura tech should be able to tell just by how much play there is. I hope you get a good one.

 

another thing to do is to listen to where the sound is coming from. my C1's injectors tick like a ****, makes it sound like valve. mines only audible at low R's though. once she's up an screaming you can't hear it. an I hope by down shift you meen revmatch.

 

Thanks I hope so too.

 

Hey, if he's lucky, then he didn't do anything to his motor, he's just now noticing that his valves need to be adjusted....

 

It does kind of sound like it is coming from the Intake manifold area but I'm not sure, and I can only hear it at low RPM's as well. Also I have stock injectors so that cant be it??

 

when was the last time you've had your valves adjusted and how many miles you got?

 

thats injectors if its not coming from the around the valve train, take a conical object and put the tampered end against you ear (stop laughin JG) and put the other on the injector while the car is running, you should hear the injector cycling (thats the tick) some are just louder than others.

 

hell... I've used a long, long *** screwdriver before, I can't laugh.

 

dude my car makes the same sound and its got 5k miles on it!!!
its not loud but its a tick tick tick one a sec at idle its not loud though and you dont always hear it

 

You haven't heard loud valves till you've heard MY car. Man, my cams make the most damn racket... lol It sounds like it's about to fall apart until I romp on it and it starts screaming like some wailing banshee that's pissed off. hahaha

 

I'm addicted to that screaming sound. just wish I could get the hachiroku to have the same sound.

 

I got my car back today and they said the engine is fine and that the noise if from the fuel injectors pulsating. If I replace them do you guys think that the noise will go away? Also should I upgrade them while I'm at it, I have AEM CAI, 4-1 header, PS pulley and N1, would they help any? thanks