Lately my engine has been giving me this ticking noise at low temperatures around 3k rpm to 4.5krpm. This is on acceleration and on deceleration. The sound goes away after quite a fair bid of driving when it reaches normal operating temperature. But when I hit the freeway and cruise till the temperature drops, the ticking returns at approximately the same RPM range. What could this be? Checked valve lash and they are good. Oil level in the morning is in the middle between hi and low on the dip stick. Can a bad clutch bearing, worn clutch cover finger springs or bad flywheel cause this? The ticking sounds like knock, but even if I retard my ignition timing by 4 degrees, the sound is still there! Plugs are brand new BKR7e-11. Distributor cap, rotor and wires are all new.

Someone please help.

 

where does the noise sound like its coming from? have you checked your valves recently? how about your axles? rocks in the tires? heat shield vibrating against something? if you think its clutch or tranny related, see if the sound goes away when putting in the clutch or releasing it.

and what do you mean the temperature drops when you hit the freeway? unless your car is over heating, the temp should stay pretty constant while driving normally.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by garyc17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The sound goes away after quite a fair bid of driving when it reaches normal operating temperature. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Sounds like a valve adjustment is due.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ebelp &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like a valve adjustment is due.</TD></TR></TABLE>
x2

 

can u cause damage to an engine if he has been driving like that for a long time? I know ur loosing hp etc...what are the dwn sides if he waits to long?

 

Well if it is the valves making the ticking then of course it can cause damage, and it don't even need that much time if they're bad enough. It's the valves hitting on the pistons, come to your own conclusion about that one, it's not hard to figure out.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vtec2nv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">can u cause damage to an engine if he has been driving like that for a long time? I know ur loosing hp etc...what are the dwn sides if he waits to long?</TD></TR></TABLE>

That depends...

Most of the guys who I have seen "burn" a valve are because the exhaust side gets to tight. If it goes for to long, you will end up "burning" said valve.

Intake side is different, it should get "looser" over time. At least this has been my experience. The intake side is probably what the OP is hearing, if it is infact a valve related issue.

 

what's a valve lash?

does it tick at idle too?

well it's time for valve adjustment ..

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itr1244 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what's a valve lash?

does it tick at idle too?

well it's time for valve adjustment ..</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes, it does.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itr1244 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

well it's time for valve adjustment ..</TD></TR></TABLE>
make sure you prepare and are ready....adjusting valve lash is tedious work.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW DC2R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">where does the noise sound like its coming from? have you checked your valves recently? how about your axles? rocks in the tires? heat shield vibrating against something? if you think its clutch or tranny related, see if the sound goes away when putting in the clutch or releasing it.

Checked all wheels and there are no stones. My CV joint on the right has ticking noises on slow turns. Should not be an issue with straight travelling on the freeway. Its hard to diagnose if the tranny or clutch is the issue. This is because the RPM will fall the moment I step on the clutch and it falls out of the RPM noise range.

and what do you mean the temperature drops when you hit the freeway? unless your car is over heating, the temp should stay pretty constant while driving normally. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, I have a PowerFC ECU and it shows the coolant temp. It is between 90deg to 94 deg at idle. It falls to about 80deg when I start cruising on the freeway. It is only when the temp drops to that level, before the ticking comes back on.

 

As for the dudes that suggested valve lash adjustment, its already been done. Yes the job was tedious, but I did it 3 times to confirm that the valve lash was not the issue. I even when to super low gap adjustments to be sure. At the moment it has been adjusted to within spec.

 

Someone please help me.

 

sometimes the injectors sound loud.....is that the noise?

Put your ear right over each injector, then over your valves.......there is a difference. even stock injectors are very load at idol

 

Okay I discovered another symptom with regards to the ticking. Aside from low operating temperatures, the ticking is also more prone to occur when I am low on fuel. The thing that amazes me is why does the ticking occur when the temperature drops once I start cruising on the highway?

 

how can you hear ticking in the engine bay while cruising on the freeway? Im pretty sure I cant hear the valves or injectors ticking from inside the car while driving down the highway. even louder RC injectors, which I have, arent that loud.

and I assume you are talking in Celsius? those temp ranges dont sound too bad 194-201F.

i think something else is going on.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RTW DC2R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how can you hear ticking in the engine bay while cruising on the freeway? Im pretty sure I cant hear the valves or injectors ticking from inside the car while driving down the highway. even louder RC injectors, which I have, arent that loud.

and I assume you are talking in Celsius? those temp ranges dont sound too bad 194-201F.

i think something else is going on.</TD></TR></TABLE>

My power fc says 94C sometimes in traffic/around 84C track temps......yes he is talking Celsius....... Yeah, driving you can't hear Injectors or Valves....not sure what is up/

 

Yes, my powerfc reading is in celcius. 94C in traffic and 87C freeway. The sound is totally identical to knock and my powerfc shows small amounts of knock when the sound comes on. Shouldn't knock be even worse when the temperature go up? Mine goes away instead. I am guessing it could be piston slap. But the previous owner tells me the pistons are stock and not forged.

 

Can you get say, 98+ octane around your area? Sounds like you have been getting some crap fuel.

 

I have been using 98RON all along. Is there some way I can work around this crap fuel? Go for a retune? Or can I just retard some of my timing around the affected RPM range?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by garyc17 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have been using 98RON all along. Is there some way I can work around this crap fuel? Go for a retune? Or can I just retard some of my timing around the affected RPM range?</TD></TR></TABLE>

where are you from, and what is the exact fuel you're using?

 

Check all your fastners, and make sure they are tight. I had a bolt loosen on the bell housing to block that caused simalar symptoms.

 

valve lash adjustment

 

Why is almost everyone pointing to valve lash? How can a difference of only 8 degrees cause the valve lash to increase till it can cause noises?

 

Can anyone shed some more light here?