150k, bought it from a friend who was going to trash it. Car is stock. I have only put 700 miles on it. put a used tranny in it, and did all major maintenance. Timing belt, pump, headgasket needed replaced. along with all of the other things you would do.

I recently just heard a sound coming from the engine bay, a ticking sound. it seems to start happening around 1600 RPM and gets slightly louder the higher it revs. Not audible at idle. See video below

http://s164.photobucket.com/user/kri...511ec.mp4.html

Is this a serious issue? What is needed? a Valve adjustment? I have never had a ticking issue with any of my hondas before.

 

Video isn't working, just comes up as a picture.

 

Crack in exhaust manifold? Or valve adjustment...

 

sorry about the link, I just updated the post. link works now.

 

Can't really tell from all the other sound. Try to pinpoint the sound better by CAREFULLY putting the head of a screwdriver on different parts and your ear on the handle. With that many miles and not knowing when, if ever, the valves were adjusted it wouldn't hurt to do the valve adjustment anyways.

 

I say "valve-adjustment" needed. My civic is making the same sound too.

 

It sounds like something is loose? Also kinda sounds like maybe a spun rod bearing... How did the oil look the last oil change? Check for any metal shavings....

 

oil seemed fine. no metal shavings. if it just needs a valave adjustment can it wait awhile or are their serious consequences if I wait say 1k miles. I really dont have the time in the next 3 weeks to do it.

 

Yes it can wait. The tappets for the valves usually slacken up together.

If it was a case where the problem was with only one valve, then you would have to go get that fixed right away.

 

THe sound is not present at idle when the car is warm, the sound is not present at all in idle or reving when the car is cold.

it is only present above 1600rpm when the car is at operating temperature.

I found this to be a little odd?

 

^^^Thats not odd symptoms if your valves need to be re-adjusted.

 

ok. I have never had a valve related issue with any of my hondas before. thanks for all of your information.

 

Your case in the video sounds extreme, but not detrimental as though something is wearing or burning out. You'll appreciate the noticeable restoration in engine performance once they've been restored to factory tolerances.

It's better to have them adjusted a bit on the "looser" range than too "tight" where there is constant contact.

 

I found this earlier:

Valve Clearance Adjustment

Intake: 0.18-0.22 mm (0.007-0.009 in.)

Exhaust: 0.23-0.27 mm (0.009-0.011 in.)

so .007 for the intake, and .009 for the exhaust?

 

I don't have my service manual with me, but your figures look correct from what I (think I) can recall. Your mechanic can easily set the proper gap with a feeler gauge.

The correct way for him to do it would be to remove all 4 spark plugs (so there is no compression) and turn the crankshaft as each valve would have to be adjusted independently.

 

Mine makes the exact noise. Exhausr system has been checked , valves adjusted. I even did a uoa and everything came back great. A master tech told me its the nature of the beast with solid valvetrains. You may adjust your valves and it quiets down some but I bet itll never go away completely. Keep me posted.

 

What is a UOA?

 

Used oil analysis

 

Thanks.

This thread keeps reminding me that I need to schedule an appointment to have my valves adjusted too when I get around to replacing my head-gasket and head studs