I thought i could get some help from the Tech Forum.


https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=732468

 

Looks like you got good answers over there... Lots of cars have hydraulic lifters, so you don't have to adjust the valve lash. If they get clogged with crud they make ticking noises that sound kinda like what a Honda would sound like if it needed valve adjustment.

 

actually, you do have to adjust valve lash, though the tolerances are alot less precise with hydraulic lifters.

 

They are correct, we have no lifters. The ticking, if steady and not insanely loud, is normal. A random ticking sound that gets louder and softer, however, could mean you need a valve adjustment. Ticking also can come from the injectors, as well. That is normal also.