IEATV8s

Alright, I searched the forums for an hour or so and I believe that my problem is valve, lifter related...I hope. I will try and get a video or sound file up by tomorrow but until then I will try and describe it as best as possible in words. It's basically a ticking sound, not too loud but also loud enough to just barely be able to hear it with the hood closed. The ticking increases/decreases with acceleration/decelleration respectfully and is coming right from the valve cover area. It is a rythmic ticking as well. My hopes are that it is just a bad lifter or at worst a valve. Also, I havn't noticed any decrease in performance in the car at all. I will be going for an oil change tomorrow to see if that will help at all. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, If it is indeed a valve or lifter, what is the severity of this problem? I have an appointment for the car to be serviced on the 11th of April and was curious if the car would be able to make it until then. Thanks again.

-Ben

DanR 1201

Cracked exhaust to head flange joint?

porshhhh951

try and get a sound file of it. Which side of the engine is it coming from.

Could be air in your lifters. But, it really isint loud enough to hear with the hood closed. Atleast it never was on my car.

special tool

Injectors make ticking noise. However, if you twist the throttle, injectors noise will be covered by engine noise - lifter noise will continue to be audible.

blodstrupmoen

when engine is running You could use a large screwdriver to hear if you got a bad lifter/valve
Just put the metal end of the screwdriver on top of the cam housing and put your ear into the shaft
Try this on top of all 4 cylinders..

IEATV8s

That's an interesting idea, I'll try that later today and see what happens. i'll also have the sound file up later as well. It could be an exhaust leak, but the sound just seems a bit too "metalic" to be that, but then again, I'm not an engine guru either. Thanks for all the responses.

-Ben

IEATV8s

The sound is coming right from the valve cover area. It's just a tick tick tick tick sound that increases when throttle is applied. At higher RPM's the sound is covered by the engine noise though.

-Ben

IEATV8s

I recorded the sound but unfortunately I have no where to host it so whoever wants a copy I can send it to their email or if someone knows a good place to have it hosted, that can be done too.

-Ben

pk951

I would take a guess and say it's you're lifters, with age they do get noisy.

Drifting STi

My lifters are noisy also....can I continue running it like that? Or is it a bad idea to neglect the noise?

porshhhh951

my car has been running fine for 2 years with mods and hard driving.

IEATV8s

Sorry for the delay, but here is the "ticking noise".

http://chas.servehttp.com/rennlist/

the file is called "951 engine". Thanks for looking.

-Ben

**EDIT** I have also been told that I might have an exhaust leak so that could also be part of the sound.

Peckster

Lifter ticking noise is not a big deal. It's the taps and knocks you have to worry about. But if you aren't sure which is which, I'd get someone experienced to listen to it.

The kind of noise you should be really worried about is one that is new or changing.

Could be an exhaust leak, that will rob you power too.