300guy

Hi Guys,

My 968 has 330,000km and the engine was rebuilt at 320,000km. Most lifters checked out at the time (nice and firm) but some needed to be replaced and came from a spare cylinder head.

The symptom is a loud tick that increases with engine speed. Ticks regardless of engine temperature or RPM. Oil pressure is normal - 5bar cold, 4+bar at speed when hot and 2.25 bar at idle when hot.

Using a screw driver it sure sounds like its #2 cylinder forward intake valve lifter (but I wouldnt bet my paycheck on it).

Please check out the video with sound at

Can anyone help me with the diagnosis please?? Hydraulic valve lifter? Cracked oil pickup tube? Broken valve spring? Variocam j-tube or check valve? OPRV?

Many thanks!!

FRporscheman

I don't think there's anything wrong with the OPRV or oil pickup tube if you have good oil pressure like you say you do.

My blue car (with 240k miles) makes the exact same sound after I let it sit for a week or more, but it always goes away after a few miles. I haven't had time to really worry about it but I figure it's a bad lifter.

What viscosity of oil do you use?

300guy

I'm running Royal Purple 15-40

RajDatta

Sounds like lifter tick. It seems consistent and goes up and down with rpm.

DewaneP

Mine does this when it has sat for a week or so and due an oil change. Are you due an oil change soon? Does it go away after running for a bit?

Lemming

Try some Marvel Mystery Oil or ATF to see if you can free it up.

300guy

Thanks guys....

correction - 2 bar at idle when hot.

It just seems loud for a lifter... embarrassing!

Is this bad to drive around with? (massive valve lash with a collapsed lifter?)

I've tried two different oil treatments..... one specifically designed for sticky lifters

RajDatta

You might have to bite the bullet and change all 16. It might not be worth your time and effort to do it over and over again, in case you don't get the right lifter the 1st time. This way you will be 100% certain all lifters are new. I would also check lifter sides and for wear marks.
Raj

Lemming

If it is really loud then don't rule out the possibility that you may have spun a rod bearing. Sounds just like a lifter but louder.

300guy

When I hold a screw driver against the intake side of the cylinder head (close to the injectors) I can hear that its on #2. The sound there is much louder than #1 or #3. Do you think that this still could be a spun rod bearing?

How can I diagnose a spun rod bearing?

300guy

by the way... it happened after driving home from downtown on wet roads so I wasn't driving aggressively. When I got home I heard the tick... and it hasnt gone away since.

dougs968

When I got my 968 last year it sounded like that at idle. I changed the oil and filter and the noise went away after a minute or two. I would probably change the oil first. Least amount of money and hassle. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Doug

FRporscheman

At the risk of opening a can of worms, I'd recommend trying a 20w-50 oil, especially with that many kilometers on the engine. Of course it depends on your climate and other things, but in my experience thick oil shuts of iffy lifters. ATF also works! They're easy things to try (and undo if you don't have success...).

300guy

I put a can of seafoam in and ran the engine for 10-15min and dumped the oil. I'll let it drain over night and put some new stuff in tomorrow.

Would someone be kind enough to please provide details on the ATF idea? How much should I put in and how long/what conditions do I run the engine?

Thanks!!

ckkrause

I had the same sort of issue on my Race car's M3 motor... Sounded just like lifter tick... turned out to be a loose spark plug... Worth a try...

my $0.02