Loud lifters ticking at cold start, is this normal?
09-07-2023, 01:08 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Loud lifters ticking at cold start, is this normal?
Hello All,
im looking to purchase this 2012.5 911 Carrera S, and upon cold start, it was ticking LOUD, is this normal for it to be this loud, or do you think it may have bore scoring? Mileage is 93k.
im looking to purchase this 2012.5 911 Carrera S, and upon cold start, it was ticking LOUD, is this normal for it to be this loud, or do you think it may have bore scoring? Mileage is 93k.
09-07-2023, 01:12 PM
#2
Nordschleife Master
Doesn't sound normal to me. The Direct Injection fuel injectors can be pretty loud on these cars,but I can't say for sure whether that's your noise or not...
Bore scoring has to do with the scoring of each piston's sleeve. The scoring would allow oil going past the rings and loss of compression,I don't see how that would have anything to do with noisy lifters...
Bore scoring has to do with the scoring of each piston's sleeve. The scoring would allow oil going past the rings and loss of compression,I don't see how that would have anything to do with noisy lifters...
Last edited by neanicu; 09-07-2023 at 01:14 PM.
09-07-2023, 01:24 PM
#3
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
here is another video, its so loud. im thinking id need a camera to look in the cylinders before making this purchase...
09-07-2023, 01:37 PM
#4
Yeah, that's pretty loud. I would be concerned....
09-07-2023, 02:03 PM
#5
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
it is inside a showroom too, so that may exacerbate the sound a little, i asked the salesman to let it warm up and send me another video of it idling when warm. But im thinking ill need to have a PPI done now at the dealer, and ask for pictures inside each cylinder.
09-07-2023, 02:04 PM
#6
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
tl;dr, sounds like a car that hasn't been driven for a while. Take it for a test drive, flog it a bit, then come back a day later. It probably won't tick when it starts then. 
Sounds like lifter tick. That's unrelated to bore scoring. The lifters are hydraulic and one or more are failing to pump up in time -- usually this is caused by poor oil change intervals or low quality oil. Regular oil changes and regular driving will actually fix this over time.
If the car has been sitting for a while and the oil has drained out of the lifter, this can persist on a cold start for a while. My 991 sat for a month or so one time and it did this, but it cleared up by the time I was a few blocks away from my house. My e39 M5 would do this every time it was undriven for more than a few weeks and would take up to 15 minutes to rectify itself.
It's technically damaging to the engine, in that your lifters are slapping the valve stem and slowly, microscopically mushrooming it, creating higher clearance. This clearance is accommodated by the hydraulic mechanism though, so once it pumps up it's like it never really happened. The damage is so miniscule, though, that I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it goes away once it gets up to temperature and doesn't come back after sitting for 8 hours, at least.
Sounds like lifter tick. That's unrelated to bore scoring. The lifters are hydraulic and one or more are failing to pump up in time -- usually this is caused by poor oil change intervals or low quality oil. Regular oil changes and regular driving will actually fix this over time.
If the car has been sitting for a while and the oil has drained out of the lifter, this can persist on a cold start for a while. My 991 sat for a month or so one time and it did this, but it cleared up by the time I was a few blocks away from my house. My e39 M5 would do this every time it was undriven for more than a few weeks and would take up to 15 minutes to rectify itself.
It's technically damaging to the engine, in that your lifters are slapping the valve stem and slowly, microscopically mushrooming it, creating higher clearance. This clearance is accommodated by the hydraulic mechanism though, so once it pumps up it's like it never really happened. The damage is so miniscule, though, that I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it goes away once it gets up to temperature and doesn't come back after sitting for 8 hours, at least.
09-07-2023, 02:15 PM
#7
Nordschleife Master
Originally Posted by asellus
tl;dr, sounds like a car that hasn't been driven for a while. Take it for a test drive, flog it a bit, then come back a day later. It probably won't tick when it starts then.
Sounds like lifter tick. That's unrelated to bore scoring. The lifters are hydraulic and one or more are failing to pump up in time -- usually this is caused by poor oil change intervals or low quality oil. Regular oil changes and regular driving will actually fix this over time.
If the car has been sitting for a while and the oil has drained out of the lifter, this can persist on a cold start for a while. My 991 sat for a month or so one time and it did this, but it cleared up by the time I was a few blocks away from my house. My e39 M5 would do this every time it was undriven for more than a few weeks and would take up to 15 minutes to rectify itself.
It's technically damaging to the engine, in that your lifters are slapping the valve stem and slowly, microscopically mushrooming it, creating higher clearance. This clearance is accommodated by the hydraulic mechanism though, so once it pumps up it's like it never really happened. The damage is so miniscule, though, that I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it goes away once it gets up to temperature and doesn't come back after sitting for 8 hours, at least.
Sounds like lifter tick. That's unrelated to bore scoring. The lifters are hydraulic and one or more are failing to pump up in time -- usually this is caused by poor oil change intervals or low quality oil. Regular oil changes and regular driving will actually fix this over time.
If the car has been sitting for a while and the oil has drained out of the lifter, this can persist on a cold start for a while. My 991 sat for a month or so one time and it did this, but it cleared up by the time I was a few blocks away from my house. My e39 M5 would do this every time it was undriven for more than a few weeks and would take up to 15 minutes to rectify itself.
It's technically damaging to the engine, in that your lifters are slapping the valve stem and slowly, microscopically mushrooming it, creating higher clearance. This clearance is accommodated by the hydraulic mechanism though, so once it pumps up it's like it never really happened. The damage is so miniscule, though, that I wouldn't worry about it. As long as it goes away once it gets up to temperature and doesn't come back after sitting for 8 hours, at least.
The following users liked this post:
SilverSFR (09-07-2023)
Trending Topics
09-07-2023, 02:15 PM
#8
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
09-07-2023, 02:43 PM
#9
Rennlist Member
And from what I have read, it is not done through the spark plug holes but from the inside after the oil pan is removed. The PCA did a 4-parts series on YouTube about bore scoring.
Last edited by IXLR8; 09-07-2023 at 02:53 PM.
09-07-2023, 02:48 PM
#10
Rennlist Member
Agree with all of the above
The ticking noise in itself can be alarming but can easily be from stuck lifter/s due to sitting for extended periods of time.
Take it out for a test drive. If, after 10-15 of normal driving, the noise doesn't go away.. you should just walk..
If noise goes away.. Demand Bore Scoping pictures. The burden of proof is on them, they have a shop with Trained Techs. they want to sell this car bad enough (in a rapidly softening market), they should do te extra effort to make you comfortable
Good luck
The ticking noise in itself can be alarming but can easily be from stuck lifter/s due to sitting for extended periods of time.
Take it out for a test drive. If, after 10-15 of normal driving, the noise doesn't go away.. you should just walk..
If noise goes away.. Demand Bore Scoping pictures. The burden of proof is on them, they have a shop with Trained Techs. they want to sell this car bad enough (in a rapidly softening market), they should do te extra effort to make you comfortable
Good luck
09-07-2023, 02:58 PM
#11
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
thanks everyone for your feedback, they sent me another video after it was warmed up and it sounds much better! let me know what you think
Last edited by mikescayenne; 09-07-2023 at 03:01 PM.
09-07-2023, 03:01 PM
#12
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
and another one...
09-07-2023, 03:22 PM
#13
Normal. I start mine up to drive maybe once every 1-2weeks. Sounds like that, and does not change if left idle (which you shouldn't). Once you drive it, it goes away. Oil needs to get thrown all over with the rpms.
Edit: 991.1 with 19k miles
Edit: 991.1 with 19k miles
Last edited by RP4S911; 09-07-2023 at 03:24 PM.
09-07-2023, 03:27 PM
#14
Rennlist Member
great, now we know its most probably lifters. Still need to get Bore scoping done before a deal .. or do your own due diligence and have it done at an independent place
09-07-2023, 03:36 PM
#15
Nordschleife Master
AGAIN,bore scoring HAS NOTHING TO DO with the OP's initial question,nothing! Should bore scoring be part of a thorough PPI? Yes! So should checks about a past accident,oil/coolant leaks,condition of tires/brakes,spoiler broken springs etc. The 991 is a pretty solid car IMO...
The following users liked this post:
desmotesta (09-07-2023)