Resident Sicko

I have not been able to take the car out in a few weeks from vacation and being out of town and finally got a chance tonight. The car has sat in a warm garage nice a cozy but when I started it up, there was a very audible ticking noise coming from what I thought was the A/C compressor...(Brand new belts)

It did soften once I get the car warmed up and by the time I got it back in the garage, it seemed to be subdued...but oil levels were normal once I returned.

Silly question for those who know:

Is this normal? Could it be valve lash with not enough warm oil? Could it be something more serious like valve guides? It did seem to come from only one side (bank).

Thanks in advance.

race911

Lifter(s), yes. Totally worn guides can sound rackety-rackety on a really warm engine, at least on the pre-993 solid lifter engines, even with properly adjusted lash. But you'd have to have a worst-of-the-worst engine. From what I've seen, anyway.

Someone who's got way more experience on the hydraulic lifter engines can correct me if this carries forward to the 993.

berni29

Hi

Sounds like a noisy lifter to me. You can try and track it down with a stick (eg cut down broom handle) held against the right parts of the engine.

All the best

Berni

Kiwiinchicago

same problem here. Just started the last couple of times I used the car. When the car is warm the engine sounds perfect.

NP993

Not at all unusual to get a couple seconds of mild lifter chatter when you haven't started the engine in weeks....emphasis on "couple seconds" and "mild."

appear

I've had both problems.

I replaced all lifters hoping that it would quiet the ticking, however it really didn't make much of a difference although the shop reported at least a few of them were in bad condition (exhaust side lifters). After replacing all lifters I still had a 'light ticking' for the first 4-5 minutes every morning (my car is a DD). The ticking followed the revs at I could hear it from 1.400 revs and up. I drove it for about 1.500 km. before proceeding with a top end job.

My worn valve guides also caused a metallic chattering at above 3.000 revs that was very hard to live with - not sure if the same goes for all 993s with worn guides (probably not), but in my case it was a very annoying metallic resonating sound that followed the revs, very audible inside the cabin (coupe).

In the end a 'diesel' like clicking noise at idle led me to fix the top end. Not sure how much of that was 'in my head' though (air-cooled-noise-paranoia syndrome) Oh well, now it's done and the chattering and clicking dissapeared!

I would take Bernis advice and use a broom to find the noisy lifter. Most likely exhaust.

Good luck!

911PERVY

Its a great excuse to get the oil hot and go thrash the living **** out of it, cures the ticking and makes you feel better too!

Resident Sicko

That is exactly what I did...drove around like a Grandma until the temp needle hit mid and then had fun. Car seemed happier too...like a cat or dog that was left home over a family vacation getting a full house again.

No HTwo O

What oil are you using? Viscosity? Change interval? Do you ever run the Chevron Fuel System cleaner with Techron through your car (prior to an oil change)?

Steve Weiner-Rennsport Systems

Good input here,...

"Ticking" in these engines is usually due to lifters (seal failure and/or FOD) or severely worn guides, usually found on the exhaust side.

I've been seeing more & more 993 heads come through with excessively worn exhaust guides and decent intake ones, depending on mileage.

race911

Any rhyme-or-reason on mileage? How do they compare with what we saw on the earlier engines? And how about stem taper on the valves?

C2Cab95

Sub'd for future reference.

Long distant future reference... *knocks on wood*

Edward

Couple of key points here:

1. "After a few weeks on vacation..." Absolutely normal. When my car is dormant when on vacation, even in my SoCal heat, she will "tacka tacka" for a second or so, then quiet down to a mild tick. And as the engine temp gets to where it should be, things get to normal. Don't know your climate or driving habits, but you may want to consider a lower-viscosity oil (depends on what you have now and what your climate is ...consult a professional ).

2. Noise is mild and then goes away ...again, normal since your oil is warming up and getting to its working viscosity (which fills that little orifice in the hydraulic lifter so much faster than a cold/thick oil would).

3. Wear is always a possibility. But some noise is normal. The key is getting someone who has heard enough of these engines (yes, our 993s with the hydraulic lifters) and knows the difference between normal 993 noises vs. on-the outs. There is a reason why the field of medicine is called "practice." You need a 993 doc. Post your area and I am certain someone can give a recommendation on a good wrench who won't just offer the reflex response of, "well with the age and mileage you need..."

Hope that helps you a bit.
Edward

Resident Sicko

Thank you all for the input. My "993 Doc" said it was nothign to wrry about...but also itching to get the motor out of the car to do some mods and secret stuff...just trying to prolong the time before this happens to be honest.

briefescape

What kind of " broom stick " does your " Porsche Doc " uses ?
I find these work the best I think these called Nimbus 2000 and is sold by Mattel , anyhoot here is a link http://www.time.com/time/specials/pa...927329,00.html