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loud ticking noise


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Guest
Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 27, 2008, 5:58 PM

Post #1 of 14 (2779 views)
loud ticking noise Sign In

I have a 95 Nissan PU 4 cyl that ticks loud when started. It goes away after I drive for a couple miles over 50 mph. Also runs poorly when it ticks. Checked oil pressure and hydralic lifters, all are good. Ran Seafoam in it, went away only for a couple weeks. Maybe a valve sticking?


dave284
Enthusiast / Moderator
dave284 profile image

Mar 27, 2008, 10:15 PM

Post #2 of 14 (2771 views)
Re: loud ticking noise Sign In

That would be my guess, especially after the vehicle heats up and it quits...thats a good indication and you have already checked the lifters.


dmac0923
Enthusiast

Mar 28, 2008, 6:02 AM

Post #3 of 14 (2768 views)
Re: loud ticking noise Sign In

exhaust leaks can sound alot like lifter tap.

check around your exhaust manifolds for any signs of carbon/soot. you can have a slight leak at the matting surface of the manifold to the head. or you can have a cracked manifold.

it stops after 50 miles or so because the metal expands when it gets hot thus sealing the exhaust leak.

an exhaust leak is alot easier to pin point and repair then tearing into your engine chasing a lifter.
__________________________________________________
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2002 Ford Ranger
2004 Toyota Corolla
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Tom Greenleaf profile image

Mar 28, 2008, 7:49 AM

Post #4 of 14 (2765 views)
Re: loud ticking noise Sign In

?? SeaFoam made this go away for a couple weeks? Change oil way early a couple times and end up with quality synthetic and bet this quits. Keep up with the oil change intervals. This is like slow motor flush as I don't recommend the fast flush (SeaFoam is strong stuff - once it works I'd get it out) unless a last ditch try at something.

Also: Try not to be going hwy speeds too fast after a cold start up just in general if possible,

T



dmac0923
Enthusiast

Mar 28, 2008, 9:12 AM

Post #5 of 14 (2763 views)
Re: loud ticking noise Sign In

did you run the seafoam in the oil,fuel, and through a vacuum port? or if not all, which ones?
__________________________________________________
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2002 Ford Ranger
2004 Toyota Corolla
1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1


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Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 28, 2008, 11:39 AM

Post #6 of 14 (2761 views)
Re: loud ticking noise Sign In

I switched to Royal Purple 5w-30 synthetic a year ago and it stopped for a while. When it started again it was inconsistant but now doing it almost every day even after an oil change. A mechanic friend thought maybe a bad spring or valve lash since there are no hydralic lifters.


Guest
Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 28, 2008, 11:45 AM

Post #7 of 14 (2760 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

I ran 4 oz of Seafoam in the oil as per instructions before changing the oil. There are no exhaust leaks or oil leaks. Only have 80,000 miles on my PU.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 28, 2008, 12:38 PM

Post #8 of 14 (2757 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

I'm doing some guessing as of course I'm not there but this does seem like a classic sticking lifter which could be other than the lifter system itself. That guess because it went away for two weeks.

The "classic" sticking lifter is usually caused by oil turning to a varnish in a spot that gets hot either becasue of overheating ignored for a while, infrequent oil changing, poor oil availability to a spot because of sludge - things like that. Yeh - sometimes it's a weaker valve spring that you might not be able to tell so easily by even looking.

Can you tell looking in thru oil filler cap or on dipstick what you think the sludge situation is with this engine? That would help with suggestions on what to do next. Can you remove the valve cover yourself for a look?

The exhaust leak type thing can fool you - even a loose spark plug. Those things just shouldn't change with a solvent like SeaFoam as you noticed so I may be off on the wrong idea but I don't think it's exhaust just yet. See about the sludge if you can,

T



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Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 28, 2008, 3:00 PM

Post #9 of 14 (2754 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

When we had the valve cover off there wasn't any sluge but a varnish look on everything. Never had overheating problems. What is strange is that during the summer when it ran just a little warmer, it hardly ticked. Then in winter it runs much cooler and ticks much more often. Looks like I just have to take the rockers off and look for wear. Was hoping to do a strong flush but I don't want to damage the rest of the engine. My pickup is in excellent condition (besides the ticking) and I want to keep it that way.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 28, 2008, 4:02 PM

Post #10 of 14 (2749 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

It would look like coffee stain in there but not a build up you can catch crud under a fingernail. If you flush out with fudgy build up it moves in chunks and plugs oil ports - otherwise it's ok. You can run a qt of ATF for a while as a solvent or retry the SeaFoam. I don't want you to hurt anything but if it's just sticky it should clean up. I'm not looking at it but I'd try carb cleaner if I could get to a single spot, perhaps PB on a spot or towards where it might be sticking. These are self adjusted for clearance aren't they?

--------Thought of something else to try...... See if tick goes away when a plug wire is pulled for a short while. That could indicate something else with that cyl altogether. Tricky as a four cyl might not stay running with one cancelled.

I'm still caught up in that it worked for a couple weeks which tells me this can be fixed without tearing into it??

T



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Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 29, 2008, 9:34 AM

Post #11 of 14 (2745 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

Tom, Just for more info: Thur morn it ticked quietly. Drove 27 miles to work. PU sat for 9 hours and it didn't tick at all when leaving work. When I got home, I started it up again right after shutting it off and it ticked really loud. The loudest it has ever been before! It sounded like metal to metal. My husband thought it was low on oil. Right on the full mark. It doesn't even burn oil. Never have to add oil. I myself have worked in Auto Parts for 20 years including Mechanics helper and usually can troubleshoot for my customers, but this has stumped me! To be honest, I have used Seafoam in the engine more than once before changing the oil. One Mechanic friend had me leave it in for 20 miles. When changing the oil, it never looks really dark like when I use to use regular oil. Even friends are stumped!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Mar 29, 2008, 10:01 AM

Post #12 of 14 (2743 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

Dangit! If this can go to what you call load metal to metal noise this should be figured out NOW! It's probably NOT just a typical sticking lifter type thing with the info now. This could be a broken valve spring or something whacked. I don't think this is the easiest engine to run with the valve cover off which I'd be doing on some engines - I think this one will spray all over the place. Perhaps something can be seen without it running or turn by hand and feel all the rockers for lash thru a full cycle for each cylinder.

So basically I DON'T KNOW and really don't want you to let this engine which is probably mostly fine get wrecked by waiting.

Had something like this on a car I owned and was something screwed with a valve stem and the guide that would make noise like the engine was toast and just take valve cover off - just one valve on cared for engine and wicked easy to remove cover and just turn the top of the valve 90 degrees and it shut up for about 5-10,000 miles and never did tear it apart as it was so easy and worked just doing that every time. Car made it over 200k on orig motor and purred?? Go figure?

There's only so much I can guess without being right there. If another here doesn't have some other idea I suggest getting help now which could save a big problem,

T



Jeepgoinfast
User

Mar 29, 2008, 1:11 PM

Post #13 of 14 (2738 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

Im not a pro. but i might think of something thats happened to me.

I had Some minor ticking at idle and during Drive time. But it got worse and took it to a friend who diagnosed that the rods were knocking. Ended up have to spend a lot of money but it was fixed... Hope that helps at all??


Guest
Anonymous Poster
debra_kh@hotmail.com

Mar 30, 2008, 9:36 AM

Post #14 of 14 (2720 views)
Re: Seafoam & Exhaust leak Sign In

Tom, you are right! Had the valve covers off and the oil went every where and cardboard didn't even help. Bumped the motor at each cylinder and found nothing out of the ordinary. Every one was tight. With a problem, you usually find a loose spring or rocker, not here! We have to do it when it is ticking. Last two times we had the cover off, it wasn't ticking. Been driving our Expedition to work more now and the gas is killing my cash flow! Can't tear it down now either cause we are getting ready to build a house. Depressing situation cause I love my PU.






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